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One in three French backs Saddam
TIMES ONLINE ^ | April.2,2003 | Charles Bremner and Alan Hamilton

Posted on 04/01/2003 7:52:51 PM PST by Reagan Man

ILL-FEELING between Britain and France over the invasion of Iraq has plumbed new depths with the desecration of that most sacred of memorials, a war cemetery. The defilement of Commonwealth war graves in northern France coincided with a poll for The Times which found that 54 per cent of Britons no longer regarded France as a close ally because of its opposition to the war.

Relations will be further rent by a second poll, in Le Monde, showing that only a third of the French felt that they were on the same side as the Americans and British, and that another third desired outright Iraqi victory over “les anglo-saxons”.

Eleven thousand Allied soldiers lie buried in well-tended peace at Etaples, on the Channel coast near Le Touquet, victims of the struggle by Anglo-Saxons to liberate the French from the German invaders during the First World War.

Last week the obelisk raised in their memory was defiled by red-painted insults such as “Rosbeefs go home”; “May Saddam prevail and spill your blood”; and, in a reference to the long-dead casualties beneath the manicured turf, “They are soiling our land”.

Local gendarmerie have launched an inquiry, but have so far found no clues. They say there had been no significant demonstrations against the war in that area of France.

The graffiti have been scrubbed off, but the incident has provoked outrage among British politicians, war graves staff and the few remaining relatives of those buried at Etaples. French politicians have joined the condemnation.

Bruce George, Labour chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, said: “Remembering what sacrifice these men made for the liberation of France, I cannot believe any mature, sane person would be so stupid as that.”

David Uffold, 63, a Shropshire farmer, is the only surviving relative of Rifleman Frederick Uffold of the London Regiment, who is buried at Etaples. “I find it sickening that anyone would vandalise the cemetery,” he said. “It is the last place they should be protesting about Iraq. These fellows were drafted in to fight for France. I can’t see any connection between the men buried at Etaples and the war in Iraq.”

Peter Francis, of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, said he was disgusted that a place remembering those who died defending freedom in world wars long ago should be dragged into a current political debate.

French politicians did their best to portray the desecration as an isolated act, but it nonetheless underlined anti-American and anti-British emotions running through France over what is seen there as a bungled invasion rapidly turning into a humanitarian disaster.

President Chirac’s spokesman said: “We are indignant and shocked by the desecration of the graves of soldiers who fought for our liberty.” Jean-Pierre Raffarin, the Prime Minister, said: “The Americans are not the enemy; just because we are against this war, it does not mean that we want the victory of dictatorship over democracy.”


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: france; francepollsoniraq; iraqifreedom
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1 posted on 04/01/2003 7:52:51 PM PST by Reagan Man
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To: Reagan Man
If one in three French back Saddam, he should not bend over to pick up the soap
2 posted on 04/01/2003 7:54:10 PM PST by KansasCanadian (Living the American Dream)
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To: Reagan Man
only a third of the French felt that they were on the same side as the Americans

I am actually surprised the figure is that high.

3 posted on 04/01/2003 7:55:39 PM PST by HennepinPrisoner
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To: KansasCanadian
One in three French are Muslim?
4 posted on 04/01/2003 7:55:57 PM PST by drlevy88
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To: HennepinPrisoner
I am actually surprised the figure is that high.

Me too, and I wonder how they phrased the question and how sincere the responses were. Still, you know there must be some few good people left in France that have seen their country go to hell. God help them.

5 posted on 04/01/2003 7:57:15 PM PST by EaglesUpForever (Ne messez pas avec le US)
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To: Reagan Man
Four out of ten Americans are democrats. Do the math.
6 posted on 04/01/2003 7:58:21 PM PST by pacobell
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To: Reagan Man
Last week the obelisk raised in their memory was defiled by red-painted insults such as “Rosbeefs go home”; “May Saddam prevail and spill your blood”; and, in a reference to the long-dead casualties beneath the manicured turf, “They are soiling our land”.

Forgive me if I say that were France to be utterly destroyed, I would not bat an eyelash.

7 posted on 04/01/2003 7:59:52 PM PST by laz17 (Socialism is the religion of the atheist.)
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To: Reagan Man
This thread will require an Admin Moderator's full time attention.

I know that I will be keeping my mouth shut as usual.

Yeah, right.
8 posted on 04/01/2003 8:00:36 PM PST by Radix (We are moving on up, to a deluxe apartment in the sky.)
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To: Reagan Man
Why don't the French take showers?

They prefer Baaths.



9 posted on 04/01/2003 8:00:40 PM PST by Sabertooth
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To: Reagan Man
What is even scarier is that our government has not spoken out strongly and directly against frace yet we did directly disparage Canada via our embassador. Our administration needs to confront those French co(^ su(k3ers. Pull out of the UN and break up the EU !
10 posted on 04/01/2003 8:01:30 PM PST by libertyfreedom28
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To: drlevy88
Actually about 1 in 10.
11 posted on 04/01/2003 8:02:01 PM PST by Eleven Bravo 6 319thID
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To: Reagan Man
Hit 'em where it hurts, continue to boycott all stinkin' French products.
12 posted on 04/01/2003 8:02:23 PM PST by GoRepGo (God bless America. Thank you for your duty and sacrifice)
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To: Reagan Man
Time to get serious about the French boycot. Buy American products in place of French.
13 posted on 04/01/2003 8:05:40 PM PST by 69ConvertibleFirebird (Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.)
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To: Eleven Bravo 6 319thID
I heard 20% of Frenchie's are Muslim.
14 posted on 04/01/2003 8:06:17 PM PST by Reagan Man
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To: Angelus Errare
And another French bastard ping. I feel a sudden urge to change my very French sounding name.
15 posted on 04/01/2003 8:08:20 PM PST by Green Knight (Eomer is a Unilateralist!)
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To: Reagan Man
I heard 20% of Frenchie's are Muslim.

And when they take the sword to the necks of the French, the French will get everything they deserve.

16 posted on 04/01/2003 8:08:27 PM PST by laz17 (Socialism is the religion of the atheist.)
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To: pacobell
Four out of ten Americans are democrats. Do the math.

How many if we exempt the dead?
17 posted on 04/01/2003 8:09:24 PM PST by ConservativeNewsNetwork
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To: Reagan Man
France is insuring thier place in oblivion
18 posted on 04/01/2003 8:18:32 PM PST by mylife
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To: Reagan Man
This explains some of it. Pass it around so their tourism industry dries up. I sure wouldn't want to visit them.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/881049/posts
19 posted on 04/01/2003 8:49:11 PM PST by 1 spark
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To: Reagan Man
I can?t see any connection between the men buried at Etaples and the war in Iraq.

I guess just because France has their freedom, they should not give a rats ass about the Iraqi people getting their freedom from an evil dictator.

20 posted on 04/01/2003 8:53:39 PM PST by Always Right
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