Chirac Defies Bush At G8 Summit

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 6-2-2003 | Benedict Brogan/Toby Harnden

[blam]

Chirac defies Bush at G8 summit By Benedict Brogan and Toby Harnden in Evian (Filed: 02/06/2003)

France poured cold water last night on an American and British proposal to limit the spread of weapons of mass destruction as Tony Blair and George W Bush sought to outflank Jacques Chirac at the opening of the G8 summit.

While M Chirac, the host, sought to emphasise his vision of a multipolar world, Mr Blair and Mr Bush joined forces with other members of the Iraq coalition to try to force him to make combating terrorism a central agenda item of the gathering of industrialised nations.

Downing Street and White House aides said the "action plan" would help to stop terrorists detonating a radioactive "dirty bomb" in a western capital.

French officials said they had a particular objection to the proposal that American and British forces could stop and search ships and aircraft suspected of transporting weapons of mass destruction.

Mr Bush is leaving the Evian gathering early today, partly to signal his impatience with international meetings that, in American eyes, are long on talk and short on action. He is also understood to have told his advisers he wanted to stay on French soil for the minimum time possible and avoid being seen to be dancing to M Chirac's tune.

The tension between Mr Bush and M Chirac was apparent yesterday in the perfunctory handshake and forced smiles with which the two men greeted each other.

The stiffness of the encounter was very different from the bonhomie between the American president and Vladimir Putin of Russia in St Petersburg a few hours earlier.

Britain and the US have put together a joint statement that they want the G8 to adopt as part of its official conclusions. Last night, as Mr Bush and M Chirac prepared for a private half-hour meeting today, France made clear that it had different priorities.

At a press conference, M Chirac called on the media not to believe reports of a rift. But asked if his relationship with Mr Bush had been "wounded" by his opposition to the war in Iraq, he made his anger plain.

In a terse and hurried answer, he claimed that his discussions with Mr Bush had been "absolutely positive in the sense of progress towards solving different problems. We have not the slightest worry about that".

Asked later if there was any support in the G8 for his vision of a multipolar world rather than one dominated by a single American superpower, he said he had support outside the organisation. "There is a huge majority in the world behind that view".

A spokesman for Mr Blair said the action plan was intended to put in place "stringent controls on radioactive sources which are widely and legitimately used, such as in medical X-ray machines".

The package will also include details on the implementation of the $750 million plan approved at last year's G8 summit to help Russia over 10 years to deal with its stockpiles of nuclear waste.

In addition, the package would put forward measures to help Russia destroy its chemical weapon stockpiles, and find alternative work for its weapons scientists.

Elsewhere in the communique, the Americans and the British hope to insert calls for further steps to heighten airline security and control the small arms trade.

[blam]

Don't Mess With Texas!

[7 x 77]

Forgive Russia
Ignore Germany
Yank the heart out of France and drop kick it

[annyokie]

How many times can we see this picture, she asked rhetorically:

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

Chirac mon ami. Slick Willy s’got whatcha want. Bring your own knee pads.

[prairiebreeze]

French officials said they had a particular objection to the proposal that American and British forces could stop and search ships and aircraft suspected of transporting weapons of mass destruction.

Undoubtedly they are against anyone finding the WMD components that have "made in FRANCE" stamped on them.

More unacceptable French treachery! America will NOT forget!

Prairie

[prairiebreeze]

That's quite a disgusting picture and pose of the Clinturd.

Prairie

[liberalnot]

the problem is that france is a has-been nation.

done.

and, the franks are sore losers.

they hate everyone. my french-national language teacher couldn't help but express her contempt for the britain, germany, and the united states.

[DoctorMichael]

........proposal that American and British forces could stop and search ships and aircraft suspected of transporting weapons of mass destruction........

A very sound proactive request...........Sounds particularly aimed at the North Koreans and Iran (not to mention the retarded giant, Russia).

[dixiechick2000]

Forgive Russia
Ignore Germany
Yank the heart out of France and drop kick it

Condi's Creed...except, I think she said, "Punish France."

I like yours better. ;o)

[BenR2]

Forgive Russia
Ignore Germany
Yank the heart out of France and drop kick it

////
LOL. I like how your mind works. (I think!)

[7 x 77]

Hey, dixiechick2000, how come you haven't changed your name yet?

[BunnySlippers]

Waiting for Monica ...

[dixiechick2000]

I'm waiting for them to change theirs...

and, I'm not backing down!!!

;o)

[Dog Gone]

France is our enemy, and it goes waaay beyond the issue of Iraq. That just brought it out into the open.

[cubreporter]

wow, what a contrast between the photos in posts 3 and 4.

Our great and dignified,handsome President in a flight suit having just deplaned a jet aircraft on the USS Abraham Lincoln to address and thank the troops.

The next photo? Well, it speaks for itself.

Can those be put side by side by anyone who isn't
challenged like me? The contrast is so great it must be seen by all Please and Thanks. :)

[cubreporter]

Good for you!!!! :)

[cubreporter]

I meant to say I was "technically" challenged. :)

[McGavin999]

There's more going on here. This looks like a shot across the bow for france. Looks like maybe we have some information and it's just been presented to M. Chiraq. If this is what I think, it could be some pretty heavy stuff.

[blam]

". Looks like maybe we have some information and it's just been presented to M. Chiraq. If this is what I think, it could be some pretty heavy stuff."

Okay, what do you think? French WMD in Iraq?

[Publius6961]

You go girl!
I like your attitude.