Hats off to the French:
14/3/11 10:22![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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talkpoliticshttp://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/08/us-france-chirac-idUSTRE72732W20110308
They're trying one of their leaders who *has* been quite corrupt for corruption. Jacques Chirac attracted derision from the US Right for opposing the Iraq War (which last I checked given that WMDs existed only in Bush's mind and Iraq looks to be as much a success for the US Empire as Pakistan was for the British), despite that Chirac and Sarkozy are major leaders in the French Right Wing. Chirac, however, has been in some deep doo-doo over some corrupt practices he's engaged in, chiefly cronyism.
What interests me is the last French politician to be tried was Marshal Petain, and the reasons he was tried were a lot more than mere cronyism. Can someone with more knowledge of French politics explain why what Chirac did is worth something that hasn't been done since 1945? I mean it's good to see crackdowns on corruption and I approve of that (living in Louisiana I'd think no different) but this is kind of surprising.
They're trying one of their leaders who *has* been quite corrupt for corruption. Jacques Chirac attracted derision from the US Right for opposing the Iraq War (which last I checked given that WMDs existed only in Bush's mind and Iraq looks to be as much a success for the US Empire as Pakistan was for the British), despite that Chirac and Sarkozy are major leaders in the French Right Wing. Chirac, however, has been in some deep doo-doo over some corrupt practices he's engaged in, chiefly cronyism.
What interests me is the last French politician to be tried was Marshal Petain, and the reasons he was tried were a lot more than mere cronyism. Can someone with more knowledge of French politics explain why what Chirac did is worth something that hasn't been done since 1945? I mean it's good to see crackdowns on corruption and I approve of that (living in Louisiana I'd think no different) but this is kind of surprising.
(no subject)
Date: 14/3/11 17:32 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 14/3/11 17:38 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 14/3/11 17:58 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 15/3/11 00:21 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 15/3/11 04:29 (UTC)The case must be quite sound for the prosecuters to have the confidence to proceed. And sometimes it doesn't have to have enough steam to go through the law courts, just enough to get by the court of public opinion. Remember that one accusation is worth ten retractions.
(no subject)
Date: 15/3/11 13:36 (UTC)"[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs." -- From a letter signed by Joe Lieberman, Dianne Feinstein, Barbara A. Milulski, Tom Daschle, & John Kerry among others on October 9, 1998
"This December will mark three years since United Nations inspectors last visited Iraq. There is no doubt that since that time, Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to refine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer- range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies." -- From a December 6, 2001 letter signed by Bob Graham, Joe Lieberman, Harold Ford, & Tom Lantos among others
"Whereas Iraq has consistently breached its cease-fire agreement between Iraq and the United States, entered into on March 3, 1991, by failing to dismantle its weapons of mass destruction program, and refusing to permit monitoring and verification by United Nations inspections; Whereas Iraq has developed weapons of mass destruction, including chemical and biological capabilities, and has made positive progress toward developing nuclear weapons capabilities" -- From a joint resolution submitted by Tom Harkin and Arlen Specter on July 18, 2002
"Saddam's goal ... is to achieve the lifting of U.N. sanctions while retaining and enhancing Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs. We cannot, we must not and we will not let him succeed." -- Madeline Albright, 1998
"(Saddam) will rebuild his arsenal of weapons of mass destruction and some day, some way, I am certain he will use that arsenal again, as he has 10 times since 1983" -- National Security Adviser Sandy Berger, Feb 18, 1998
"The community of nations may see more and more of the very kind of threat Iraq poses now: a rogue state with weapons of mass destruction, ready to use them or provide them to terrorists. If we fail to respond today, Saddam and all those who would follow in his footsteps will be emboldened tomorrow." -- Bill Clinton in 1998
"I am absolutely convinced that there are weapons...I saw evidence back in 1998 when we would see the inspectors being barred from gaining entry into a warehouse for three hours with trucks rolling up and then moving those trucks out." -- Clinton's Secretary of Defense William Cohen in April of 2003
"Iraq is not the only nation in the world to possess weapons of mass destruction, but it is the only nation with a leader who has used them against his own people." -- Tom Daschle in 1998
"As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I am keenly aware that the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons is an issue of grave importance to all nations. Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process." -- Nancy Pelosi, December 16, 1998
"Even today, Iraq is not nearly disarmed. Based on highly credible intelligence, UNSCOM [the U.N. weapons inspectors] suspects that Iraq still has biological agents like anthrax, botulinum toxin, and clostridium perfringens in sufficient quantity to fill several dozen bombs and ballistic missile warheads, as well as the means to continue manufacturing these deadly agents. Iraq probably retains several tons of the highly toxic VX substance, as well as sarin nerve gas and mustard gas. This agent is stored in artillery shells, bombs, and ballistic missile warheads. And Iraq retains significant dual-use industrial infrastructure that can be used to rapidly reconstitute large-scale chemical weapons production." -- Ex-Un Weapons Inspector Scott Ritter in 1998
(no subject)
Date: 15/3/11 13:41 (UTC)