Stinking Fwench Government Whores Sell Soul (again) and Tiawan to Chinese Commies

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Sandman
I'll bet that internal French opposition to lifting the ban has hardly been covered in the American media.

Allow me to quote an exchange from a previous thread:

Originally posted by Spiffor (not an American)

Originally posted by DinoDoc
I do have to ask though how much serious opposition is there to removing the embargo within the EU?

A very quick scan on the French and German press tells me that the matter is considered as nothing more than a bone of contention between the US and EU. The very act of lifting the embargo is mentioned nowhere in the media I scanned. I guess some peace associations will mount an ad-hoc opposition, but as with most diplomatic matters, the parties and the population in general won't be involved.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Ned
Ditto, Iraq, and manh of the the anti-tank missles used by the enemy. French.

I hadn't noticed the Iraqi military had any efficiency against you Edit: However, it's pretty nice from you to say. It means our technology PWNs the Germans' and the Russians' (and most certainly other suppliers that haven't been mentioned, as they were in the US coalition)

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Spiffor

I hadn't noticed the Iraqi military had any efficiency against you

Which French stereotype do you want as a response?

[Ned]

Spiffor, French weapons time and again have proven themselves to be first rate.

That is a problem for us as they seem to find their way into our enemies' hands.

[Lancer]

Love that aircraft carrier Spif

[Lancer]

"That is a problem for us as they seem to find their way into our enemies' hands."

Remember when, >>>during the Falklands war<<< the French wanted to sell Argentina more exocets to replace those used to sink British ships?

Man oh man, what a government.

[Heresson]

France

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Lancer
Remember when, >>>during the Falklands war<<< the French wanted to sell Argentina more exocets to replace those used to sink British ships?

We prefer killing Brits by proxy, while you guys kill them directly.

Once again, we see the difference between us subtle diplomats and them uncouth cowboys

[DanS]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/1209/p16s01-wmgn.html

That number is a little loose with the terminology "gave to Israel." I concede that the cost to the US is rather large, even though I don't agree with parts of the list.

[Patroklos]

There is no superior technology at work in Irak

Perhaps you think Irak and Iraq are differnet places?

[Spiffor]

DD:
WRT that quote, things have changed in Germany. It appears that Schröder's majority (SPD+greens) now oppose the lift. Actually, the only article in Le Monde that deals with domestic opposition, deals with the one happening in Germany

Edit: I also read one line that mentions that the European Parliament opposes the lift as well. I'll try to find articles of the period, to see what kind of spotlight this news received. Edit edit: Le Monde and L'Humanité haven't written any specific article on the issue. The important EP news, that week, was Barroso' confirmation.

[DinoDoc]

What parts would you disagree with and we can come up with a more reasonable number.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Spiffor
DD:
WRT that quote, things have changed in Germany. It appears that Schröder's majority (SPD+greens) now oppose the lift. Actually, the only article in Le Monde that deals with domestic opposition, deals with the one happening in Germany

I'm still curious where this internal French opposition thinks the American media should be covering is when even French papers can not find it.

[DanS]

Regarding ITER, you should say that Japan is a closer ally than the EU which is a member of the association, not France.

If it's to be built in France, it will be mostly with French money. It's a no-cost position for the US. If it were to be built in the UK, we would be having second thoughts. Besides, while we would like to treat the EU as a single entity, at the present time this is impossible. Maybe once we continue to pack the EU with countries favorable to the US and unfavorable to France, it will all be cool.

[kronic]

In Germany, all parties currently oppose the lifting, though Schröder is in favour of it. The parliament has no say on that matter, so Schröder could very well push for the lifting. Anyway, I think the embargo will be lifted within two or three years.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean that we will actually sell stuff to China. At least in Germany, we have relatively strict rules for weapon exports. For example, not long ago, the government stopped the export of Leopard tanks to Turkey because of the fear, the Turks could use them against the Kurds. I think the embargo is overrated and I'm fine with lifting it.