Chirac says no proof of Iraq weapons [AXIS OF WEASEL ALERT]

Reuters ^ | February 10, 2003 | Reuters

[ejdrapes]

Chirac says no proof of Iraq weapons

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Jacques Chirac, presenting a joint stand with Russia and Germany against U.S. pressure for military action in Iraq, has said there is no irrefutable proof that Iraq possesses banned weapons.

"We are ready to envisage all that is possible to do in the framework of the U.N. resolution 1441. This resolution does not include sending U.N. troops," Chirac told a news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin after bilateral talks on Iraq on Monday.

"All possibilities of the resolution must be explored and that still leaves a lot of room for manoeuvre to achieve the goal of eliminating any weapons of mass destruction that Iraq may possess. On this issue, I do not have undisputed proof," Chirac said.

Chirac read out a joint declaration from France, Russia and Germany calling for arms inspections in Iraq to be reinforced and for all possible peaceful methods to eliminate any banned weapons to be tried rather than immediately resorting to war.

[Howie66]

Chirac has his brain housing group tucked up his own poop-chute so far that he looks like a human pretzel.

[Wphile]

Chirac is so lame. I remember after 9/11 he wouldn't even agree with Bush about his "war" with terrorism. He refused to use the word "war." Much too strong. What a frickin' wimp. Too bad about Putin too.

[VaBthang4]

[Bikers4Bush]

Stupid frogs, dope is for potheads.

[Shermy]

"....and for all possible peaceful methods to eliminate any banned weapons to be tried rather than immediately resorting to war...."

I guess we could try these methods for another 12 years. Saudi and French strategic objectives would be served...aren't they our friends?

[Agent Smith]

I am concerned that France has weapons of mass destruction. After Saddam assumes room temperature, perhaps we should start worrying about the dangers posed by the French.

[monocle]

"has said there is no irrefutable proof that Iraq possesses banned weapons"

UN resolutions require Iraq to provide convincing evidence that Iraq has destroyed its weapons of mass destruction and do not inspectors to prove irrefutably prove Iraq has such weapons, i.e. the resolutions assume that such weapons have existed and no proof of their destruction has been provided by Iraq. It appears that the French have poorer reading skills than that attributed to the US.

[monocle]

"has said there is no irrefutable proof that Iraq possesses banned weapons"

UN resolutions require Iraq to provide convincing evidence that Iraq has destroyed its weapons of mass destruction and do not inspectors to prove irrefutably prove Iraq has such weapons, i.e. the resolutions assume that such weapons have existed and no proof of their destruction has been provided by Iraq. It appears that the French have poorer reading skills than that attributed to the US.

[MadIvan]

As I've written earlier:

There once was a man named Chirac
Who stabbed his old friends in the back
He behaved like a jerk
'Cos the Viagra didn't work
And now all he can please is Iraq

Regards, Ivan

Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees all others. - Winston Churchill

[VoodooEconomics]

Russia would love to dissolve NATO - after watching it grow to it's own borders. France would like to think a FrancoRussoGerman alliance could be the counter weight to the American superpower.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

Don't be fooled that this is cowardice on the part of the French. There are darker motives here, and have been for a while in Paris. I believe we'll find some interesting weapons invoices among Iraq's papers after going in against their wishes... WRITTEN IN FRENCH.

[VoodooEconomics]

Anybody remember Molotov?

[TheBigB]

Exactly two good things have ever come out of France:

[Hugin]

Chirac knows perfectly well Saddam has WMDs since France has helped him build them. The real reason the frogs and krauts are so desperate to stop us from getting rid of Saddam is because they don't want the full extent of their collaberation with Saddam exposed to the world, which will surely happen once his regime is replaced. And of course the billions of lost revenues for French and German corporations (and tax money for those governments).

[smith288]

I challenge France to prove Iraq DOESNT Have WMD. Otherwise shut their piehole and let the big boys do the job.

[MadIvan]

Anybody remember Molotov?

"I have never seen a human being who more perfectly represented the modern concept of a robot." - Winston Churchill on Molotov.

Regards, Ivan

[kesg]

French President Jacques Chirac, presenting a joint stand with Russia and Germany against U.S. pressure for military action in Iraq, has said there is no irrefutable proof that Iraq possesses banned weapons.

Playing the weasel's own game for a moment, what exactly does he mean here by "irrefutable?" Just about any statement of fact is "refutable" in the sense that it can be denied or explained/excused away -- as the Iraqis do when they deny that they possess any WMDs even as we intercept Iraqi orders authorizing their military to use such weapons in response to an attack.

This statement is not unlike Dem whining to the effect that Bush hasn't "made the case" (another weasel phrase) -- do you ever notice that they never tell us what "making the case" would consist of when it comes to Iraq, except that whatever "making the case" is, Bush hasn't done it no matter what he says?

[finnman69]

That's it.

TOTAL APOLOGIST AND HE MUST BE COMPLETELY CORRUPT.

I bet Chirac and Scott Ritter get their paychecks from the same bank.

[chiefqc]

All you have to do is follow the money trail.