French U-Turn?

[MOBIUS]

Apparently they've said that they'll help us beat the crap out of Iraq if Saddam uses WMD...

Is this a u-turn, or consistent of a country coming to the aid of its allies in their time of need?

[Az]

"time of need"?

[GePap]

I never heard the French say anyting about what they would do once war begun: hence how could they do a U-turn?

[Spiffor]

Consistent with Chirac dreaming to be a new De Gaulle. Despite all the barking he did, De Gaulle immediately backed the US at the beginning of the Cuba crisis, when everybody feared the nuclear armageddon.
Chirac is doing approx. the same. He also tries to show everybody how noble-hearted he is

He tried to save peace, but should our eternal allies become viciously attacked, we will do everything in our power to help them At least, that's the image he would like to give in history books.

This post was completely biased because I can't stand the very guy who is dramatically reducing human rights and welfare in my country.

[MOBIUS]

Originally posted by GePap
I never heard the French say anyting about what they would do once war begun: hence how could they do a U-turn?

The radio called it a u-turn, personally I think it is consistent with their policy.

Also they might be pre-empting any use of WMD by Saddam.

[Richelieu]

link

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/18/sprj.irq.france.chemicals/index.html

[Japher]

Apparently they've said that they'll help us beat the crap out of Iraq if Saddam uses WMD...

They'll help

What are they going to do? Surrender?

Oh, wait by making such a turn they already have! How's that for diplomacy?

[SlowwHand]

Laughable.
The French play their games, then try to jump onboard after Bush says "Screw you. We'll do it without your ass".
The French can stay home.

[Felch]

Originally posted by Spiffor
I can't stand the very guy who is dramatically reducing human rights and welfare in my country.

WTF? Is he reintroducing the use of torture or something?

[Az]

technically, The French tried to help the US to save them from going to a dangerous and useless war.

[Provost Harrison]

Not surprised. We know that France had vested interests in an Iraq under Kuwait. Now it has thrown it's rattle out of it's pram and not gotten away with it (let's face it, France has not been the paradigm of doing the right thing in this whole crisis, they have had lots to lose from the loss of the present Iraqi regime, same with Russia and it's arms industry). France has to claw back something, it's only way is to try and share in the spoils of war now and get some share when Iraq is carved up between the imperialist aggressors.

Again, another example of Iraq, like so many small nations, being a plaything of the ravenous west...

[SlowwHand]

Right. Harrison. It's the West. Hussein had notta do do with it.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Felch X
WTF? Is he reintroducing the use of torture or something?

Domestic security policy where the cops use rubber bullets more widely, a paranoid climate in which cops feel they can use gratuitous violence, forbidden to boo la Marseillaise, electoral reform which effectively bars small parties of European and Regional elections for the sake of the monolithic Chirac's party.
Pending destruction of the free healthcare for the poorest, people have to work longer before retirement, massive reductions of public servant's amounts, end of the 35-hours workweek (but the workers keep the flaws), tax cuts for the richest etc.
Edit : I forgot : 13 year-olds now qualify for jail (France is the only European country accused of torture within jails, along with Turkey)

Chirac and his right-winged government has a policy extremely harmful for the French people, and respects every demand exerted by the businesses.
To avoid being too unpopular, Chirac uses anything he finds to hide the ugliness his government decides : first it was domestic security, then it was road-security, now it is war in Iraq, and I suppose he already knows what next.
It works : despite all his assaults against the people's interests, his role in the Iraq crisis gave him more popularity than he ever had.

Chirac is by far the worst and most opportunistic President the 5th Republic ever had.

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Right. Harrison. It's the West. Hussein had notta do do with it.

I don't like Hussein but that is academic - the west doesn't care about how bloody a dictator is as long as they can do the right kind of business with him - under their terms...

[RGBVideo]

They've been against an offensive war because they don't believe that Saddam has WoMD. If they're wrong, they will, of course, support you.

I fail to see this 'U-turn' you're talking about. People of the United States, what kind of crap they are broadcasting to you?