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2006-07-05 Europe
‘French warning of nuclear response a necessary deterrent’
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Posted by Fred 2006-07-05 00:18|| || Front Page|| [11130 views since 2007-05-07]  Top

#1 Fine and good, Chirac, but always remember the props still have to stay on for expensive aircraft carriers to do their mission. Can't help or save NATO iff the Cold War Soviet Navy considered major French warships sunk while still at anchor and not even in battle.
Posted by JosephMendiola 2006-07-05 01:15||   2006-07-05 01:15|| Front Page Top

#2 nyoo leenk anywun?
Posted by muck4doo 2006-07-05 01:56|| http://evolvedamnyou.blogspot.com/]">[http://evolvedamnyou.blogspot.com/]  2006-07-05 01:56|| Front Page Top

#3 Alliot-Marie suggested that France would extend its nuclear protection to European allies
Such frivolous mirth has made me spill cornflakes down my suit. Bugger.
Posted by Howard UK 2006-07-05 03:32||   2006-07-05 03:32|| Front Page Top

#4 Alliot-Marie suggested that France would extend its nuclear protection to European allies

Sorry but the decision about who would be covered by France's nuclear ptrotection is NOT from the resort of the defence minister.

And I see no reason why the taxes of the French should be used to protect people who haven't paid a single red cent from tyhe costs of French nukes.
Posted by JFM">JFM  2006-07-05 04:06||   2006-07-05 04:06|| Front Page Top

#5 That would be Germans and the rest then JFM.
Posted by Sock Puppet of Doom 2006-07-05 05:47||   2006-07-05 05:47|| Front Page Top

#6 Chirac is saying the continent doesn't need NATO.
Posted by lotp 2006-07-05 05:59||   2006-07-05 05:59|| Front Page Top

#7 The French can be so frustrating, and they say the US is bad. Of all countries France needs NATO most. LOTP's reading into this is correct, and France's arrogance is showing. A Nuke responce to terrorism? Give me a break! It seems they still don't get transnational terrorist threat. They will never be able to clearly define a state sponsored attack unless the country stands up and takes credit for it. Then it will be an act of war and France will demand NATO do something.
Posted by 49 Pan">49 Pan  2006-07-05 06:14||   2006-07-05 06:14|| Front Page Top

#8 A dichotomy mindset should never have any control over foreign policy. That is, for such incapables, there are only two options: hold bureaucratic committee meetings and endless "peace dialogings", or use nuclear weapons and destroy the world.

They cannot grasp that there are a million alternatives between the two. And they absolutely refuse to support any other alternatives, because they confuse them and make their head hurt.

But it's sad and dangerous how many people in power are just that naive, or intellectually incapable.

Such things as the EU approach to Iran, the nuclear freeze movement, much of the democratic party's foreign policy are all based on this inability to grasp bigger concepts than that there are only two alternatives to every problem.
Posted by Anonymoose 2006-07-05 07:01||   2006-07-05 07:01|| Front Page Top

#9 They will never be able to clearly define a state sponsored attack

Just nuke Syria and Iran. It's a no-brainer.
Posted by phil_b">phil_b  2006-07-05 07:09|| http://autonomousoperation.blogspot.com/]">[http://autonomousoperation.blogspot.com/]  2006-07-05 07:09|| Front Page Top

#10 agree with anonymoose. I think this action shows how hot this situation is becoming. They are acknowledging this isn't a game anymore. What's sad is that it never was.
Posted by 2b 2006-07-05 07:38||   2006-07-05 07:38|| Front Page Top

#11 they absolutely refuse to support any other alternatives, because they confuse them and make their head hurt.

They also cost a lot of money and require a lot of effort. It's too bad the French waste all this money on nukes, because the few French military people I have known were great warriors. Their country just wasn't willing to support them. Some of that may be the French military record of the last 150 years. That sort of thing makes nukes look like a usable and effective alternative. But nukes are useless, even for France.
Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-07-05 08:01||   2006-07-05 08:01|| Front Page Top

#12 And I see no reason why the taxes of the French should be used to protect people who haven't paid a single red cent from tyhe costs of French nukes.

What was the logic of the EU again? I guess the taxes of the rest can go to support French socialism.
Posted by SR-71 2006-07-05 08:55||   2006-07-05 08:55|| Front Page Top

#13 It, yet again, points out that the sole rogue nuclear power at this point in time is France. France will determine the nature of the threat and its response, without regard or consultaion with any other nation. I continue to foresee a time when the nations of eastern Europe will regret having joined the EU because adherance to France's foreign policy will be backed by nukes.
Posted by Chuck Simmins">Chuck Simmins  2006-07-05 09:29|| http://northshorejournal.org]">[http://northshorejournal.org]  2006-07-05 09:29|| Front Page Top

#14 I think this as much about France reasserting its primacy within the EU as it is about security policy.

France has increasingly felt the EU slipping away from her as it expanded and as Germany became more assertive.

I suspect that this is less about French vigor than it is about France's fear of her own weakness.
Posted by Angotch Glaising9070 2006-07-05 09:59||   2006-07-05 09:59|| Front Page Top

#15 And I see no reason why the taxes of the French should be used to protect people who haven't paid a single red cent from tyhe costs of French nukes

Gee, I wished they'd made clear say around 1950'ish or so. The American tax payers would have saved a lot of money plying the same logic. Stuffed more money into the Navy instead of the defense of Western Europe and redirected the remaining monies to our social programs.
Posted by Slosing Glemble1381 2006-07-05 10:46||   2006-07-05 10:46|| Front Page Top

#16 The US has offered "nuclear umbrellas" as a tool of US foreign policy. I suspect France sees the same potential as well. After all it doesnt cost any more for the nuclear force if you do that - the force is the same size, its just the words youve said that are different.
Posted by liberalhawk 2006-07-05 12:08||   2006-07-05 12:08|| Front Page Top

#17 #6, 14 & 16???
Posted by anonymous5089 2006-07-05 13:32||   2006-07-05 13:32|| Front Page Top

#18 Bingo!
Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-07-05 13:41||   2006-07-05 13:41|| Front Page Top

#19 Yeah, Bingo on #'s 6&16. O what a tangled web we weave!
Posted by Secret Master 2006-07-05 16:21||   2006-07-05 16:21|| Front Page Top

#20 Sorry, but this by far the best, if not the deepest, comment.
Such frivolous mirth has made me spill cornflakes down my suit. Bugger
Posted by 6 2006-07-05 17:29||   2006-07-05 17:29|| Front Page Top

#21 Alliot-Marie suggested that France would extend its nuclear protection to European allies.

This was probably aimed at Germany and Poland on the eve of the 15th anniversary and summit of the Weimar Triangle (France, Germany, Poland). A goodwill gesture of sorts, and welcoming nonetheless, considering neither Poland nor Germany have nukes.
Posted by Rafael 2006-07-05 17:51||   2006-07-05 17:51|| Front Page Top

#22 I wonder if Canada is included.
Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-07-05 18:00||   2006-07-05 18:00|| Front Page Top

#23  This was probably aimed at Germany and Poland on the eve of the 15th anniversary and summit of the Weimar Triangle (France, Germany, Poland). A goodwill gesture of sorts, and welcoming nonetheless, considering neither Poland nor Germany have nukes.

The problem being: How do we sound brave and strong by rattling our nuclear saber without encouraging Le Boche to build their own firecrackers?

Because some things never change...
Posted by mrp 2006-07-05 18:08||   2006-07-05 18:08|| Front Page Top

#24 And look how well it worked out for Poland in 1939.
Posted by ed 2006-07-05 18:21||   2006-07-05 18:21|| Front Page Top

#25 How do we sound brave and strong by rattling our nuclear saber without encouraging Le Boche to build their own firecrackers?

Too late to put that genie back in the bottle. Someone will get nuked somewhere, sometime.

I wonder if Canada is included.

That's a separate insurance policy altogether. State Farm, I think.
Posted by Rafael 2006-07-05 18:27||   2006-07-05 18:27|| Front Page Top

#26 --And I see no reason why the taxes of the French should be used to protect people who haven't paid a single red cent from tyhe costs of French nukes.--

As SG1381 (you know you can change that if you wish) stated, Welcome to our world.
Posted by anonymous2u 2006-07-05 21:39||   2006-07-05 21:39|| Front Page Top

#27 France, you are being attacked from within. Still want to use the nuclear option?
Posted by JohnQC 2006-07-05 22:00||   2006-07-05 22:00|| Front Page Top

#28 And I see no reason why the taxes of the French should be used to protect people who haven't paid a single red cent from tyhe costs of French nukes

Having gone through all that trouble expanding the EU, I'd say protecting your investments (and dumping ground for all your goods) is a worthwhile pursuit. But then, I don't live on an island...
Posted by Rafael 2006-07-05 23:20||   2006-07-05 23:20|| Front Page Top

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