Blue Crab Boulevard

France Warns Iran - And The World - Of War

The French government has issued a warning to Iran and to the rest of the world that it should be ready for a war in the near future. France will not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon and appears to be far along in planning to stop it by whatever means necessary.

PARIS (AFP) - The world should brace for a possible war over the Iranian nuclear crisis but seeking a solution through talks should take priority, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said on Sunday.

"We have to prepare for the worst, and the worst is war," he said in an interview broadcast on French television and radio.

"We must negotiate right to the end," with Iran, he said, but underlined that if Tehran possessed an atomic weapon, it would represent "a real danger for the whole world."

Calling the nuclear standoff "the greatest crisis" of present times, the minister said: "We will not accept that the bomb is manufactured," and hinted that military plans were on the way.

"We are trying to put in place plans which are the privilege of chiefs of staff and that is not for tomorrow," he said but stressed that although any attack on Iran was far from taking place, "It is normal for us to plan" for any eventuality.

In Washington, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates took a more muted approach on Sunday.

"I will tell you that I think the administration believes at this point that continuing to try and deal with the Iranian threat … through diplomatic and economic means is by far the preferable approach," he said.

Well, this ought to get the left in this country into full short-knotting mode. But the fact is that unless enough pressure is brought - quickly - on Tehran they will continue their plan to build a nuclear bomb. If they build it, they have made it quite clear that they will use it. If they use it the entire Middle East will be engulfed in a regional war. The people who have refused to face up to the Iranian threat are making war more likely, not less. France appears to have realized that, even at this late date.

Iran, World news | Gaius Sunday, 16 September , 2007

By lynndh, Sunday, 16 September , 2007 @ 6:10 pm

At least no one ( like Greenspan) can say it would be a war for oil, since the oil would cease to flow. Wonder how those that cry “no blood for oil” will fare without oil and the by-products?
By feeblemind, Sunday, 16 September , 2007 @ 7:49 pm

Very surprised to hear this type of rhetoric from the French, but is it just talk?
By dianainsa, Sunday, 16 September , 2007 @ 10:48 pm

And whose forces exactly are the French volunteering to fight the Iranians? Surely not themselves?
By Uncle Pinky, Monday, 17 September , 2007 @ 12:30 am

This is just France jumping on Germany’s wagon.

“Iran must be ready for war, but from the U.S. rather than us, we will be negotiating until the very end!!!!”

They want us to whack Iran with airstrikes. If the populace actually turfs out the halfling, good for them and the world; if they don’t, hey those wacky U.S. cowboys are responsible. This is not quite as deft positioning as Merkel’s, but it ain’t bad.
By FedUp, Monday, 17 September , 2007 @ 7:38 am

Let’s at least give credit to the French for speaking up. After decades of deafening silence - except to denigrate the US - it is at least a start! We will see just how far they are willing to go in putting their money where their mouth is!