French lawmaker urges Pope to become Iraq human shield

Reuters ^ | March 17, 2003

[Dog Gone]

PARIS, March 17 (Reuters) - The only way left to avoid war in Iraq is for Pope John Paul to rush to Baghdad to be "the protector of humanity's values," a French parliamentary deputy said on Monday.

Didier Julia, a maverick conservative who has visited Iraq twice in the past six months, noted the pope would be a suitable "human shield" because he has spoken out forcefully against war.

"Right now, only one thing seems useful to me now, and that's that the pope goes at the last minute to block aggression against Iraq," he told France's i-television.

"I would really like the pope to serve as the protector of humanity's values," he said.

The pope issued a passionate plea for peace on Sunday, saying he had lived through World War Two and felt obliged to tell the world: "Never again war."

Julia, a member of the centre-right UMP party of France's anti-war President Jacques Chirac, said he visited Iraq to try to help protect Iraq's many archeological treasures, which he said could be looted during and after a war.

"There won't be only a war against people, there will be the looting of the whole country," he said. "Underground groups of looters are already getting ready."

[talleyman]

What about Chirac & Vile Pan?

[Mister Baredog]

Underground groups of looters are already getting ready."

Organized by Chirac no doubt

[11th Commandment]

This is too good to be true. A Frenchman is actually encouraging someone else to fight for their position!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[weikel]

You gotta check this out.

[asformeandformyhouse]

What? This is not from The Onion?

[Blood of Tyrants]

It is rumored that the pope's response was, "What are you, nuts? I'm old but I'm not senile yet."

[jwalburg]

If the pope won't go, then maybe Daschle.

[Petronski]

It's a win-win situation for the Frenchman: either the Pope prevents the war, or the Frenchman is rid of a leader he undoubtedly secretly despises.

[Petronski]

"I am deeply
saddened."

[BlueLancer]

If we won't stop the war because of Iraqi women and children ...
And we won't stop the war because of Western "human shields" ...
Why should the presence of the Pope have any bearing on what needs to be done? If he's placed at a target that is a valid military target and which deserves to be hit by a missile, bomb, or shell, then he is committing suicide by proxy.

If necessary, I will volunteer to reenter active military service to serve as the person who pulls the trigger of the weapon fired against whatever legally-designatable installation for which the Pope is acting as a human shield.

[Natural Law]

God forbid Didier Julia actually take some personal risk......

[ModelBreaker]

Headline: Pope urges French lawmaker to serve as human shield.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Didier Julia, a maverick conservative who has visited Iraq twice in the past six months, noted the pope would be a suitable "human shield" because he has spoken out forcefully against war.

So THAT'S where banned poster catholicguy was from. It gave his real name, too.

[RAT Patrol]

So if the Pope commits suicide exactly how does he protect humanity's values?

[Stand Watch Listen]

What about Chirac & Vile Pan?

Hmmmmmm....I thought this thread was about 'humna shields' not about 'target rich environments'... ;-)

[Lee Heggy]

I don't think this pope is capable of 'rushing' anywhere.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Même je ne peux pas tenir les Français.

[mlo]

The pope issued a passionate plea for peace on Sunday, saying he had lived through World War Two and felt obliged to tell the world: "Never again war."

Tell him to try living in Iraq.

[concerned about politics]

"Right now, only one thing seems useful to me now, and that's that the pope goes at the last minute to block aggression against Iraq,"

Sheeeesh. Talk about a "Quick, find someone to cover our a$$es."
"The Pope will save us! The heck with Saddam. We're gonna need a savior when they find all our stuff."

Talk about desperation!