PARIS - France's government insisted Friday that it hopes U.S.-led forces win the war in Iraq (news - web sites), protesting news reports that the French foreign minister was ambiguous about his position.
The Foreign Ministry issued a curt statement quoting Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin as saying on Monday: "The United States, we hope, will win this war quickly."
The statement said the ministry was "indignant" about the press coverage of Villepin's comments Wednesday at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London.
The ministry did not specify which publications it was referring to, but at least two English-language newspapers reported that Villepin refused to say explicitly who he hoped would win the war.
When asked after a speech if he wanted the coalition forces to win, Villepin said he would not answer, admonished reporters for not listening carefully and referred them to earlier remarks.
France has led the diplomatic opposition to the war, arguing that peaceful means of disarming Iraq had not been exhausted and that the U.S.-led military action was illegal and dangerous.
Since the war started, Paris has called for a swift end to the fighting. But the government said Friday that does not mean Paris hopes Iraq wins the war, and said that its position on who it wants to win was "totally devoid of ambiguity."
"Under these circumstances, it is not acceptable that the positions of France be distorted in this way," the statement said.
Yeah, whatever. You think Villepin is rooting for us to win this war? Bullsh*t. The only reason his joke of a government is pulling for Americans and a swift end to the war.....is so they can begin their all-out campaign to be a major part of the post-war money-making extravaganza. WHO THE HELL DO THEY THINK THEIR FOOLING WITH THIS SH*T????
The Foreign Ministry issued a curt statement quoting Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin as saying on Monday: "The United States, we hope, will win this war quickly."
The statement said the ministry was "indignant" about the press coverage of Villepin's comments Wednesday at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London.
The ministry did not specify which publications it was referring to, but at least two English-language newspapers reported that Villepin refused to say explicitly who he hoped would win the war.
When asked after a speech if he wanted the coalition forces to win, Villepin said he would not answer, admonished reporters for not listening carefully and referred them to earlier remarks.
France has led the diplomatic opposition to the war, arguing that peaceful means of disarming Iraq had not been exhausted and that the U.S.-led military action was illegal and dangerous.
Since the war started, Paris has called for a swift end to the fighting. But the government said Friday that does not mean Paris hopes Iraq wins the war, and said that its position on who it wants to win was "totally devoid of ambiguity."
"Under these circumstances, it is not acceptable that the positions of France be distorted in this way," the statement said.
Yeah, whatever. You think Villepin is rooting for us to win this war? Bullsh*t. The only reason his joke of a government is pulling for Americans and a swift end to the war.....is so they can begin their all-out campaign to be a major part of the post-war money-making extravaganza. WHO THE HELL DO THEY THINK THEIR FOOLING WITH THIS SH*T????
