French Official Blasts U.S., Allies

AP | 3/17/03 | PAMELA SAMPSON

[kattracks]

PARIS, Mar 17, 2003 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- France lashed out at the United States, Britain and Spain on Monday for following a path toward military conflict with Iraq.

Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said the three nations had decided to abandon diplomacy at the United Nations because a large majority of the Security Council oppose their call for war against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

"Despite the will clearly expressed by the international community, the United States, Britain and Spain underlined today their determination to resort to force," de Villepin said in a statement. France "regrets a decision that is not justified today and that risks serious consequences for the region and the world."

His remarks followed harsh criticism from the United States and Britain earlier in the day.

U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte and British Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock singled out France for threatening to veto a proposed resolution that would have given Iraq an ultimatum to disarm by Monday or face military action.

Last week, President Jacques Chirac said France would use its veto to kill the resolution if it came up for a vote and won the nine votes needed for passage. France staunchly supports the work of U.N. weapons inspectors charged with overseeing the disarmament of Iraq and any nuclear, biological or chemical weapons it may possess.

Weeks of intense diplomacy and pressure from the Bush administration failed to convince a majority of the council's 15 members that the time for war had come. The resolution would have authorized war anytime after Monday unless Iraq proved before then that it had disarmed.

De Villepin said he was still evaluating the situation to determine whether to withdraw diplomatic personnel from the region. On Sunday, however, diplomats in Baghdad and Paris said the French mission in Iraq would evacuate the country if U.N. weapons inspectors started pulling out.

In Moscow, meanwhile, the Kremlin press service said Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chirac spoke by telephone and "underlined the necessity of continuing, despite the serious worsening of circumstances, the political-diplomatic efforts in the framework of the United Nations." Russia and Germany have strongly aligned themselves with the French stance for peaceful disarmament of Iraq.

Earlier Monday, de Villepin also told reporters that despite the disagreement over Iraq, France remains an "ally" and "a friend" of the United States and that it would offer assistance after a war.

"We will respond to the demands of our allies," he said. De Villepin added that France would continue to allow U.S. military aircraft to fly through French airspace.

France had also said it was willing to accept a 30-day deadline for Iraq to disarm, provided the move was endorsed by the chief U.N. weapons inspectors. But U.S. officials have dismissed the idea as a nonstarter.

By PAMELA SAMPSON Associated Press Writer

[TomEwall]

I thought they said they wouldn't support any resolution with an ultimatum. Now they're saying they would support a 30 day ultimatum? Which is it?

[monkeywrench]

de Villepin also told reporters that despite the disagreement over Iraq, France remains an "ally" and "a friend" of the United States and that it would offer assistance after a war.

How many different frenchies have said this, now? I think it's a warning. After the war, their "help" will become the next international debate. The left will hammer away that we can't do this alone, etc...

[Djarum]

France lashed out at the United States, Britain and Spain on Monday for following a path toward military conflict with Iraq.

You want a piece of this?

[snooker]

Can you imagine what will happen if Sad-man sprays our troops with chemical weapons?

permanent embargo/boycott of frence products would be just the beginning.

Maybe we should present the first chemical shell to ignorance is blix. Opened of course.

snooker

[Delbert]

FRUCK FANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ancesthntr]

We will respond to the demands of our allies," he said. De Villepin added that France would continue to allow U.S. military aircraft to fly through French airspace.

Maybe they learned from the '86 Libya raid that our tired pilots make the most convenient mistakes with laser-guided bombs.

US to France: We no longer give a rat's posterior what you think or say. It is to our shame that we once did, not to mention the tens of thousands of fine young men that we wasted freeing you from the Krauts.

[Extremist]

Despite their efforts so far, I think the stinky french hair-balls will run under our coat-tails the minute the bombs start to drop. They have fought to prevent action in an attempt to cover up their dealings with Suddam but fearing impending repercussions, they will cut their losses and go with the side of the winners. Chirac's loyalties will fly out the window as Suddam's empire tumbles. The little bastards will then come on hands and knees begging us for some of the fruits of war. At that point we should really put the screws to 'em!!

[ambrose]

Sure, let the French help after the war. They can patrol some rural, landlocked, and mountainous pro-Saddam holdout area where there is no oil, brothels or wine.

[Nick Danger]

[ottersnot]

The French can help out by staffing the new Baghdad McDonalds.

[maxamillion]

I would like everyone to know, I no longer french kiss my wife!!! In fact I don't french kiss anything anymore!!! I'm mad as hell, oh & by the way, I don't make love with my face anymore either... ( I'm too old ) However when I kiss my wife from now on, It's a Spanish kiss...


Madmax

[JohnMac]

I hope Luxembourg invades France; it would serve the French right.

[Bulldogs22]

Francopoofter"!


That's what the Italians I work with call them.

[Theyknow]

What worries me today is that we don’t have allies anymore who will come to our aid. The rest of the world thinks the invasion of Iraq has nothing to do with 9/11, who knows why they think that, but that is a separate issue. When we asked for their help in Afghanistan support was all but universal. My new worry is that since they view the invasion as unnecessary they won’t be very sympathetic when terror results. Any thoughts?

[Grand Old Partisan]

Notice that the woman next to the man is applauding the Nazis.

[packrat35]

I just ate Chili and I got something to blast the froggies with right now!

[Enemy Of The State]

France said something? Oh I thought it was just the wind blowing