Zees ees my seriousse fece.
Posted on 01/19/2006 5:01:43 AM PST by wolf78
BREST, France (Reuters) - France said on Thursday it would be ready to launch a targeted nuclear strike against any state that carried out a terrorist attack on French soil.
In a speech defending France's costly nuclear deterrent and toughening policy against terrorism, President Jacques Chirac said Paris must be able to hit back hard at a hostile state's centers of power and its "capacity to act."
"The leaders of states who would use terrorist means against us, as well as those who would consider using in one way or another weapons of mass destruction, must understand that they would lay themselves open to a firm and adapted response on our part," Chirac said during a visit to northwestern France, where France's nuclear submarines are based.
"This response could be a conventional one. It could also be of a different kind."
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Well, Jacques, this is interesting. Getting a little worried about Islamic terror in France, are we?
Imagine if GWB made such a statement.
He's FOS, especially since he would have to turn his guns on the Paris suburbs
France defends their right to retaliate with nukes, but demands that the US refrain from doing so...
Does France think Uncle Sam has the right to respond in kind? Somehow I doubt it.
Remember when Tom Tancredo said something similar?
Why did I get a mental image while reading this of John Cleese peering over a castle wall saying, "I fart in your general direction."
And the bad side to this is?????? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
You are correct. France feels theirs is the only culture worth saving.
Zees ees my seriousse fece.
Telegraphing their intent eh?
Israel can't respond without a powderkeg explosion,
US can't respond for the same reason, plus we're a bit busy in Iraq and Afghanastan,
Britain can't respond for the same reason,
France? Hmmm....is right. Nice threat though. Made us situp and take notice.
Where is Germany in all this mix?
What an interesting strategic place setting at the table of war?
I doubt that this could ever happen. Iran is a immense threat to Israel but not to Europe. Anyway it is good that the Iranians (and others) know that playing dirty little games in central Europe means death.
It is a tough decision, but we will have to go after Iran sooner because later, we won't be able to without risking a nuclear attack here. Mutually Asured Destruction works only if the opposing nations are rational and put the lives of their populations ahead of religious ideals.
Paris somehow conveniently forgets to spell out what they would in response to terror attacks by non-state actors. Its well known Tehran spawns jihad proxies (read hezbollah, Hamas, partly Al Qaeda too, etc) and could easily use one of these groups to wreck bio/chem or radioactive havoc. What then?? Can you launch attacks on Arab/persian cities on the basis of "alleged" links? I would in a heartbeat but its nice to see overindulged and US-protected EU grow up and grapple with adult questions for a while, eh?
In this case Jaques would have to detonate a nuclear warhead right below the Eiffel tower. :-)
When Western leaders talk about using nuclear weapons as retaliation, IT IS the official position.
While Iran can muse about it, Western leaders know they cannot joke around about using nukes.
A good idea but just more poppycock.
This will get one interesting game of poker - i hope it doesn't get to interesting.
The US might ask europe very stringently to play a more proactive role in this case. France seems to find a quite forward leaning attitude... strange enough. We all know that one can't just walk in there... not because we would stand no chance - but the economic fall out would be a direct support of chinas struggle to tilt the balance of power.
I wouldn't bet on who is going to bomb the nuclear facilities. Ah heck possibly the B2 is the best bombing plane there is - so why leave it to second league ?
Jacque's growing big boy testicles?
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