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| Europe |
| Scratching at relevance: France ’to aim nuclear arms at rogue states’ |
| 2003-10-28 |
| France is to enact a historic shift in military strategy by targeting its nuclear missiles on "rogue states" that have weapons of mass destruction, it was reported yesterday. Speaking of rogue states, how many weapons do the US and UK havepointing in France’s general direction? In the longer term, the strategy will "take into account" China as a potential threat, according to the newspaper Libération. It said the new doctrine - the fruit of several years of reflection by the defence ministry, will be announced in the next few weeks. The French long-term strategy: don’t do anything that will prevent rogue states acquiring WMD, but wait to deal with them once they’re in a position to annihilate us, then negotiate/surrender. With luck, however, the contemptible Americans will have dealt with rogue states for us before that happens. If confirmed, the move will overturn 40 years of French nuclear strategy founded on the principle of deterrence against declared nuclear powers and expose President Jacques Chirac to further attack from anti-nuclear protesters. He was condemned for briefly resuming French nuclear testing in the Pacific in 1996. Yesterday, the Elysee Palace said M Chirac’s nuclear doctrine had not shifted since 2001, when he declared that France would "maintain the credibility of its nuclear deterrent in the face of all new threats". Got no cultural or political credibility left, so it’s time to put on the warrior’s ...um... hat thing, and make a brutish face. At the time, he added: "Our nuclear forces are not directed towards any country. We have always refused that nuclear arms can be considered as a battle weapon within military strategy." "In fact, we don’t believe in using weapons in battle, at all." The new doctrine would reverse that by specifying particular targets and transforming France’s defensive nuclear arms into an active threat against its enemies. Hope France has enough for all of the potential enemies it envisages having in its wonderful multipolar world. Libération said the French military had been quietly revising its nuclear capability in recent years and developing new weapons. The cost of maintaining France’s nuclear capability absorbs 10 per cent of its £23 billion annual defence budget. Many in the military think the money would be better spent on conventional forces and equipment for a rising number of humanitarian tasks. Or sticking to the eurozone public spending limits. France’s Cold War goal was to prove its independence from America and Nato by having its own deterrent against Soviet attack. Lookit me! It is not clear how the new strategy would be received in Washington - as yet another French attempt to exclude the US from Europe’s defence or a welcome recognition of the continuing strategic value of nuclear arms and the dangers of rogue states. It’s just the French cock strutting and clucking. France is also looking at developing "mini-nukes" capable of destroying military installations without serious civilian casualties. In unveiling such a new strategy, M Chirac would bring France into line with America, which has said it might one day be necessary to use nuclear force against nations with weapons of mass destruction. As France hasn’t got the balls to go to war with anyone, for any reason, this may all be just a tad irrelevant. |
| Posted by:Bulldog |
| #14 3 possible reasons for France to openly announce this new policy: 1)desperately trying to justify keeping its nukes. 2)French Intelligance heard something that scared the s--- out of leadership. 3)The specific naming of China makes no sense-unless we remember France's continuing efforts to establish a relationship w/Russia.Russia does worry about China.This could be attempt by France to tell Russia if we reach an understanding/alliance,France will cover your back while Russia modernizes w/French help.(Basically recreating pre-1914 Entente w/US taking place of Germany for France and China taking place of Austro-Hungarian Empire for Russia.) |
| Posted by: Stephen 2003-10-28 10:42:38 PM |
| #13 3 possible reasons for France to openly announce this new policy: 1)desperately trying to justify keeping its nukes. 2)French Intelligance heard something that scared the s--- out of leadership. 3)The specific naming of China makes no sense-unless we remember France's continuing efforts to establish a relationship w/Russia.Russia does worry about China.This could be attempt by France to tell Russia if we reach an understanding/alliance,France will cover your back while Russia modernizes w/French help.(Basically recreating pre-1914 Entente w/US taking place of Germany for France and China taking place of Austro-Hungarian Empire for Russia.) |
| Posted by: Stephen 2003-10-28 10:31:41 PM |
| #12 Mojo, George may need a Ouji Board if its a spoken part. If Jack Palance can play Fidel Catro and John Wayne can play Gengis Khan, George Plimpton shall not be denied. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-10-28 1:58:18 PM |
| #11 According to the New York Daily News, Allen, along with Wynton Marsalis, George Plimpton and Robert DeNiro, will star in a new short film, called, "Let's FallIn Love Again," which tries to lure American tourists back to France. Remarkable actor, that George Plimpton. Imagine! Making a film from beyond the grave! |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-10-28 1:02:22 PM |
| #10 www.fuckfrance.com |
| Posted by: Greg 2003-10-28 12:14:07 PM |
| #9 Canada could make the list, if the voters succeed in expelling the FROG (Franco-Red Occupation Government) from Ottawa. |
| Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy 2003-10-28 11:51:57 AM |
| #8 Sorry, Charles. Here is an excerpt from ESPN 920: Woody Allen Takes France Jun 6 2003 9:30AM Woody Allen is doing his part to heal relations between the United States and France. According to the New York Daily News, Allen, along with Wynton Marsalis, George Plimpton and Robert DeNiro, will star in a new short film, called, "Let's FallIn Love Again," which tries to lure American tourists back to France. Allen says in the ad that he doesn't want to call his french fries, "freedom fries," and doesn't want to "freedom kiss" his |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-10-28 11:11:13 AM |
| #7 I'd be willing to bet that most, if not all, of the vaunted French nuke force is badly maintained and probably unusable. Them things are expensive, especially when you have so many retirements and month-long vacations to fund... |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-10-28 10:48:48 AM |
| #6 If by "Woody" you mean the UN and "Wife" you mean the Paleos, then you're right SH. |
| Posted by: Charles 2003-10-28 9:56:12 AM |
| #5 They wouldn't target NY, Woody lives there. He's probably French kissing his |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-10-28 9:38:37 AM |
| #4 They cite China as the major external threat. This could be interesting; the Phrench are noted for joining our side after they've f*cked us over and need to be bailed out (viz. Mitterand with missile deployments, etc.) |
| Posted by: Brian 2003-10-28 9:20:59 AM |
| #3 Uh, guys, the French have commented that they believe the US is a rogue nation. Now they say they're gonna aim nukes at rogue nations. Put two and two together, and it comes out as the French threatening us with nukes. (I'd add a smiley, but I'm only half joking.) |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2003-10-28 7:51:14 AM |
| #2 Save Fifty For France Secret Annex to Salt I. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-10-28 7:41:20 AM |
| #1 Another nonsensical policy that does nothing but burn valuable treasure for nothing. France's quite public decline is a sad but valuable lesson for the rest of us. France pulled away from NATO once before, pursued a "rogue" state policy of above ground nuclear testing when everyone else was stopping. A real popular move that pissed off the world. They just do not get it. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-10-28 6:57:55 AM |