Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Washington Times
October 6, 2008
Pg. 15
JERUSALEM (Agence France-Presse) -- Visiting French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner warned that Israel would strike archfoe Iran before it was able to develop nuclear weapons, in comments published on Sunday.
"I honestly don't believe [a nuclear weapon] will give any immunity to Iran," Mr. Kouchner said in an interview conducted in English with Israel's Ha'aretz newspaper during a two-day visit to the region.
"First, because you will hit them before. And this is the danger. Israel has always said it will not wait for the bomb to be ready. I think that [the Iranians] know. Everyone knows."
The newspaper's print edition quoted Mr. Kouchner as saying that Israel would "eat" Iran, but in a written statement the foreign minister said he had used the word "hit," and that he regretted any "phonetic confusion."
Mr. Kouchner told Ha'aretz he hoped tough diplomacy and sanctions would persuade Iran to halt its uranium-enrichment program, which Israel and many Western countries think is aimed at developing nuclear weapons.
Iran has always insisted its atomic drive is entirely peaceful.
Israel is widely regarded as a nuclear armed state, but it has never confirmed or denied having an arsenal.
Mr. Kouchner met outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who is trying to form a new coalition government to succeed Mr. Olmert's administration. The French envoy was to return to Paris later Sunday.
France currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.
October 6, 2008
Pg. 15
JERUSALEM (Agence France-Presse) -- Visiting French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner warned that Israel would strike archfoe Iran before it was able to develop nuclear weapons, in comments published on Sunday.
"I honestly don't believe [a nuclear weapon] will give any immunity to Iran," Mr. Kouchner said in an interview conducted in English with Israel's Ha'aretz newspaper during a two-day visit to the region.
"First, because you will hit them before. And this is the danger. Israel has always said it will not wait for the bomb to be ready. I think that [the Iranians] know. Everyone knows."
The newspaper's print edition quoted Mr. Kouchner as saying that Israel would "eat" Iran, but in a written statement the foreign minister said he had used the word "hit," and that he regretted any "phonetic confusion."
Mr. Kouchner told Ha'aretz he hoped tough diplomacy and sanctions would persuade Iran to halt its uranium-enrichment program, which Israel and many Western countries think is aimed at developing nuclear weapons.
Iran has always insisted its atomic drive is entirely peaceful.
Israel is widely regarded as a nuclear armed state, but it has never confirmed or denied having an arsenal.
Mr. Kouchner met outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who is trying to form a new coalition government to succeed Mr. Olmert's administration. The French envoy was to return to Paris later Sunday.
France currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.