Chirac Nuclear Comments Draw Ire in Europe

[tocqueville]

By JAMEY KEATEN, Associated Press Writer
Fri Jan 20, 11:38 AM ET

PARIS - President Jacques Chirac drew scorching criticism in Europe on Friday for suggesting France would consider a nuclear response to state-sponsored terrorism.

Chirac's headline-grabbing comments in a speech Thursday sent a warning to countries like Iran and sought to nip in the bud domestic debate about whether deeply indebted France still needs its expensive nuclear deterrent in the post-Cold War world.

The French leader, with his second and probably final term nearing its end, laid out an updated doctrine for France's military might for the 21st century amid the threat of terrorism.

In the broad address, Chirac warned unspecified "leaders of states that would use terrorist means against us" that they could face "a firm and fitting response." Analysts and presidential aides said he had no specific country in mind, but newspaper editorialists widely read them to be directed at Iran, and possibly North Korea.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060120/ap_on_re_eu/france_nuclear;_ylt=AoK7Hlg8gBAscn5yW9I6.q9WbBAF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

[gordianot]

1. Iran and North Korea? Maybe there are bigger fish to fry.

Just wonder who they might be? Someday this clandestine nonsense will go too far.

[tocqueville]

2. other commentators don't have that opinion

most say that for Iran it's a bad timing, but North Korea isn't in mind. I think that the warning is general and the Saudis should take notice. Chirac said in his speech that the devices wouldn't be used against populations. But they can knock out oil fields for a while...

One interesting phrase of the speech is that "attack on allies" is a motivation enough to retaliate.