Posted on 03/29/2003 9:34:38 PM PST by Pokey78
Tony Blair has told officials to halt a £10billion defence contract won by a French firm - as revenge for Jacques Chirac's veto on UN backing for the war on Iraq.
He has ordered Ministers to stop the biggest maritime contract in British history going to French shipbuilders.
The deal for two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers which will be a lynchpin of Britain's defences for the next 20 years was split between UK-based BAE Systems and French firm Thales.
Thales were awarded their share on condition that much of the work was carried out in British shipyards, saving up to 10,000 jobs.
Now, following the US Pentagon's decision to ban any military contracts or co-operation with France, there is a move to rewrite the contract and switch all the work to British firms.
During WW-2 ,American President Roosevelt and Churchill were waiting in Casablanca for the French Rooster..[Charles De Gaulle]to arrive from England.[De Gaulle was having a pity party cuz he was not going to be the sole commander of the French army]
Days of waiting with numerous appeals to De Gaulle...a frustrated Roosevelt commented to Churchill:
"Yes indeed Winston.....When ....is She going to get here"!
Mutual defense? Trade preferences? Interesting.
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