France says they are victim of US smear campaign

renata · 15th May 2003, 12:27 PM

Now I do not know much about diplomacy, but if ( and that is a big if) France wants to normalize relations with the US, I do not think that is the way to do it- particularly with this administration, which values loyalto so.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/...nce/index.html

Quote:

France says it is the victim of a smear campaign by the Bush administration, charging some U.S. officials are leaking false stories about alleged French complicity with the Iraqi regime.

....

The French government lays out its claim in a letter written by the French ambassador to the United States, according to a French diplomat familiar with its contents.

....

One U.S. official involved in national security matters said the French claim was baseless.

"There are a lot of things we don't like, and we have not been shy about that," said the U.S. official. "But there is no campaign against the French."

...

In his letter, French Ambassador Jean-David Levitte cited eight examples of what he describes as proof of a deliberate U.S. campaign to spread misinformation about the French government. CNN has obtained a copy of the list, which accompanies the letter.

....

Among the stories cited by the French:

• News reports, quoting administration officials, suggesting France might have sold weapons to Iraq in defiance of U.N. sanctions.

• A Washington Times story reporting U.S. intelligence sources had received information suggesting French officials in Syria were helping members of the Iraqi leadership escape the U.S. military by issuing French passports to them. (Excerpts from the list)

"The passport story had them really hot," said a senior U.S. official. "They delivered passionate, heated and repeated denials that any such thing was occurring."

The official said there was no evidence of the French issuing such passports, and noted the White House never said there was any such evidence.

On the day of the Washington Times story, however, White House press secretary Ari Fleischer suggested reporters would be better served asking the French whether they provided passports to Iraqi officials.

....

A link to the 8 stories and rebuttals on each from the French. The scary part is that I heard most of them, and now I do not know who to believe- neither government has high credibility as far as I am concerned.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/...ist/index.html

Jim_MDP · 15th May 2003, 02:24 PM

This will all blow over.

For decades, they have painted us as "ugly Americans", yet we provide the bulk of their tourism revenue.

I'm not terribly concerned, and someday will even return. In the meantime..."Suck eggs, froggy.'

Martin · 15th May 2003, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JamesMGMDP
For decades, they have painted us as "ugly Americans", yet we provide the bulk of their tourism revenue

Which is probably why they have painted you as 'ugly Americans'

Segnosaur · 15th May 2003, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JamesMGMDP
This will all blow over.

I have to agree...

Remember a few years ago, when the French were testing nuclear weapons in the Pacific (while everyone complained)? People were boycotting french wine back then too, and wine makers in France complained. The market eventually came back.

ceo_esq · 16th May 2003, 06:20 AM

Should we offer them some Brie with that whine?

Flo · 16th May 2003, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ceo_esq
Should we offer them some Brie with that whine?

No, thanks, you wouldn't know how to age it correctly, nor recognise a well aged one ... and I suspect you would pick the wrong whine to go with it

However, I agree that those complains are perfectly ridiculous. Who do they think they are kidding ? Not many French believe the main motive of our government for opposing the war stem from virtue and that France's hands are any cleaner than USA's or UK's in the way the Middle-East countries and problems have been handled.

Frostbite · 16th May 2003, 06:46 AM

CNN... hehe.

15th May 2003, 12:27 PM	#1
renata Illuminator Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 3,334	France says they are victim of US smear campaign Now I do not know much about diplomacy, but if ( and that is a big if) France wants to normalize relations with the US, I do not think that is the way to do it- particularly with this administration, which values loyalto so. http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/...nce/index.html Quote: France says it is the victim of a smear campaign by the Bush administration, charging some U.S. officials are leaking false stories about alleged French complicity with the Iraqi regime. .... The French government lays out its claim in a letter written by the French ambassador to the United States, according to a French diplomat familiar with its contents. .... One U.S. official involved in national security matters said the French claim was baseless. "There are a lot of things we don't like, and we have not been shy about that," said the U.S. official. "But there is no campaign against the French." ... In his letter, French Ambassador Jean-David Levitte cited eight examples of what he describes as proof of a deliberate U.S. campaign to spread misinformation about the French government. CNN has obtained a copy of the list, which accompanies the letter. .... Among the stories cited by the French: • News reports, quoting administration officials, suggesting France might have sold weapons to Iraq in defiance of U.N. sanctions. • A Washington Times story reporting U.S. intelligence sources had received information suggesting French officials in Syria were helping members of the Iraqi leadership escape the U.S. military by issuing French passports to them. (Excerpts from the list) "The passport story had them really hot," said a senior U.S. official. "They delivered passionate, heated and repeated denials that any such thing was occurring." The official said there was no evidence of the French issuing such passports, and noted the White House never said there was any such evidence. On the day of the Washington Times story, however, White House press secretary Ari Fleischer suggested reporters would be better served asking the French whether they provided passports to Iraqi officials. .... A link to the 8 stories and rebuttals on each from the French. The scary part is that I heard most of them, and now I do not know who to believe- neither government has high credibility as far as I am concerned. http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/...ist/index.html
renata Illuminator Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 3,334

15th May 2003, 02:24 PM	#2
Jim_MDP Master Poster Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: On the road, if you see this RV... RUN! Posts: 2,562	This will all blow over. For decades, they have painted us as "ugly Americans", yet we provide the bulk of their tourism revenue. I'm not terribly concerned, and someday will even return. In the meantime..."Suck eggs, froggy.'
	__________________ ---------------------- "Both cannot be simultaneously true, and so one may conclude neither is true, and if neither is true, then Apollo is fraudulent." -- Patrick1000.

15th May 2003, 02:38 PM	#3
Martin Sceptic Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 898	Quote: Originally posted by JamesMGMDP For decades, they have painted us as "ugly Americans", yet we provide the bulk of their tourism revenue Which is probably why they have painted you as 'ugly Americans'
Martin Sceptic Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 898	__________________ So the Universe is not quite as you thought it was. You had better rearrange your beliefs, then. Because you certainly can't rearrange the Universe. Isaac Asimov and Robert Silverberg, Nightfall

15th May 2003, 03:48 PM	#4
Segnosaur Philosopher Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Canada, eh? Posts: 6,065	Quote: Originally posted by JamesMGMDP *This will* all blow over.** I have to agree... Remember a few years ago, when the French were testing nuclear weapons in the Pacific (while everyone complained)? People were boycotting french wine back then too, and wine makers in France complained. The market eventually came back.
	__________________ Trust me, I know what I'm doing. - Sledgehammer I cheered when then the WTC came down. - UndercoverElephant (a.k.a. JustGeoff) I cheer Bin Laden... - JustGeoff (a.k.a. UndercoverElephant) Bin Laden delivered justice - JustGeoff (a.k.a. UndercoverElephant) Men shop for lingerie the way kids shop for breakfast cereal... they will buy something they know nothing about, just to get the prize inside. - Jeff Foxworthy

16th May 2003, 06:20 AM	#5
ceo_esq Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 4,940	Should we offer them some Brie with that whine?
ceo_esq Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 4,940

16th May 2003, 06:38 AM	#6
Flo Master Poster Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Massongy, France Posts: 2,792	Quote: Originally posted by ceo_esq Should we offer them some Brie with that whine? No, thanks, you wouldn't know how to age it correctly, nor recognise a well aged one ... and I suspect you would pick the wrong whine to go with it However, I agree that those complains are perfectly ridiculous. Who do they think they are kidding ? Not many French believe the main motive of our government for opposing the war stem from virtue and that France's hands are any cleaner than USA's or UK's in the way the Middle-East countries and problems have been handled.
	__________________ "Let me explain the order of things for you. There's the aristocracy, the upper class, middle class, working class, dumb animals, waiters, creeping things, head lice, people who eat packet soup, and then you." (Chef)

16th May 2003, 06:46 AM	#7
Frostbite Muse Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Montreal, Qc Posts: 986	CNN... hehe.
	__________________ Every revolutionary idea seems to evoke three stages of reaction. They may be summed up by the phrases: 1- It's completely impossible. 2- It's possible, but it's not worth doing. 3- I said it was a good idea all along. -Arthur C. Clarke