sandorski
No Lifer
- Oct 10, 1999
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Originally posted by: rickn
Originally posted by: sandorski
Originally posted by: rickn
given the french history, they'll wanna build them another nuclear reactor
Interesting comment. France did build the nuclear reactor in Iraq during the 70's. At the time Iraq already had a reactor that it used for "scientific" purposes, so the French had no compelling reason to worry about WMD developement. Besides, those were different days, though there were attempts to prevent Nuclear weapons proliferation, Iraq would have easily been able to acquire the reactor from the Soviet Union. However, Iraq avoided becoming just another satellite of the Soviet Union and pursued Nuclear technology in the West. Anyway, after Iraq bought the reactor it made it's intentions known in the Arab world by announcing that it would become the first Arab Nuclear power, this announcement seemed to be ignored in the West and nobody did anything. Until Israel destroyed the reactor.
After Israel destroyed the first reactor, Iraq went back to the French wanting to buy another reactor. By this time France was well aware of the intentions, so they refused to sell another one to Iraq.
During all these events, Iraq went to a German company and asked them to build Iraq a Chemical Weapons plant. Knowing that they would get top dollar due to the secretive nature of the contract(no one outside the company knew about this project...aka illegal export) the company jumped at the opportunity.
Later in the 80's the desire for WMD and the willingness to use them was quite well established concerning Iraq. However, the political and strategic situation between Iraq/Iran compelled the US to aid Iraq in the developement of a Biological Weapons program.
You have France with it's willfully lacking knowledge of Iraq's intentions, but refusing after the truth(and Israel's destruction) is revealed to allow Iraq WMD(Nuclear). You have a Rogue Corporation giving WMD(Chemical). You have a desparate US government aiding Iraq by giving them the ability to make WMD(Biological). You want to single out France?
In short, you need to include the other players if you want to take cheap shots at France.
you'll have to excuse me if I leave past misgivings of the US out, since we are the ones with men and women over there dying, and trying to correct the mistakes of the past and to free an oppressed people. France has did nothing but try and road block us every step of the way. What do they, FRANCE, REALLY have to hide? I have to wonder what the coalition forces are gonna turn up with Made in France stamped on it.
What makes you think France opposes for this reason?
Again I reiterate, you(the US) insisted on doing this and you(US) were not going to take "No"(Non) for an answer. The majority of nations(using total countries - Coalition members = Opposing countries) tried to stop you(US). Don't get pissy at the French because you(US) went ahead anyway.