JACQUES CHIRAQ AND POPE AND THE IRANIAN BIG MOUTH

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Chirac withdraws controversial remarks on Iran

February 01, 2007

Jacques ChiracFrench President Jacques Chirac who gave a controversial interview to The New York Times, The International Herald Tribune and Le Nouvel Observateur in which he spoke of Iran's nuclear programme, withdrew his comments the very next day.

In the interview, the French President reportedly said that what worries the West is not Iran's nuclear energy programme but the fact that it was determined to enrich uranium.

He even went to the extent of saying that even if Iran had a bomb or two, it would make no difference.

'Where will it drop it, this bomb? On Israel? It would not have gone 200 meters into the atmosphere before Tehran would be razed to the ground,' he said in the interview.

He goes on to say that the danger of Iran having the bomb could lead other countries in the neighbourhood to also go in for a nuclear programme.

'It is really very tempting for other countries in the region that have large financial resources, to say: 'Well, we too, we're going to do it. We're going to help out others to do it.' Why wouldn't Saudi Arabia do it? Why wouldn't it help Egypt to do so as well? That is the danger,' he said in the interview.

The French President's statements go against stated French policy and what he has said in the past.

However, soon after giving the interview, Chirac had second thoughts.

Chirac summoned the journalists involved to the �lys�e Palace again to retract many of the things he said.

Chirac said he had spoken casually the day before because he had believed he was talking about Iran off the record. He also admitted he had made a mistake.

'It is I who was wrong and I do not want to contest it,' he said. 'I should have paid better attention to what I was saying and understood that perhaps I was on the record.'

MESSAGE BOARD

Chirac and his airy-fairy views on Iran
by Jaganniwas Iyer on Feb 01, 2007 05:44 PM | Hide replies
I'm disappointed at Monsieur Jaques Chirac behaving like a typical Indian politician and crying wolf about how he was 'misquoted' and "quoted out of context". Come on, M'sieur, we expect that leaders of Western democracies should at least be more truthful, unlike India's political figures, most of whom are nothing but spineless cowards. Chirac is spot on about Iran and the rest of the Islamic neighbourhood wanting to lay their hands on the Bomb. A nuclear-armed Iran is unacceptable, just as a nuclear-armed Pakistan is unacceptable. And for God's sake, don't give us that Leftist-Islamist fundoo crap of comparing India and Israel with these regimes. Both are responsible civilizations and have been the target of hostile and implacable enemies for centuries. Iran's president has the brazenness to publicly call for Israel to be "wiped off the map." Well, Mullah Ahmednijad, what is wrong in wiping off Iran and Pakistan from the world's map? Humanity would be much happier for it. Unfortunately, the so-called Big Five cannot do anything collectively to tackle these growing nuclear threats from terrorist countries, because of serious differences amongst themselves; China of course, is trying its best to make Iran another nuclear surrogate like it has done with Pakistan. But the moment of truth for India, Israel and the US is not far off, when these three will be forced to make a harsh decision they've been trying to put off in search of an elusive chimera.
Jaganniwas Iyer

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Iranian Bomby
by unni krishnan nair on Feb 01, 2007 04:45 PM | Hide replies

The French President has a penchant for talking his mind. And retracing it afterwards.


But the fact remains. Israel had this Nuclear Bomby for quite some time. But it has not used it against any of the countries. But can anybody say that for sure about other middle eastern countries. Particularly Iran. Evn before its acquiring one, the Iranian President has been talking of removing Israel from the face of the earth. As far as India is concerned Nuclear Israel is better than another Islamic Bomb.

Well said Prez.

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wetern countries views
by ranjan gupta on Feb 01, 2007 04:29 PM | Hide replies
thw west is more interested in isarel in staed of iran.if iran and other gulf countries have nuclear weapons, israel will become weak which US and other western countries cannot tolerta. this is the reason all western countries are opposing iran nuclear progarame.

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Hey you timid President!
by stanzin metta on Feb 01, 2007 03:59 PM | Hide replies
Hello Mr. President, don't withdraw your remarks made on Iran.. Its the fact, if you withdraws, then you seems to be a TIMID PREZ.

STanzin / Ladakh

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The French
by prasun premrajan on Feb 01, 2007 03:43 PM | Hide replies
Oh I am starting to like the french. What the president spoke is absolutely correct. The americans made a mistake they should have gone for the iranians instead of the iraqis. i wonder who made that mistake on paper. Writing iraQ instead of iraN.
Iranians may get a bomb or two but they are inviting doom for themselves. i am sure the chocolate faced idiots with no brains in bollywood will agree with me....

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RE:The French
by anil b on Feb 01, 2007 03:57 PM
HI ,

the choclate faced scoundrels in the CPI-m probably . we can send them to fight fro iran when it will be bombed by israel . we will be rid of greatest thorn to mother india

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RE:RE:The French
by anjan sengupta on Feb 01, 2007 04:50 PM
IRAN should be totally demolished (i mean the present regime n not the common people) . Its high time before Iran becomes a threat 2 the whole humanity . i also agree that the ppl from Congress and the CPIM should be sent 2 defend Iran .

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RE:The French
by tan on Feb 01, 2007 04:46 PM
Well this is the case of classical hypocricy. Indians dont mind india having nuclear weapons. With only pakistan and china as the threat. China has been for a long time & pakistan after india detonated. But what about iran .It has isreal on its wester flank, pakistan & india eastern flank , americans all around and russia in the north. But iran should not have . Hypocrite. Isreal can have 400 nuclear bombs and noone wants to talk about that. WHY . Because isreal did not use it . But isreal is the only country on the face of this earth which has broken many UN resolutions. Invaded soverign lands and occupied & percecuted people. Just what hitler did as hitler also was a jew

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RE:The French
by Raj Royale on Feb 01, 2007 05:21 PM
My friend Tan, get your geography right please. Iran has no borders wh ANY country that you mentioned. Not with Israel, not with India (Why did you mention that by the way ? India is FRIENDLY with Iran) Not Russia to the North but Turkey & Armenia. Yes, it has Pakistan to the East (Well done my friend, atleast 1 of your guesses was correct) but it is a friendly Islamic state to Iran.
As far as your argument about Iran-Israelanimosity is concerned, one would understand a neighbouring Arab country's anger. But why Iran? It is at a distance of 800 miles (1000 kms) from Israel.... If being Islamic is the only criteria, then we Indians have to be vigilant! We may be next because we are also not capitulating to an aggressive IIslamic country, who keeps attacking our civilians repeatedly! We must side Israel as we may be next on thr nuclear list of an Islamic nation with a bomb!

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RE:The French
by urooj anwar on Feb 01, 2007 05:22 PM
i totally agree they should attack iran after iraq.
These americans cant win in iraq come what may. they have already pressed the self destruction button and already UD is the most hated country in the world.

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RE:RE:The French
by Piyush Bhargava on Feb 01, 2007 05:49 PM
Mr.Anwar, US may be most hated by you.But not by the whole world and certainly not by the Indians.Be practicle.Your children may want to go to the USA for a job.Let me tell you a fact, it is only the conressi Netas and the commies who hate the USA.But thier children are studying there and enjoying themselves with the hard earned money of Indians .These netas themselves have business Interests in the US. They are just fooling you. Be practicle man. Love India, Love USA.Both are great countries.



RE:RE:RE:The French
by SHYAM AGRAWAL on Feb 02, 2007 03:27 AM
VERY WELL SAID PIYUSHJI. ALSO JACQUES CHIRAQ ALREADY SPOKE HIS MIND; SO WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT IT OF RETRACTING OR NOT. THE POPE DID THE SAME. AND IN THE PAST INDIA WAS A GOLDEN BIRD, SO ALL EUROPEANS FLOCKED TO LOOT HER; AND THEY LOOTED HER ALRIGHT.AND IF IRAN HAS SO MUCH WEALTH IN OIL AND GAS IT SHOULD AT LEAST KEEP ITS MOUTH SHUT OTHERWISE FACE THE CONSEQUENCES. SHER SINGH AGRAWAL, SEATTLE, USA