France ready to use nuclear arms: Chirac

The French President, Jacques Chirac, has said France would be ready to use nuclear weapons against any state that carried out a terrorist attack on its soil.

Mr Chirac said he reserved his country's right to use non-conventional weapons after any terrorist attack or an attack that used weapons of mass destruction.

It was the first time he clearly linked the threat of a nuclear response to a terrorist attack.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0119/nuclear.html

:nuke:

:sarcasm:

the French.

It's not like they have an army worth anything. When a hammer is the only tool you've got, all problems look like a nail.

Senseless, fucking senseless.

Things like this are not said for no reason. For instance, during the lead-up to the first Gulf War the U.S. made clear that they reserved the right to use any means to respond to attacks involving chemical/biological weapons. The message was clear: if you use these weapons on the battlefield, we will nuke you.

This statement by Chirac is directed at somebody. The most likely (virtually a certainty) target of this warning is Iran. It may be that Chirac knows that a military strike on Iran is in the works, and is putting the Iranians on notice that he will respond to terrorist attacks. They may even be gathering intelligence that indicates preparations for retaliatory terrorist attacks are underway.

The U.S., by the way, has made the same threat, and it is undoubtedly directed at Iran.