France could defend EU in case of attack: minister

EUBUSINESS ^ | 07/05/04 | AFP

[Pikamax]

France could defend EU in case of attack: minister

05 July 2004

France could use its nuclear capability to defend its neighbours, French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said in an interview Monday, while also urging European Union states to increase military spending.

She said that rogue states "could one day point their missiles toward France and its neighbours. We could say to those countries: 'Watch out, if you try to carry out your threats we will destroy you before you know what's hit you.'"

"If Germany asked us for help, it is probable that European solidarity would come into play," she told the Berliner Zeitung newspaper, and added: "For us, nuclear weapons are the ultimate protection against a threat from abroad."

She said ethnic conflict and terrorism were making the world increasingly more unstable and called on EU members to increase their military budgets to two percent of gross domestic product -- NATO's minimum recommended level.

"Today in Europe there are only three countries who spend more than 2.0 percent of GDP on defence. They are France, Britain and Greece. The others are not doing enough," Alliot-Marie said.

She said that France has a mobile, flexible and highly-motivated military and that it was the second or third best in the world.

[hershey]

They can load their aircraft carrier on a great big train and drive it around the EU to wherever they're being attacked.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

It seems that even France is tougher than our leftist Democrats. Mention nukes here and they die of apoplexy.

[stocksthatgoup]

If Germany asked us for help, it is probable that European solidarity would come into play.
How reassuring!(/sarcasm)

[Tacis]

Yes, and France could produce that next 10 Nobel Medal winners in Medicine or some one who showered every day, but....

[Drango]

She said that France has a mobile, flexible and highly-motivated military and that it was the second or third best in the world in the art of surrendering.

[BroncosFan]

I love the use of "probable" in her statement. How Froggie.

[farfromhome]

three ideas:

Of course. France! Why didn't I think of it before. They have done such a good job defending Europe in the past.

Nukes are no deterrent to terrorism, unfortunately. We have a ton, Russia has a ton and we have both been hit by terrorists.

I predict the outcry from the left against France's threat to use nuclear weapons will be a deafening silence.

[cwb]

""For us, nuclear weapons are the ultimate protection against a threat from abroad."

---

Heck, if Bush would've even intimated anything close to the above, he would've been taken apart by most of these same people. I'm just happy to see the Euro's acknowledging that they need to spend more on their own self-defense. Let's see how well their socialist utopia survives when they actually have to start budgeting for their own national security:)

[JZoback]

She said that France has a mobile, flexible and highly-motivated military and that it was the second or third best in the world.

I don't know about this ranking, but the French military should not be confused with French politicians.

From all accounts I have read, the French military still is first rate in comparison to the rest of the world, excluding the USA

[DeFault User]

Well, Germany can rest easy tonight. France is ready to defend the Fatherland.

****Smirk**Snort!***Guffaw!**

[Constitutional Patriot]

...with a pre-emptive surrender. What a joke they are, and they know it. This is why they are so bitchy (sorry for the word, I just couldn't find a better one to describe the French).

[Gunrunner2]

Big talk from a country with little courage.

First sign of ANY trouble and they will fold.

[aardvark1]

Of course, to the French the only rogue state from abroad to "threaten" them is the US.

[trek]

"She said that France has a mobile, flexible and highly-motivated military and that it was the second or third best in the world."

Iraq was rated #3 in 1990. But what Gulf War I proved was that being anything other #1 than doesn't cut it.

[Condor51]

She said that France has a mobile, flexible and highly-motivated military and that it was the second or third best in the world

Uh... let's see now there's:

1. USA
2. Russia
3. China (communist)
4. Great Britain (w/ Australia)
5. Israel
6. Paraguay
7. Gambia
8. ... then maybe France!

If I overlooked a country no offense meant
(OK, after Israel I'm being facetious)

[Redbob]

Clogging the roads with your retreating troops does not constitute a "defense!"

[F16Fighter]

'Watch out, if you try to carry out your threats we [France] will destroy you before you know what's hit you.'"

France's best offensive "weapon" would be a laugh-track.

[Lukasz]

France could defend EU in case of attack: minister

Of course of course and now take a deep breath

She said that France has a mobile, flexible and highly-motivated military and that it was the second or third best in the world.

France must discover special war robots and replace their “highly-motivated” soldiers. It is only way!

[Lukasz]

Uh... let's see now there's: 1. USA 2. Russia 3. China (communist) 4. Great Britain (w/ Australia) 5. Israel 6. Paraguay 7. Gambia 8. ... then maybe France!

How dare you France before My Poland, what a insult! ;)