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| Europe |
| French public hardens opposition to Iraq war -poll |
| 2003-02-17 |
| PARIS, Feb 17 (Reuters) - French public opinion has hardened against going to war on Iraq, according to a poll out on Monday. By far the most common reason given for opposing the use of force was hostility to the United States' role in the crisis. A U.N.-mandated intervention would win majority support, however. A meaningless distinction given that France can veto any UN vote. Offered a choice of three reasons to best explain why they opposed going to war, 76 percent of the anti-war camp said they "dislike they way the United States is behaving in the crisis". It is simply impossible to reason with people like this. Just nine percent said they were mainly against military action because Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was not a threat to international security and 13 percent chose to explain their view by saying the crisis did not affect France's interests. It would have been interesting if the poll had added 2 more choices to the survey: 1)Fear of 5m French turbans acting up and 2) I work for ELF. |
| Posted by:JAB |
| #9 That poll was rigged, as there were only three choices. For example, there was no option to object to the war on moral grounds, or on the grounds that it would kill more people than otherwise. A Frenchperson could object on any of these grounds, and still answer "yes" to the anti-American question. |
| Posted by: parallel 2003-02-17 23:10:52 |
| #8 This will explain everything. The French think Jerry Lewis is a genius. |
| Posted by: Denny 2003-02-17 21:40:51 |
| #7 Not that that's a bad thing LOL |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-02-17 20:18:11 |
| #6 "Britain should pull out of the EU now." - I said that before, was a mistake. France should be kicked out of the EU. Give Germany their Mauser back and tell them all's forgiven, and there's a fight in the sandpit when the bell goes. I think someone's slipped truth drugs into the Perrier today, Europe's just become a lot easier to fathom. |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2003-02-17 18:38:01 |
| #5 Bulldog, you're bringing back Monty Python memories - Holy Grail DVD flashback |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-02-17 18:02:22 |
| #4 "the crisis [does] not affect France's interests" means you abstain and stop being such obstructionist a**holes. Of course it affects your interests, your stance betrays you. |
| Posted by: RW 2003-02-17 17:31:45 |
| #3 ...Haven't finished yet...More appalled by this than anything I've read in a while... They are effectively trying to use the Iraqi population as hostages here. "You want Monsieur Saddam gone, doo yeau? Yeau 'ave to play aaar leetle game first, Americain, we wont to see yeau beg us for permission. Wen yeau play by aar rules, we'll give yeau what yeau waaant..." And this isn't the government, it's the people on the street. Please excuse my accent, I admit it's a little rusty. |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2003-02-17 16:46:47 |
| #2 Fine, France. That's your opinion and you're entiltled to it. Just STFU and stay out of our way now. We've got work to do. |
| Posted by: Parabellum 2003-02-17 16:46:32 |
| #1 That is incredible. Not only are they cold-hearted self-interested batardes, they're not even rational to go with it. The majority think war's a good thing, if it has UN approval, but don't want to fight before that happens because they think that's what the Americans want, yet they'll veto any Security Council resolution anyway, and many think it's not in France's interests, and that Saddam's not a threat. Britain should pull out of the EU now. |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2003-02-17 16:34:15 |