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Europe
Chirac blasts eastern Europeans over pro-American stance
2003-02-17
French President Jacques Chirac launched a withering attack Monday on eastern European nations who signed letters backing the U.S. position on Iraq, warning it could jeopardize their chances of joining the European Union.
You know Jacq, there is such a thing as over playing your hand.
"It is not really responsible behavior," he told a news conference. "It is not well brought up behavior. They missed a good opportunity to keep quiet."
oops, thats a dead giveaway isnt it.
Chirac was angered when EU candidates Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic joined pro-U.S. EU members such as Britain, Spain and Italy last month in a letter supporting Washington's line on Iraq against the more dovish stance of France and Germany. Paris was further upset when 10 other eastern European nations signed a similar letter a few days later.
Fair bunched their undies, didn't it?
France argued that the moves aggravated splits in the 15-nation EU and backed the ideas put forward by U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld who had earlier spoke of France and Germany as "old Europe" in contrast to the easterners seeking to join the EU and NATO. "Concerning the candidate countries, honestly I felt they acted frivolously because entry into the European Union implies a minimum of understanding for the others," Chirac told reporters after an emergency EU summit on Iraq.
Right back atcha, froggy.
He warned the candidates the position could be "dangerous" because the parliaments of the 15 EU nations still have to ratify last December's decision for 10 new members to join the bloc on May 1, 2004.
Well thats a tough one, how do you effectively threaten countries that have been occupied by the soviet union for 40 years? Not a whole lot of arrows in that quiver, i'd think.
Chirac particularly warned Romania and Bulgaria, who are still negotiating to enter the bloc in 2007.
I think they just got a better offer from another team.
"Romania and Bulgaria were particularly irresponsible to sign the letter when their position is really delicate," Chirac said. "If they wanted to diminish their chances of joining Europe they could not have found a better way."
Join Europe or the "New World". Join "Winners" or "Perennial Losers", The "NY Yankees" or the "Paris Frogs", what to do, what to do, Decisions, Decisions....
Britain, Spain and other EU nations had suggested the candidate nations attend Monday's emergency summit on Iraq, but France and Germany opposed the idea. Although Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and British Prime Minister Tony Blair were the driving forces behind the letter backing America and EU members Italy, Denmark and Portugal also signed up, Chirac saved his wrath for the candidates. "When you're in the family you have more rights than when you're knocking on the door," he said.
But when its the "Addams Family", who wants to stand next to Uncle Fester.(Chirac and Fenster are clearly spearated-at-birth)
Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Cyprus and Malta are set to join in May 2004. Lagging behind economically, Romania and Bulgaria were told to wait three more years. Instead of attending the EU summit, the candidates are due to travel to Brussels Tuesday for a briefing on its outcome by Greece, which currently holds the EU presidency. Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis denied they had been excluded from the summit because of their backing for Washington, insisting rules require the treaties be signed first. "We will not discuss pro-American or anti-American positions," Simitis told a news conference. "The candidate countries will be members" soon, and "we have to proceed together."
First thing on the EU agenda should be to tell France to shut the hell up.

France seems to be of the opinion that everyone in Europe should be in the EU, but only people who speak French should have any say in what is done. Chirac is writing checks with his mouth that his ass can't cash.
Posted by:Frank Martin

#9  Chirac is basically saying: "Kiss my frog arse or you will never be an associate frog!" Keep talking, Kermit, it ain't hurtin' us!
Posted by: Tom   2003-02-17 21:31:16  

#8  And here I thought one of the reasons we're not seeing eye-to-eye is that the euros don't appreciate our tone of voice.

Posted by: Anonymous   2003-02-17 20:13:06  

#7  "The combination! How could you forget, old man? 2-10-11 - eyes, fingers, toes!"
Posted by: Fred   2003-02-17 19:24:22  

#6  Correct Scooter, it is Fester. And Chriac DOES look like he needs a lightbulb stuck in his gob.
Posted by: Frank Martin   2003-02-17 19:04:41  

#5  Chirac just must have turned up in his Darth Vader suit for this summit. Wouldn't have worked at all otherwise, would have sounded ridicuous...
Posted by: Bulldog   2003-02-17 18:06:58  

#4  Is this f**khead serious??? I've got news for him, the ordinary people in eastern Europe aren't exactly beating down the door to the EU. In fact, they are fed fairy tales by their governments to get them to vote yes in the upcoming referendums. It's the hope of getting jobs in the west that compels them to join, and thats about the only advantage that allows Chirac to shoot off his mouth like this. F%ck Chirac.
Posted by: RW   2003-02-17 18:00:45  

#3  Lagging behind economically, Romania and Bulgaria were told to wait three more years....
and the French, morally bankrupt were sent to the penalty box for 4 years ...
This is nothing more than a temper tantrum by that corrupt piece of anti-american s$%t
BOYCOTT FRENCH PRODUCTS
Posted by: Frank G   2003-02-17 17:58:36  

#2  Hoisting one up by one's own Petard takes special meaning here.
Posted by: Anonymous   2003-02-17 17:53:46  

#1  I hate to nit-pick, but the fat bald guy on "The Addams Family" was Uncle Fester. Y'know, as in "festering sore" or somesuch.
Posted by: Scooter McGruder   2003-02-17 17:51:34  

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