France calls for American 'reason'

Telegraph (UK) ^ | 09/14/2001 | Harry de Quetteville and Toby Helm

[dighton]

POLITICAL leaders in France and Germany urged President Bush yesterday to avoid a belligerent response, as fears grew in Europe of the consequences of swift and ruthless military reaction to the terrorist attacks.

Lionel Jospin, the French Prime Minister, said the Americans should be "reasonable" in their response. Alain Richard, his defence minister, said the attacks were "not acts of war".

The comments, echoed by senior German ministers if not by the Chancellor, Gerhard Schroder, contradicted statements by President Bush and his Secretary of State Colin Powell.

M Jospin said: "We must vigorously condemn and combat terrorism. But we must not allow ourselves to be led into considerations of a conflict between the western world and the Islamic world, where we have many friends and partners."

The remarks from the Socialist prime minister were aimed at reassuring both the France's political Left and its Muslim population, which numbers six million. But they will be seen as further evidence of disagreements between France and America on big foreign policy issues.

The comments by M Richard will also undermine American confidence in France's commitment to joint reprisals as outlined by Nato members on Wednesday. He said: "I think that this was a terrorist attack of particular gravity.

"American democracy is clearly endangered by such action, but in my opinion a war is something else entirely." France disagrees with US policy on missile defence, the bombing of Iraq and what it sees as American cultural imperialism.

Rudolf Scharping, the German defence minister, also cautioned against launching swift military strikes. "I hope we all remain calm and do not now speak of a state of alarm. We do not face a war.

"We face the question of what is an appropriate response," he told German television. "Not in the sense of revenge and retribution, but in order to be able to fight and break international terror."

France's maverick health minister, Bernard Kouchner, went as far yesterday as to put the attacks down to a "series of errors" by America. "America's made a real mistake in Afghanistan and Pakistan, which was to train the Taliban," M Kouchner said.

"To think now that there is some kind of consensus of 'honourable' nations against the 'bad' terrorists, is simply not true."

© Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2001.</font color>

[A+Bert (Outta here)]

The Father of MY COUNTRY George Washington said avoid entangling alliances and trade and commerce with all. Since some dual citizens have come on the scene that wisdom has been perverted by the likes of you. Go home and fight for your own hatefilled country.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Don't worry, my dear French fairies. We won't be too belligerent (if you don't call tearing off their heads and sh*tting down their necks "belligerent.")

[rb22982]

ROFL

[Eugene Tackleberry]

Point well taken. Arabic and Muslim are not synonyms, especially in ancient times before Islam even existed. Perhaps the statement should be rephrased "name a single Islamic contribution to science, literature, etc." Thanks for pointing this out to me.

[Eugene Tackleberry]

Point well taken. Arabic and Muslim are not synonyms, especially in ancient times before Islam even existed. Perhaps the statement should be rephrased "name a single Islamic contribution to science, literature, etc." Thanks for pointing this out to me.

p.s., I know that complex mathematical calculations can be done with Roman numerals, but my recollection is that it is MUCH more complicated than with Arabic numerals.

[B Knotts]

There are two sides in the world: the civilized world, and the uncivilized world.

We're the civilized world.

Choose wisely, France.

[Lazamataz]

I know this will depress you, because you ally so closely with Palestine and with the Jihad they wage against us, but 10 police officers were found alive in the rubble. That means you and your Islamic extremists will need to strap on more explosives to get the job you want done, done!

[neutrino]

. It is all paper money and will be worthless when our economy comes to a screetching halt without oil

You underestimate the US and Americans. We may face some economic sacrifice, but we most certainly can survive and prosecute an effective war.

Some have stated that we are all New Yorkers now. Perhaps. But I believe that by enduring this vicious terrorist attack, we are also Israelis. It is time to fight back, and to destroy the terrorist enemy utterly.

[CatoRenasci]

Just like the French to go wet! Our coming to their rescue in 1917 was payback Lafayette, we are here!. That made us quits. The froggies owe us for World War II and they serve us this SH*T? Unleash Chaing Kai Shek on them or something. They're afraid of the arabs in their midst? After their cowardly retreat in Algeria, they should be! It's time to leave Europe to the Europeans.

[babylonian]

French bread and French dressing.

[WillRain]

You forget, sir, Who fights for Israel. She will be here long after all the Arabs...and US are long gone.
And THAT'S what gives us the upper hand.
God is not on OUR side, we are on HIS.

[CatoRenasci]

Just like the French to go wet! Our coming to their rescue in 1917 was payback Lafayette, we are here!. That made us quits. The froggies owe us for World War II and they serve us this SH*T? Unleash Chaing Kai Shek on them or something. They're afraid of the arabs in their midst? After their cowardly retreat in Algeria, they should be! It's time to leave Europe to the Europeans.

[Centurion2000]

whatever happens, we have got the hydrogen bomb; and they have not.

I have some bad news .... the French have nukes.

Of course if we fart in their general direction they will fall all over themselves trying to surrender.

France and Germany can piss off .... we've kicked you a$$es before .... get in our way and we will do it again.

[Valin]

Alain Richard, his defence minister, said the attacks were "not acts of war".

Ya like he'd know one if it bit him on the ass.

[rb22982]

aye, the brits may be a bit too socialistic for my tastes now but when push comes to shove, they stand beside us.

[summercat]

That loud slamming sound heard after the French government began its equivocation about support to American was the sound of the hideaway door slamming shut after its (the French) gonads were retracted into their secret hiding place.