Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

CHIRAC'S APOLOGY TO QUEEN
Skynews.com ^ | 04/03/03 | Skynews

Posted on 04/03/2003 11:52:45 AM PST by bedolido

French President Jacques Chirac has sent a letter of apology to the Queen over the defacing of British war graves in northern France.

The World War One graves were daubed with anti-British slogans in bright red spray paint.

"These unacceptable and disgraceful acts are unanimously condemned by the French people. In the name of France and in my own name, please accept my deepest regrets," Chirac wrote.

In words aimed at soothing the rift over France's opposition to the US and UK-led war in Iraq, Chirac said: "Know that at a time when your soldiers are engaged in combat, the thoughts of the French are naturally with them."

'Saddam will win'

The entrance of the cemetery in Etaples, near Calais had been daubed with several offensive slogans.

"Dig up your rubbish, it is contaminating our soil," one read.

Written in large red letters beneath a swastika, another said: "Saddam will win and he will make you bleed".

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin has written to his British counterpart Jack Straw to express his "emotion and indignation at this unspeakable act".

No excuse

The graffiti was cleaned off by the French branch of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which manages the site, but not before it was seen by British tourists on two coaches.

Of the roughly 11,000 graves at Etaples, most are British but other nationalities include Canadians and Australians. There are no US graves at the site.

France's relations with the United States and Britain have been soured by French opposition to the war in Iraq but officials in Paris stressed this was no excuse for venting hatred.

"France knows what it owes to the formidable devotion and courage of the British soldiers that came to help it free itself in the fight against barbarity," Chirac wrote to the Queen.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: chirac
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-43 next last

o O (I thought Queen broke up after the lead singer died from Aids)

1 posted on 04/03/2003 11:52:46 AM PST by bedolido
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: bedolido
The wogs begin at Calais.
2 posted on 04/03/2003 11:59:17 AM PST by You Dirty Rats
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bedolido
French President Jacques Chirac has sent a letter of apology to the Queen

Any traces of red spray paint on that letter?

3 posted on 04/03/2003 11:59:32 AM PST by Cachelot (~ In waters near you ~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bedolido
the thoughts of the French are naturally with them

Naturally.
(Excuse me while I puke)

4 posted on 04/03/2003 11:59:58 AM PST by grobdriver
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bedolido
Damn, you beat me to it with the posting of your own thread. That's not fair.
5 posted on 04/03/2003 12:01:25 PM PST by Lee'sGhost (Crom!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cachelot
Chiraq's actions have put British and US soldiers more at risk than any graffiti could. The last time I checked, Chiraq is far from apologizing for that, and is in fact working overtime to continuously stab us in the back.
6 posted on 04/03/2003 12:02:07 PM PST by winner3000
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: bedolido
"France knows what it owes to the formidable devotion and courage of the British soldiers that came to help it free itself in the fight against barbarity," Chirac wrote to the Queen.

Okay, history-minded freepers, did france "free itself" with allied help or did we free it?

7 posted on 04/03/2003 12:02:54 PM PST by ellery
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bedolido
"the thoughts of the French are naturally with them."

Yes, the French spoke loud and clear: "Rosbeefs go home."

8 posted on 04/03/2003 12:03:03 PM PST by nicmarlo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lee'sGhost
yeah well... someone beat me to it as well. I did a search and it wasn't there. He posted 4 minutes before me.
9 posted on 04/03/2003 12:03:25 PM PST by bedolido
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: bedolido
Looks like the vandals also wrote "die with the Yankees" as well. Will Bush receive an apology?
10 posted on 04/03/2003 12:04:21 PM PST by skeeter (Fac ut vivas)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bedolido
He'll be apolgizing to a lot more folks eventually!
11 posted on 04/03/2003 12:04:24 PM PST by NavyCaptain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Just curious. I know that ChIraq has written to Tony Blair expressing his regret over British casualties--has ChIraq ever sent his condolences to our President for our losses?
12 posted on 04/03/2003 12:04:24 PM PST by In mourning for six years (I despise frogs.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bedolido
"These unacceptable and disgraceful acts are unanimously condemned by the French people."

I'm not sure he knows what the word "unanimous" means.

13 posted on 04/03/2003 12:04:47 PM PST by Sloth ("I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!" -- Jacobim Mugatu, Zoolander)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bedolido
Ah, I see now, Chirac is the french Clinton. I think what he said translates directly to "You better put some ice on that."
14 posted on 04/03/2003 12:05:19 PM PST by EaglesUpForever (Ne messez pas avec le US)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bedolido
Chirac's cowardice is directly responsible for this. This guy is just plain shamefool.
15 posted on 04/03/2003 12:06:05 PM PST by 1Old Pro (The Dems are self-destructing before our eyes, How Great is That !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bedolido
..."France knows what it owes to the formidable devotion and courage of the British soldiers that came to help it free itself in the fight against barbarity," Chirac wrote to the Queen...

...to help it free itself?...LOL!

He's such an idiot. Can't face the truth.

16 posted on 04/03/2003 12:06:18 PM PST by Mihalis
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bedolido
There is nothing the French can do, or more to the point, are WILLING to do, that will earn forgiveness for this desecration. They do not deserve the freedom those brave men earned for them.
17 posted on 04/03/2003 12:06:44 PM PST by Republic of Texas
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ellery
"help it free itself?"!! Do they teach their children that? Un-Friggin-Believable!
18 posted on 04/03/2003 12:06:47 PM PST by Spruce
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: bedolido
If I were Bush, I'd have our fallen troops brought home to American soil ASAP and let the French have their precious soil. It would serve as warning to a new era of European relations.
19 posted on 04/03/2003 12:06:50 PM PST by WorkingClassFilth (Defund NPR, PBS and the LSC.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bedolido
Why not apologize to Prime Minister Tony Blair??
20 posted on 04/03/2003 12:07:27 PM PST by bird humming
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-43 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson