America rejects Chirac's claim that Saddam is no threat

The Daily Telegraph ^ | February 17, 2003 | Toby Harnden

[MadIvan]

The United States rejected last night claims by President Jacques Chirac of France that Saddam Hussein posed no threat to the world and that war with Iraq would provoke a terrorist backlash.

As America and Britain prepared for an intense week of diplomacy to try to push through a second, stronger United Nations resolution M Chirac showed no sign of wanting to back down easily.

In an attempt to soothe American anger over his country's refusal to back military force, M Chirac suggested that "if we go through with the inspections the Americans will have won, since it would essentially be thanks to the pressure they exercised that Iraq was disarmed".

But there was no need to act swiftly. "Are there other weapons of mass destruction? That's probable. We have to find and destroy them. In its current situation, does Iraq - controlled and inspected as it is - pose a clear and present danger to the region? I don't believe so."

Condoleezza Rice, President George W Bush's national security adviser, said M Chirac's words in an interview with Time magazine played into the hands of Saddam and would not be tolerated by America and Britain.

"Continuing to talk about more time and more time and more time is simply going to relieve pressure on the Iraqis to do what they must do."

British and American diplomats spent the weekend drafting a second resolution to be considered by the Security Council and indicated that they might be prepared to wait for another report by Hans Blix, the chief UN weapons inspector, in a fortnight before forcing a vote.

But Bush administration sources said Friday's report by Mr Blix, which was a setback to the White House's case for war, would not delay the start of the now virtually inevitable conflict.

United States military sources said the moonless nights of early March represented the optimum start date. Miss Rice said neither last week's events at the UN nor the huge anti-war rallies across the world would affect American policy.

Senator John McCain, a strong supporter of Mr Bush's stance on Iraq, said the United States and Britain would propose a resolution this week that called for "definitive progress" on the "disarmament of Saddam".

He added: "If that's rejected, then I think the United States of America is going to have to make some difficult decisions."

M Chirac's suggestion of another report by Mr Blix in a month's time was brushed aside by Miss Rice. "March 14 is not a date from our point of view," she said. "This is the date the French have put out."

Again stating that war would take place within "weeks not months" if Saddam did not disarm voluntarily, she said in an interview with NBC television that delaying was not an option because "the uncertainty is unfair to states in the region". She added: "This will have to come to an end pretty soon."

M Chirac said conflict with Saddam would boost support for the likes of Osama bin Laden. "A war of this kind cannot help giving a big lift to terrorism. It would create a large number of little bin Ladens. Muslims and Christians have a lot to say to one another, but war isn't going to facilitate that dialogue."

Miss Rice was contemptuous of this argument. "It did not take potential conflict with Iraq for al-Qa'eda to carry out 9/11," she said.

[MadIvan]

Chirac has very few fans these days. Just so.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[sourcery]

France now finds itself between Chiraq and a hard place, it would seem.

[anniegetyourgun]

"Miss Rice said neither last week's events at the UN nor the huge anti-war rallies across the world would affect American policy."

[tomahawk]

Jacques Chirac can go F**k himself. Then he can go to Hell.

[bfree]

Does anyone recall ever hearing the phrase "our friends the French'? I thought not.

[rolling_stone]

I hope someone doesn't mail Chirac some baby powder even though he is crying like one...What an idiot saying they have WMD but are contained. I wonder what Chirac would have done if Powell had dropped the vial at the UN and it broke..LOL....

[Hoosier-Daddy]

Iraq is hip-deep in something it doesn't want the rest of the world to know about...

[AmericanInTokyo]

STFU, France.

Screw France!

Boycott French Goods!

Jam the phone lines of the French Embassy in Washington D.C. from Tuesday morning with complaints.

When they answer the phone, ask them if this is "the Embassy of Vichy France?"

[sultan88]

"Miss Rice said neither last week's events at the UN nor the huge anti-war rallies across the world would affect American policy."

Thank God for Condoleeza Rice!! She is certainly not about to be affectted by the unwashed socialists marching in the streets.

[Hoosier-Daddy]

My bad: make that France is hip-deep.

[Wphile]

Miss Rice was contemptuous of this argument. "It did not take potential conflict with Iraq for al-Qa'eda to carry out 9/11," she said.

Way to go Condi! It's a shame we have to repeat the obvious but then, that is the way when dealing with the French.

Chirac must have an awful lot of side deals with Iraq to be behaving this way. I don't trust him one iota!

[kstewskis]

Iraq and France are hip-deep in something it doesn't want the rest of the world to know about...

[tet68]

One longs to ask M. Chirac.
If Saddam is no threat, and America does not disarm him,
will Terrorism cease?

The politics of appeasement have reached a dead end, there is only "other means".

[tet68]

Yes, and the French and Germans are in it up to their necks.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Miss Rice was contemptuous of this argument. "It did not take potential conflict with Iraq for al-Qa'eda to carry out 9/11," she said.

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[kesg]

My bad: make that France is hip-deep.

What's the difference?

[Robert_Paulson2]

Can Tony ACT without a UN resolution, or is it political suicide for him?

I don't think we will be getting one anytime soon.
France thinks they can back him down, because of the political price he will pay if he doesn't do THEIR bidding relative to Sadaamned...

[Hoosier-Daddy]

And why are we risking the safety of our troups while putting up with this UN charade. The life of even one soldier is not worth the risks posed by putting up with these bloviating UN diplomats. WRT Iraqi testing, maybe it should go like this: Powell to Hans Blix: "Has Iraq fully disarmed"? No? "End of discussion". If France wants to be helpful, then show the Iraqis the proper way to surrender, or STFU!

[MadIvan]

Can Tony ACT without a UN resolution, or is it political suicide for him?

He can, but it would be best if the war was over quickly. The Tories will back him up.

Regards, Ivan