# Holy shit, Jacques Chirac is a fucking shitface **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 18, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-jacques-chirac-is-a-fucking-shitface/155880 "2003-02-18T14:04:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-jacques-chirac-is-a-fucking-shitface/155880/1 "2003-02-18T14:04:23Z")
Now, I find all this international hoopla about pending war with Iraq has been rather tiring. I see myself in the middle ground; not an ardent war-hawk, willing to work with the UN, but seeing Goddam Insane’s removal as a necessary and inevitable event. But Jacques Chirac is a fucking shitface. I don’t mind that he’s against the war. That’s fine. France is a democratic country and the majority of them oppose the war, and Chirac is agreeing with the majority. No big fucking deal. But then he decides to say shit like, > [@](#): > > “These countries have been not very well behaved and rather reckless of the danger of aligning themselves too rapidly with the American position.” > > “It is not really responsible behavior. It is not well brought-up behavior. They missed a good opportunity to keep quiet.” > > “I felt they acted frivolously because entry into the European Union implies a minimum of understanding for the others,” Chirac said. > … > “Romania and Bulgaria were particularly irresponsible. If they wanted to diminish their chances of joining Europe they could not have found a better way,” He was talking about several Eastern European countries which have recently pledged support for the US position. These countries are not members of the EU, and are therefore little worthless pieces of shit, as far as Chirac is concerned. If you don’t believe me, listen to this: > [@](#): > > When asked why he wasn’t similarly critical of the EU nations that signed the letter, Chirac said: “When you are in the family [the EU] … you have more rights than when you are asking to join and knocking on the door.” Jesus H. Christ on a cracker with cranberry sauce. What kind of collossal assface says shit like this? “Hi. I’m France. I’m in the EU which means I’m better than you. Shut the fuck up, you stupid little child countries, or I shall taunt you a second time!” Criticizing the actions of other nations (or your own) is one thing. But the sheer audacity and pomposity of criticizing them in the specific context of ejudicating their entrance into the EU is absolutely fucking horrendous. Unbelievable. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-jacques-chirac-is-a-fucking-shitface/155880/2 "2003-02-18T14:11:55Z")
Wow. A Frenchman being condescending. That being said, he is a major asshat. And he proves that the former Com-Bloc nations should think twice before joining the French EU. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-jacques-chirac-is-a-fucking-shitface/155880/3 "2003-02-18T14:22:56Z")
Oops. I forgot the link for the news story: [http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/02/18/sprj.irq.chirac/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/02/18/sprj.irq.chirac/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Reuben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/54ee81/32.png) [@Reuben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reuben)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-jacques-chirac-is-a-fucking-shitface/155880/4 "2003-02-18T14:30:48Z")
I don’t see that he said anything even vaguely offensive. It’s tone is slightly patronising, but otherwise it looks like pretty mild and valid criticism to me, and undeserving of the hysterical overreaction in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-jacques-chirac-is-a-fucking-shitface/155880/5 "2003-02-18T14:33:26Z")
Diplomacy is about leaning on people. Do you think the US is not leaning on governments (and oppositions) to support its position? > [@](#): > > “When you are in the family [the EU] … you have more rights than when you are asking to join and knocking on the door.” Well, duh. Why would you imagine anything different? ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-jacques-chirac-is-a-fucking-shitface/155880/6 "2003-02-18T14:33:28Z")
You must be French, or way off to the Left. ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-jacques-chirac-is-a-fucking-shitface/155880/7 "2003-02-18T14:35:31Z")
Well it could be argued that if these countries are applying for membership that they should be on their best behavior, so at the very least they should be quiet about their support for the US position. The EU would be smart to look twice at nations that would potentially be tools of the US, that could make a differnce latter on. It’s a good strategy to watch them closely with respect to their alliances. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-jacques-chirac-is-a-fucking-shitface/155880/8 "2003-02-18T14:36:03Z")
Better they be tools of the French, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-jacques-chirac-is-a-fucking-shitface/155880/9 "2003-02-18T14:37:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Reuben \* > \*\*I don’t see that he said anything even vaguely offensive. It’s tone is slightly patronising, but otherwise it looks like pretty mild and valid criticism to me, and undeserving of the hysterical overreaction in the OP. \*\* I see. In other words, in all disputes, you must forfeit your sovereignty and become France’s lackey rather than the US’s? That’s a valid criticism? Please. And anyway, **hawthorne** has the right idea. France is using everything in it’s power to get people to go along with their position rather than the “opposition’s.” It’s fair in the world of international diplomacy and I can’t really be too critical of them, other than the general idea that they could have been a bit less ham-handed. But that’s just a minor criticism - it’s much more important that they pull the strings needed to get what they want. Just as I fully expect the US to be doing the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-jacques-chirac-is-a-fucking-shitface/155880/10 "2003-02-18T14:38:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > \*\*You must be French, or way off to the Left. \*\* Nah, a thinker. ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-jacques-chirac-is-a-fucking-shitface/155880/11 "2003-02-18T14:42:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > \*\*Better they be tools of the French, eh? \*\* Are the countries applying to be a state of the US or a member of the EU? If the majority of the people of the EU don’t support the US position, why wouldn’t there be criticism of a country that’s seeking membership that is embracing the US position? It would have been smart for those countries to stay neutral, that would have been a more political saavy way of handling things. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-jacques-chirac-is-a-fucking-shitface/155880/12 "2003-02-18T14:45:28Z")
I doubt ‘Kiss French ass’ is somewhere in the EU membership app. These nations are more then free to determine their own foreign policy, regardless of French whining. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-jacques-chirac-is-a-fucking-shitface/155880/13 "2003-02-18T14:46:00Z")
I don’t think the US has any business invading Iraq unless Iraq attacks us or one of our allies. Having said that – I think the people governing Romania et. al. have the right to voice a contrary opinion, and that membership in the EU should not be based on anything as reductionistic a litmus test as agreement/disagreement on this issue, nor should applicant nations be expected to shuffle their metaphorical feet silently in the hallway while they are under consideration. Of course I am not a European. ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-jacques-chirac-is-a-fucking-shitface/155880/14 "2003-02-18T14:47:44Z")
Chirac comes across like a moron. One wit spelled his name _chIRAQ_. Even from his POV of trying to maximize France’s power in Europe, his statements were bizarre. He has now pissed off countries whose support he wants. His bad behaviour also has given Blair and Bush a good talking point. Anti-war people who don’t mind being on the same side as Saddam Hussein might draw the line at being on the side of Chirac. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![zuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9c0ed/32.png) [@zuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuma)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-jacques-chirac-is-a-fucking-shitface/155880/15 "2003-02-18T14:51:14Z")
I was about to come in here and post the same link. I found his remarks incredibly arrogant and reckless. “Agree with us or no EU for you!” Even politically, it’s just plain stupid (not that Chirac wasn’t politically stupid his first time around when Mitterand played him like a fiddle, but that’s another debate). Allies have disagreements all the time, being threatening and attempting to beat them into submission is quite another. It’s a good way to lose those allies. France, just like any other coutnry, can agree or disagree with the policy toward Iraq, but these disgusting comments hold no respect for the opinions of other democratic nations, and frankly, I suspect they will come back to bite him in the ass fairly soon. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-jacques-chirac-is-a-fucking-shitface/155880/16 "2003-02-18T14:51:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by EasyPhil \* > \*\*Are the countries applying to be a state of the US or a member of the EU? If the majority of the people of the EU don’t support the US position, why wouldn’t there be criticism of a country that’s seeking membership that is embracing the US position? It would have been smart for those countries to stay neutral, that would have been a more political saavy way of handling things. \*\* The problem here is that France is in no official position to make official pronouncements about who is and who is not going to have a difficult time entering the EU, outside of those countries for whom France itself will make entrance difficult. ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-jacques-chirac-is-a-fucking-shitface/155880/17 "2003-02-18T14:53:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by december \* > \*\*Anti-war people who don’t mind being on the same side as Saddam Hussein might draw the line at being on the side of Chirac. :eek: \*\* You can be anti-war and not pro Saddam Hussein, I don’t know why you insist on using this idiot-speak. There is sizeable number of people that are against the war all over the world, this weekend illustrated that clearly. Do you think that any country that is courting US aid would stand a chance of receiving it if they came out on record as being against the US position? ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-jacques-chirac-is-a-fucking-shitface/155880/18 "2003-02-18T14:53:59Z")
> [@](#): > > Anti-war people who don’t mind being on the same side as Saddam Hussein Wrong thread, and a complete lie. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-jacques-chirac-is-a-fucking-shitface/155880/19 "2003-02-18T14:54:49Z")
As I understand it, the EU is itself pretty divided on the issue. France and Germany are strongly opposed to the Iraq war, but Spain and the UK are strongly in favor, to address some of the larger EU countries. I think that Belgum is the only other vocally anti-war EU nation, and there are several others which are pro-war. Chirac’s comments tend to underscore the view that France and Germany are the central powers of Europe, while everyone else is peripheral. Although I think Rumsfeld’s “Old Europe” remarks were imprudent in the extreme, I would say that Chirac has an inflated view of France’s centrality in world and European affairs. ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-jacques-chirac-is-a-fucking-shitface/155880/20 "2003-02-18T14:55:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Neurotik \* > \*\*The problem here is that France is in no official position to make official pronouncements about who is and who is not going to have a difficult time entering the EU, outside of those countries for whom France itself will make entrance difficult. \*\* What you don’t know is how far the French influence carries within the union and what other states in the union agree with the French position but are not vocal about it, because they are more politically saavy. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-jacques-chirac-is-a-fucking-shitface/155880.md?page=2)