French President Jacques Chirac says there is no justification for a unilateral decision to attack Iraq and that Baghdad presents no immediate threat justifying such a move. Chirac, the strongest anti-war voice in the West, said on Tuesday that the U.S. ultimatum to Iraq would compromise future efforts to deal with crises linked to arms of mass destruction — an apparent reference to North Korea's nuclear programme. The president singled out the United States for giving Baghdad the war ultimatum that France had pledged to veto if it was brought to the United Nations Security Council for a vote. "Whether it concerns the necessary disarmament of Iraq or the desirable change of the regime in this country, there is no justification for a unilateral decision to resort to force," Chirac said in a statement. "Iraq today does not represent an immediate threat that justifies an immediate war. This is a serious decision, while Iraq's disarmament is underway and the inspections have shown that they were a credible alternative for disarming this country."
Jacques, we happened to disagree with that position, at first respectfully. Now get out of the way. Go play in Central Africa or something... |