You know, cause I am just asking
ILE LONGUE MILITARY BASE, France (AFP) – President Jacques Chirac for the first time raised the threat of a nuclear strike on any state that launches "terrorist" attacks against France.
He also said France’s doctrine of nuclear deterrence has been extended to protect the country’s "strategic supplies", taken to mean oil.
"Leaders of any state that uses terrorist means against us, as well as any that may be envisaging — in one way or another — using weapons of mass destruction, must understand that they would be exposing themselves to a firm and appropriate response on our behalf," he said.
"That response could be conventional, it could also be of another nature," Chirac said in a clear reference to nuclear weapons during a visit to a French nuclear base in the northwestern region of Brittany.
The president said he was extending the definition of "vital interests" protected by France’s nuclear umbrella to include allies and "strategic supplies"
Would I be wrong in assuming that if President Bush said this, the worldwide media, the Democrats, and the French, among others, would have pitched a hissy fit to beat all hissy fits? Seems to be OK if France wants to protect itself with nuclear weapons.
So, what about the French nuclear arsenal?
France currently has two nuclear weapons systems: submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) carried by nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) and medium-range air-to-surface missiles carried by Mirage 2000N and Super Étendard aircraft. [1] Fifteen years ago, it had four additional systems that have now been removed from service. France retired, and presumably disassembled, the 175 warheads associated with these systems.
Though France is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and is bound by Article VI’s goal of nuclear disarmament, it shows no signs of giving up its remaining arsenal. Instead, it is making plans to develop, procure, and deploy new nuclear weapons, and to maintain its existing arsenal without nuclear testing, for years to come.
Wikipedia reports that France has "an arsenal of 350 weapons stockpiled as of 2002." No mention anywhere of whether that number is the actual number of warheads, or just refers to weapons, which could included MIRV’d ones. Reports are rather sketchy.
“Would I be wrong in assuming that if President Bush said this, the worldwide media, the Democrats, and the French, among others, would have pitched a hissy fit to beat all hissy fits?”
It is absolutely amazing how the world media is keeping silent about Europe’s Left State #1, and Left State #1’s Leftist Leader #1, even hinting that they would even CONSIDER using a nuke, and to use such an evil WMD against those poor, misunderstood, Insurgents (aka Freedom Fighters).
The Left is imploding.
They do not care what others do, as long as Bush doesn’t do it. They are seriously unhinged. Let’s hope that a good GOP turnout in 2006 and especially 2008 will bury the Dem Party.
Chirac shows his balls
I’ll admit, I’m among the first to make fun of France’s history of cowardice. But damn, they’re coming out with the kind of position WE should have taken immediately after 9-11 (and sadly didn’t). Frankly, I hope he’s serious about it.
CHIRAC: I d…