Via Reuters, France threatens nuclear weapons against 'terrorist' states
We are hardly terror apologists given that we reject terrorists' evil methods and their tortured "root cause" analyses.
Still, we are startled and quite alarmed by French President Chirac's significant escalation of the war on terror rhetoric. This is almost more worrying than the new purported Osama tape.
"The leaders of states who would use terrorist means against us, as well as those who would consider using in one way or another weapons of mass destruction, must understand that they would lay themselves open to a firm and adapted response on our part," Chirac said during a visit to a nuclear submarine base in northwestern France.
"This response could be a conventional one. It could also be of a different kind."
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4 comments:
PR: wonder who's attention he's trying to get. Is it Morocco and Algeria, or Iran - or somone else? He put "strategic supplies" (oil) under the nuclear-response umbrella and also took a potshot at Iran.
Either way - coming from the French, and given how drastic the statement is, the threat doesn't have much credibility. Also Chirac has little to lose - last term and all.
Gentlemen: I would'nt doubt the credibility of the threat. I am not saying he is going to nuke the shit out of Iran. But France has never hesitated using brutal force when it came to protecting its interests.
Remember how under President Mitterand, they blew up GreenPeace's 'Rainbow Warrior' in plainsight of world media when they interfered with its nuclear tests in the Pacific. Chirac too ordered numerous nuclear tests right after he came to power in 1995.
Nevertheless, I am surprised by their hawkishness vis-a-vis Iran. Are they doing it on behalf of rival Sunni Power KSA??
Interesting response.
So many examples of good counter-terror responses and our governments always want to repeat their own sad mistakes.
While I wouldn't put it past the French to do something drastic, I doubt they would exercise their nuclear option.
Its amazing to see their drastic flip in position on methods of dealing with the threat of Islamic terrorism now that they had a brush with it at home.
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