[Vision2020] About The French
Paul Duffau
pduffau@adelphia.net
Wed, 03 Mar 2004 20:18:08 -0800
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To Mr. Arnold,
Here are couple of articles that are perhaps more representative of modern=
France and French leadership (such as it might be) or we could we trade=
anecdotes all day of the half of France that did not join the Vichy. I=
would submit that one anecdote does not a representative universe make.
Interesting to note the number of French businesses that were on the bribe=
list from Iraq. On the plus side (for Saddam), they stayed bought.
Cheers,
Paul Duffau
France Blackmails Poland
Tony Blankley
Many Americans have mischaracterized the French recently. We have=
accused them of being overly sophisticated, of using subtle, clever and=
high sounding language to undercut us in the United Nations. We have=
accused them of being weak, and appeasers by instinct. But this Monday in=
the European Union meeting M. Jacques Chirac, the well-tailored-70-year old=
French president, proved us all wrong. He revealed himself to be a vulgar,=
unsubtle, bullying thug. According to the Associated Press, M. Chirac=
"launched a withering attack...on eastern European nations who signed=
letters backing the U.S. position on Iraq . . ." He accused them of acting=
irresponsibly by expressing their opinions. France, which can't stop=
talking herself, would silence others who speak but rarely.=20
Dropping the normal French circumlocutions, M. Chirac simply=
threatened Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and others who had been=
invited to become =97 but had not yet been formally confirmed as =97=
members of the EU, that their words in opposition to France's wishes were=
"dangerous" and risked their membership being blocked. Romania and=
Bulgaria, who had expected to be invited to join the EU, were told=
straight-out that they were "particularly irresponsible to sign the letter=
when their position is really delicate. If they wanted to diminish their=
chances of joining Europe they could not have found a better way."
Adding hypocrisy to thuggery, the French president lectured Poland,=
the Czech Republic and Hungary that they should have "a minimum of=
understanding for the others" in an organization to which they would=
belong. This from a country that perversely measures her own glory by her=
capacity to betray a friend and ally. Adding cowardice to hypocrisy,=
President Chirac insisted on hurling his threats without his target nations=
being present. According to the Associated Press report, Britain, Spain and=
other EU nations had suggested that the candidate nations attend the Monday=
emergency summit on Iraq, but France and Germany refused to let them in.=
Then, with the representatives of Poland, Hungary and the other countries=
safely barred from the conference, the heroic French President unsheathed=
his verbal sword and smote his absent allies with economic blackmail=
threats.=20
The list of countries under the French whip is ironic: Poland,=
Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania,=
Estonia, Romania and Bulgaria. All these countries were on the wrong side=
of the Iron Curtain during the Age of Communism. They were unlucky enough=
to be occupied by the Soviet Red Army in the closing months of WWII, and=
thus lived in enforced slavery for a half-a-century. But geography was=
destiny. France was occupied by American, British, Canadian and other=
British Empire troops, and was thus saved from such a fate by their=
English-speaking liberators. It is worth recalling that while French=
soldiers were throwing down their rifles in 1940 as the Germans advanced,=
the flower of Polish manhood charged into the invading Nazi tanks on=
horseback in the last and most gallant cavalry charge in history. Of=
course, they were killed to the last man. While the Poles were dying with=
their boots on, the French were living on their knee-pads (during which,=
they cheerfully ferreted out and shipped their French Jews off to the=
German death camps). How dare the French attempt to blackmail the Poles =97=
of all peoples. (And the Czechs and Slovaks who they helped to sell out at=
Munich.)=20
If President Bush publicly threatened economic sanctions against=
countries that didn't endorse our Iraqi policy, there would be thousands of=
Frenchmen in the streets condemning such blackmail =97 and rightly so. But=
when the president of France does so, not only are there no demonstrators,=
there are barely any news accounts. This outrage should be given much=
broader coverage.
But perhaps, the Frenchman who talks big but carries a small stick may=
be over-playing his little hand. If France doesn't want to do business with=
the eastern Europeans, we should invite them to join our free trade union.=
It would be an honor for us to trade freely with peoples who know the value=
of freedom. And should, in time, any of the current EU nations feel tainted=
by doing commerce with the French blackmailer and coward, our trade door=
should be open to them, too.=20
If and when the French people throw out their current government and=
elect one which respects its neighbors and friends, we should certainly=
attempt to have useful and cordial relations with that government. Until=
then, we should not only not seek their support on Iraq. We should deny=
them the honor of joining in our cause. No blackmailers should rally under=
freedom's banner.
France now a major trading partner of Iraq=20
Toronto Sun ^ | February 25, 2003 | Michael Campbell
Michael Campbell Vancouver Sun=20
Tuesday, February 25, 2003 ADVERTISEMENT=20
I find it curious that the distaste for violence, torture and war on display=
during last week's peace marches doesn't seem sufficient to encourage a=
single march demanding that Saddam Hussein stop his grotesque human rights=
violations and comply with the UN resolutions in order to prevent war.=20
For many, bashing America is much more fun -- at least for some of the=
organizing groups of last week's peace marches, like International Answer,=
Raise the Fist and the Anti-Imperialist League, who, it is fair to say, are=
not big fans of capitalism.=20
The CBC is currently running a series of ads broadcasting their=
investigation into the motives of the United States in the Iraqi tensions.=
High on the list of motivating factors are American business interests.=
Those demanding a more balanced discussion might want to note that a=
similar line of questioning regarding the motivations of the other big=
players is not in the offing.=20
I won't hold my breath to see a review of French President Jacques Chirac's=
extensive business ties with Saddam, stretching back 26 years to his sale=
of two nuclear reactors to Iraq with enough weapons-grade uranium to build=
three or four nuclear bombs.=20
Chirac also spearheaded a $1.5-billion weapons deal with Saddam which=
included 60 Mirage F1 fighter planes, surface-to-air missiles and advanced=
electronics. The man who hugged the murderer Robert Mugabe this past week=
has regularly referred to Hussein as his "close personal friend."=20
More recently in July, France signed a $5.3-billion deal with Iraq for=
non-oil related goods and services. Last year, Chirac's France made more=
money out of the UN's oil for food program than any other nation, and has=
consistently lobbied for reduced sanctions.=20
When the U.S. and Britain demanded tough controls to ensure the increased=
oil revenues would not be used to buy arms, the French objected, saying=
such controls would undermine Iraqi sovereignty. Since 1996, France has=
sold directly or indirectly $14 billion worth of French goods to Iraq.=20
I won't hold my breath for a march denouncing France's huge role in selling=
weapons to Iraq and financing Saddam's brutal regime's efforts to stay in=
power, but France isn't the only nation with business interests in Iraq.=
Russia is owed $20 billion by Saddam's regime. Do you think a new=
government would want to honour those obligations? Maybe the Russians don't=
want to take a chance and find out.=20
Just over two weeks ago Russia signed a $200-million US contract with Iraq=
in the areas of transportation and communications. Several months ago it=
signed a $1.52-billion deal.=20
No nation has done more business since 1996 with Iraq in the oil-for-food=
program.=20
According to the UN, Russia's scope of the business with Iraq surpassed=
$4.5-billion US in the past six years. The United Nations also goes on to=
point out that it has approved, under the oil-for-food program, 798=
contracts between France and Iraq, 862 contracts for Russia and 227=
contracts with China.=20
It's open to debate whether these business interests have influenced=
Russian, French and Chinese opposition to American-led military=
intervention, or whether oil interests are influencing America's actions.=
=20
Unfortunately, only latter debate is on the agenda, which underscores the=
growing evidence that a broader anti-capitalist, anti-American sentiment is=
fuelling much of the anti-war protests.
At 10:24 PM 3/3/04 -0500, you wrote:
>In Response to Mr. Duffau:
> =20
> =20
><http://www.almanacnews.com/morgue/2003/2003_05_28.kenyon.html>http://www.a=
lmanacnews.com/morgue/2003/2003_05_28.kenyon.html
> =20
> =20
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To Mr. Arnold,<br>
<br>
Here are couple of articles that are perhaps more representative of
modern France and French leadership (such as it might be) or we could we
trade anecdotes all day of the half of France that did not join the
Vichy. I would submit that one anecdote does not a representative
universe make.<br>
<br>
Interesting to note the number of French businesses that were on the
bribe list from Iraq. On the plus side (for Saddam), they stayed
bought.<br>
<br>
Cheers,<br>
<br>
Paul Duffau<br>
<br>
<b>France Blackmails Poland<br>
</b>Tony Blankley<br>
<br>
Many Americans have mischaracterized the French
recently. We have accused them of being overly sophisticated, of using
subtle, clever and high sounding language to undercut us in the United
Nations. We have accused them of being weak, and appeasers by instinct.
But this Monday in the European Union meeting M. Jacques Chirac, the
well-tailored-70-year old French president, proved us all wrong. He
revealed himself to be a vulgar, unsubtle, bullying thug. According to
the Associated Press, M. Chirac "launched a withering attack...on
eastern European nations who signed letters backing the U.S. position on
Iraq . . ." He accused them of acting irresponsibly by expressing
their opinions. France, which can't stop talking herself, would silence
others who speak but rarely. <br>
Dropping the normal French circumlocutions, M.
Chirac simply threatened Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and others
who had been invited to become =97 but had not yet been formally confirmed
as =97 members of the EU, that their words in opposition to France's wishes
were "dangerous" and risked their membership being blocked.
Romania and Bulgaria, who had expected to be invited to join the EU, were
told straight-out that they were "particularly irresponsible to sign
the letter when their position is really delicate. If they wanted to
diminish their chances of joining Europe they could not have found a
better way."<br>
Adding hypocrisy to thuggery, the French
president lectured Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary that they
should have "a minimum of understanding for the others" in an
organization to which they would belong. This from a country that
perversely measures her own glory by her capacity to betray a friend and
ally. Adding cowardice to hypocrisy, President Chirac insisted on hurling
his threats without his target nations being present. According to the
Associated Press report, Britain, Spain and other EU nations had
suggested that the candidate nations attend the Monday emergency summit
on Iraq, but France and Germany refused to let them in. Then, with the
representatives of Poland, Hungary and the other countries safely barred
from the conference, the heroic French President unsheathed his verbal
sword and smote his absent allies with economic blackmail threats. <br>
The list of countries under the French whip is
ironic: Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia,
Lithuania, Estonia, Romania and Bulgaria. All these countries were on the
wrong side of the Iron Curtain during the Age of Communism. They were
unlucky enough to be occupied by the Soviet Red Army in the closing
months of WWII, and thus lived in enforced slavery for a half-a-century.
But geography was destiny. France was occupied by American, British,
Canadian and other British Empire troops, and was thus saved from such a
fate by their English-speaking liberators. It is worth recalling that
while French soldiers were throwing down their rifles in 1940 as the
Germans advanced, the flower of Polish manhood charged into the invading
Nazi tanks on horseback in the last and most gallant cavalry charge in
history. Of course, they were killed to the last man. While the Poles
were dying with their boots on, the French were living on their knee-pads
(during which, they cheerfully ferreted out and shipped their French Jews
off to the German death camps). How dare the French attempt to blackmail
the Poles =97 of all peoples. (And the Czechs and Slovaks who they helped
to sell out at Munich.) <br>
If President Bush publicly threatened economic
sanctions against countries that didn't endorse our Iraqi policy, there
would be thousands of Frenchmen in the streets condemning such blackmail
=97 and rightly so. But when the president of France does so, not only are
there no demonstrators, there are barely any news accounts. This outrage
should be given much broader coverage.<br>
But perhaps, the Frenchman who talks big but
carries a small stick may be over-playing his little hand. If France
doesn't want to do business with the eastern Europeans, we should invite
them to join our free trade union. It would be an honor for us to trade
freely with peoples who know the value of freedom. And should, in time,
any of the current EU nations feel tainted by doing commerce with the
French blackmailer and coward, our trade door should be open to them,
too. <br>
If and when the French people throw out their
current government and elect one which respects its neighbors and
friends, we should certainly attempt to have useful and cordial relations
with that government. Until then, we should not only not seek their
support on Iraq. We should deny them the honor of joining in our cause.
No blackmailers should rally under freedom's banner.<br>
<br>
<b>France now a major trading partner of Iraq <br>
Toronto Sun ^ | February 25, 2003 | Michael Campbell<br>
<br>
<br>
</b>Michael Campbell Vancouver Sun <br>
<br>
Tuesday, February 25, 2003 ADVERTISEMENT <br>
<br>
I find it curious that the distaste for violence, torture and war on
display during last week's peace marches doesn't seem sufficient to
encourage a single march demanding that Saddam Hussein stop his grotesque
human rights violations and comply with the UN resolutions in order to
prevent war. <br>
<br>
For many, bashing America is much more fun -- at least for some of the
organizing groups of last week's peace marches, like International
Answer, Raise the Fist and the Anti-Imperialist League, who, it is fair
to say, are not big fans of capitalism. <br>
<br>
The CBC is currently running a series of ads broadcasting their
investigation into the motives of the United States in the Iraqi
tensions. High on the list of motivating factors are American business
interests. Those demanding a more balanced discussion might want to note
that a similar line of questioning regarding the motivations of the other
big players is not in the offing. <br>
<br>
I won't hold my breath to see a review of French President Jacques
Chirac's extensive business ties with Saddam, stretching back 26 years to
his sale of two nuclear reactors to Iraq with enough weapons-grade
uranium to build three or four nuclear bombs. <br>
<br>
Chirac also spearheaded a $1.5-billion weapons deal with Saddam which
included 60 Mirage F1 fighter planes, surface-to-air missiles and
advanced electronics. The man who hugged the murderer Robert Mugabe this
past week has regularly referred to Hussein as his "close personal
friend." <br>
<br>
More recently in July, France signed a $5.3-billion deal with Iraq for
non-oil related goods and services. Last year, Chirac's France made more
money out of the UN's oil for food program than any other nation, and has
consistently lobbied for reduced sanctions. <br>
<br>
When the U.S. and Britain demanded tough controls to ensure the increased
oil revenues would not be used to buy arms, the French objected, saying
such controls would undermine Iraqi sovereignty. Since 1996, France has
sold directly or indirectly $14 billion worth of French goods to Iraq.
<br>
<br>
I won't hold my breath for a march denouncing France's huge role in
selling weapons to Iraq and financing Saddam's brutal regime's efforts to
stay in power, but France isn't the only nation with business interests
in Iraq. Russia is owed $20 billion by Saddam's regime. Do you think a
new government would want to honour those obligations? Maybe the Russians
don't want to take a chance and find out. <br>
<br>
Just over two weeks ago Russia signed a $200-million US contract with
Iraq in the areas of transportation and communications. Several months
ago it signed a $1.52-billion deal. <br>
<br>
No nation has done more business since 1996 with Iraq in the oil-for-food
program. <br>
<br>
According to the UN, Russia's scope of the business with Iraq surpassed
$4.5-billion US in the past six years. The United Nations also goes on to
point out that it has approved, under the oil-for-food program, 798
contracts between France and Iraq, 862 contracts for Russia and 227
contracts with China. <br>
<br>
It's open to debate whether these business interests have influenced
Russian, French and Chinese opposition to American-led military
intervention, or whether oil interests are influencing America's actions.
<br>
<br>
Unfortunately, only latter debate is on the agenda, which underscores the
growing evidence that a broader anti-capitalist, anti-American sentiment
is fuelling much of the anti-war protests.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
At 10:24 PM 3/3/04 -0500, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=3Dcite cite>In Response to Mr. Duffau:<br>
<br>
<br>
<a=
href=3D"http://www.almanacnews.com/morgue/2003/2003_05_28.kenyon.html">http=
://www.almanacnews.com/morgue/2003/2003_05_28.kenyon.html</a><br>
<br>
</blockquote></html>
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