CHIRAC'S APOLOGY TO QUEEN

Skynews.com ^ | 04/03/03 | Skynews

[bedolido]

French President Jacques Chirac has sent a letter of apology to the Queen over the defacing of British war graves in northern France.

The World War One graves were daubed with anti-British slogans in bright red spray paint.

"These unacceptable and disgraceful acts are unanimously condemned by the French people. In the name of France and in my own name, please accept my deepest regrets," Chirac wrote.

In words aimed at soothing the rift over France's opposition to the US and UK-led war in Iraq, Chirac said: "Know that at a time when your soldiers are engaged in combat, the thoughts of the French are naturally with them."

'Saddam will win'

The entrance of the cemetery in Etaples, near Calais had been daubed with several offensive slogans.

"Dig up your rubbish, it is contaminating our soil," one read.

Written in large red letters beneath a swastika, another said: "Saddam will win and he will make you bleed".

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin has written to his British counterpart Jack Straw to express his "emotion and indignation at this unspeakable act".

No excuse

The graffiti was cleaned off by the French branch of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which manages the site, but not before it was seen by British tourists on two coaches.

Of the roughly 11,000 graves at Etaples, most are British but other nationalities include Canadians and Australians. There are no US graves at the site.

France's relations with the United States and Britain have been soured by French opposition to the war in Iraq but officials in Paris stressed this was no excuse for venting hatred.

"France knows what it owes to the formidable devotion and courage of the British soldiers that came to help it free itself in the fight against barbarity," Chirac wrote to the Queen.

[bedolido]

o O (I thought Queen broke up after the lead singer died from Aids)

[You Dirty Rats]

The wogs begin at Calais.

[Cachelot]

French President Jacques Chirac has sent a letter of apology to the Queen

Any traces of red spray paint on that letter?

[grobdriver]

the thoughts of the French are naturally with them

Naturally.
(Excuse me while I puke)

[Lee'sGhost]

Damn, you beat me to it with the posting of your own thread. That's not fair.

[winner3000]

Chiraq's actions have put British and US soldiers more at risk than any graffiti could. The last time I checked, Chiraq is far from apologizing for that, and is in fact working overtime to continuously stab us in the back.

[ellery]

"France knows what it owes to the formidable devotion and courage of the British soldiers that came to help it free itself in the fight against barbarity," Chirac wrote to the Queen.

Okay, history-minded freepers, did france "free itself" with allied help or did we free it?

[nicmarlo]

"the thoughts of the French are naturally with them."

Yes, the French spoke loud and clear: "Rosbeefs go home."

[bedolido]

yeah well... someone beat me to it as well. I did a search and it wasn't there. He posted 4 minutes before me.

[skeeter]

Looks like the vandals also wrote "die with the Yankees" as well. Will Bush receive an apology?

[NavyCaptain]

He'll be apolgizing to a lot more folks eventually!

[In mourning for six years]

Just curious. I know that ChIraq has written to Tony Blair expressing his regret over British casualties--has ChIraq ever sent his condolences to our President for our losses?

[Sloth]

"These unacceptable and disgraceful acts are unanimously condemned by the French people."

I'm not sure he knows what the word "unanimous" means.

[EaglesUpForever]

Ah, I see now, Chirac is the french Clinton. I think what he said translates directly to "You better put some ice on that."

[1Old Pro]

Chirac's cowardice is directly responsible for this. This guy is just plain shamefool.

[Mihalis]

..."France knows what it owes to the formidable devotion and courage of the British soldiers that came to help it free itself in the fight against barbarity," Chirac wrote to the Queen...

...to help it free itself?...LOL!

He's such an idiot. Can't face the truth.

[Republic of Texas]

There is nothing the French can do, or more to the point, are WILLING to do, that will earn forgiveness for this desecration. They do not deserve the freedom those brave men earned for them.

[Spruce]

"help it free itself?"!! Do they teach their children that? Un-Friggin-Believable!

[WorkingClassFilth]

If I were Bush, I'd have our fallen troops brought home to American soil ASAP and let the French have their precious soil. It would serve as warning to a new era of European relations.

[bird humming]

Why not apologize to Prime Minister Tony Blair??