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| Europe |
| France seeks large role in helping rebuild Iraq |
| 2003-03-25 |
| Worried it could be shut out of business deals in post-war Iraq, France is drawing up plans to win French companies access to lucrative oil and reconstruction contracts. The government is determined that French companies will be part of rebuilding Iraq, despite President Jacques Chirac's vigorous opposition to the war, a Finance Ministry official said. Gilles Munier, an executive board member of the French-Iraq Association for Economic Cooperation, said business leaders and government representatives were studying how to gain a foothold in post-war Iraq. He said a meeting between France's most powerful business federation, government leaders and the French-Iraq Association for Economic Cooperation was scheduled for April 3. Might want to think about rescheduling that meeting, guys... The Finance Ministry official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed discussions were under way with business leaders about Iraq. Some French are concerned that a U.S.-led administration in Iraq will favor companies from the United States and other pro-war countries while penalizing companies from France and other war opponents. No! Really? Why would they do that? Officials in Paris say French firms' experience in working in Iraq would be an advantage. French companies — many with ties to Baghdad stretching back decades — have established themselves as the largest suppliers of |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #13 They can have the contract to kiss my pimply,red ass! |
| Posted by: raptor 2003-03-26 08:38:52 |
| #12 To paraphrase Marie Antionette, "Let them eat shit." |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-03-25 23:12:09 |
| #11 The Froggies should worry more about the Muslims in their own country. Within ten years, there will be near-civil war in France. Or a peaceful surrender to the Islamists. Whichever. |
| Posted by: eric 2003-03-25 21:39:14 |
| #10 All I gotta say is they better start with the rebuild of that friggen Mcdonalds they trashed,Cause if I wander over there and can't get a Le'BigMac,I'm knocking Frenchy out. |
| Posted by: Brew 2003-03-25 20:19:49 |
| #9 I know a some teamsters, I used to be one. I think I speak for most of them and all reasonable Americans when I say F U Gilles! |
| Posted by: Domingo 2003-03-25 20:02:41 |
| #8 Sure, there is a place for French business in a post war Iraq. Give them the pork consession! Attribute to my good friend TWsquared |
| Posted by: penguin 2003-03-25 18:16:55 |
| #7 Thank you for calling the US government Iraq rebuilding program. All of our operators are busy right now. Your call is very important to us. Please remain on the line... Thank you for calling the US government Iraq rebuilding program. All of our operators are busy right now. Your call is very important to us. Please remain on the line... Thank you for calling the US government Iraq rebuilding program. All of our operators are busy right now. Your call is very important to us. Please remain on the line... |
| Posted by: Christopher Johnson 2003-03-25 17:46:17 |
| #6 "Thank you. We have received your request, and will process it as soon as possible. We must say, however, that we have also received requests from Germany, Russia, and China that we must consider as well. We will notify you immediately if your request is approved. The notification will be forwarded between two Buffs, aimed at Premir Chirac's anal orifice, at full throttle." (In)Sincerely, Iraq Reconstruction Agency |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-03-25 16:55:30 |
| #5 Solana's also caterwauling, UN, UN, EU, EU must be included. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-03-25 16:31:24 |
| #4 Oh, even better... Teamsters vs. Snooty Arrogant Froggy Bureaucrats. WooHoo!!! Let the beatings commence! |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-03-25 16:22:16 |
| #3 Unbefrigginlieveable! The unimagineable gaul (thankyou very much) of the Frogs never ceases to amaze. Go back to your cafes and STFU! |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2003-03-25 16:20:11 |
| #2 No problem, President Jacques, You are invited to bid on any piece of business. However, please be advised all specs will be in "inches, pounds and miles", all electrical will be in good old 2 prong, you know, just like at the UN, and all bids written in US Dollars... not those colorful Wahooties you buy bagguetes with on the Left Bank! |
| Posted by: Capsu78 2003-03-25 16:08:37 |
| #1 Chirac's gang isn't even fit for ridicule, let alone contempt. For either, your opponents must take you seriously. I suspect that the French government thinks that all will be well once the shooting stops. In part they are right. We shall not shoot up Paris or salt the Bordeaux, but I expect that we will ignore them at every turn. As usual, the Frog-politicos are the last to recognize their own irrelevance. Jackasses. |
| Posted by: KXS 2003-03-25 16:07:38 |