Chirac takes his shirt off, attempts to find and flex a muscle, world remains unimpressed.
France said on Thursday it would be ready to use nuclear weapons against any state that carried out a terrorist attack against it, reaffirming the need for its nuclear deterrent.
Deflecting criticism of France’s costly nuclear arms program, President Jacques Chirac said security came at a price and France must be able to hit back hard at a hostile state’s centers of power and its “capacity to act.”
He said there was no change in France’s overall policy, which rules out the use of nuclear weapons in a military conflict. But his speech pointed to a change of emphasis to underline the growing threat France perceives from terrorism.
“The leaders of states who would use terrorist means against us, as well as those who would consider using in one way or another weapons of mass destruction, must understand that they would lay themselves open to a firm and adapted response on our part,” Chirac said during a visit to a nuclear submarine base in northwestern France.
“This response could be a conventional one. It could also be of a different kind.”
Oooh, I’m sure those terrorists are cowering in their well fortified underground uber-caves right now.
Unfortunately for France, it appears that they don’t realize the reputation they have for producing unconvincing tough talk followed by the inevitable wave of the white flag. There’s no ‘there’ there. They suffer from a complete lack of credibility. But maybe they don’t see that as a liability?
I fear that France will someday become a victim of terrorism and commit the unpardonable sin of capitulation toward their attackers, giving the terrorists just enough of a morale boost to further their cause.
All talk and no action by France will not stop the terrorists in Iraq, Iran or anywhere else in the world.
I’m French and I partly agree with what you said.Yes, we (Chirac) wants to remember the World that France exists (and it is slightly ridiculous…). That’s right, but who cares? It’s obvious we won’t use any niclear weapon against any country since terrorists are spread all over the world and it would make thousands of innocent victims. However, I don’t agree with your saying that we’ll just act like cowards as soon as some terrorists attack us. Terrorist attacks already happened in France; even if they weren’t far less big as Al Qaeda’s attacks. But did we surrender?? Some terrorists are now in jail, and for long. Do you suppose we just went to see them, giving them money or whatever, with a white flag saying “all right just stop it”?? This never happened and I don’t think it will ever happens. It didn’t happen in Spain, nor in England, but I suppose you just don’t think they’re cowards, do you??
I don’t like any of our ministers nor Chirac making conceited declarations on the so-called France’s big power, but I’m convinced that if terrorist ever attack us, which may happen fast, the whole country will stand united, instead of “surrendering” as you say. Of course, afterwards, you Americans will say “Well, they just refused the war in Irak and look what they got.” You’ll undoubtly make fun of us and say “Serves you right”. All right. But not accepting the war in Irak doesn’t mean being cowards, it simply means not agreeing to it… (and for once, Chirac followed public opinion, on contrary to Italy or other countries…)
Americans love to see us as conceited cowards and I just want to say that we aren’t (or at least the overall majority isn’t since cowards exist in every country, don’t they??)
Do not always expect us to be so, we are not as ridiculous as you seem to think. We are an old, united Nation, and not just some silly cowards…
And, for once, Chirac doesn’t stand for the whole country!
Why do you Americans, always see us as some silly idiot cowards?
Yes, we have so many defects, it’s perfectly true and the riots in November showed it. Nevertheless, our arrogant declaration come from Chirac and are just what we call an “effet d’annonce” (means serves to nothing only journalists and politicians discussing it). We are arrogant too often (well, our government often are)the US government canno’t pretend not to be either.
We are arrogant, yes, (I don’t agree with it) but it doesn’t mean cowards? France faced terrorist attacks in 1996, in the 1980s and in the 1960s. Who has seen us surrender?
Just think of it a little and stop taking your own desires for reality.
To be honest, France could show that “they are there” a much better way, especially at such a crucial time we are at with Iran.
However I think France, so to speak, has started to come back since they have been practically the biggest outspeaker on Iran (excluding Isreal) which is great. But like I said, very bad timing to saying that there is a “nuclear option”. (I highly agree with aggresive comments, but that’s too much)