Should Chirac get the nobel prize?

Countries Forum

Is Chirac man of Peace, or anti USA?

Your (polite ) answer would be appreciated.

Chirac can be taken (assumed through speech and action) as anti-american since he believes they should pull out of Iraq and have NOTHING to do with the recovery there of.

Should Yassar achieved a peace prize?
It is supposed to be provided to those through actions - his actions only spoke of the opposite

I really don't worry about WHO receives the prize, since it has turned into a joke and given to those that do not deserve it.

I agree Chirac was only stopping this war to protect his "investments"

Yassar Arafat......you got to be kidding me, this a man who supports terrorism

George Bush also got nominated! What an oxymoron

Chirac and his cronies tried to stop the war which meant that Saddams terrorism on his own people would have continued.

At least what Bush and Blair did was end that brutal tryrants reign. Iraqi's are not being tortured, murdered or thrown in prison for not agreeing with their leader anymore.

Sometimes you need a little war for a little peace.

i think chirac got a bit too carried away when he thought he could stand as some sort of primary voice for the anti-war sentiments in the europe region. france didn't just oppose the war, they lobbied pretty damn hard against it.

now, right after the war you have chirac suddenly saying well i'am glad that iraqis are free this is very good blah blah, then all of a sudden he wants to drop u.n sanctions after bush makes the proposal. there's some silly stuff going on there.

yes, chirac is a man of peace. i have no doubt that he has much, fundamental human compassion for suffering of war victims, as should all. but his ties with the u.n as well as some of the business-related incentives caused him to stand on the wrong side of the issue this time, and when he saw how absolutely wrong he was about the outcome he backpedaled, and he knows it.

now there's evidence of france providing visas for regime members, and we never really gave it to the french for relaying the content of transatlantic meetings to iraq before and during the war, makes the whole thing a bit more complicated.

as for the question in your topic, no chirac should not receive a nobel prize, because he hasn't done anything to deserve it.

Photek, I don't understand this economical reason of France you mention : how could it be more interesting for them to make business with IRAQ rather than with USA, especially knowing that they could get some market shares after the war (oil and reconstructions contracts)?

Big French Companies (Bouigues, Renault, Peugeot, etc) openly complained to the French governement about its politics, which is bad for their business.

Regarding Visas, this hasn't been confirmed by other medias, and no governments complained: this article tend to be calomnies. (other attacks occured,such as special correspondance, but proved to be normal diplomatic's correspondance)

To summarize, isn't it this economic argument a nonsense?

Chirac did was he thinks was right, fought for peace, which is noble, but can't pretend for the nobel prize.

Rgarding Bush, please read my post sent yesterday to dreamzwalker, one page before on this thread.

Chiarc should get a bottle of red wine across the back of his selfish head. Their stance was not based on morals and peace.

This award is a joke and awards terrorists or some ordinary folk in some cases.

Pollution being a problem all over the world most countries are doing their part to reduce pollution. Some cities are doing better than others. One of the worst cities for pollution is Mexico City D.F. where the efforts of Los Angeles has done so much that they are no longer the worst polluter in the US. As far as vehicle pollution the US has done more to reduce the actual engine emissions than any other country while some countries do more by making small cars with smaller engines. So most countries are doing their part. The US- Environmental Protection Agency has fined many many major companies for excessive pollution and these companies have reduced their pollution. So we are doing our part.

Tornado's in the US are up this year because of El Nino. A natural occurrence where heated air and moisture from from the Gulf Stream and Cool air from the polar region collides in the US and causes weather disturbance. One might say that pollution has caused the Greenhouse Effect and that is why, but scientist have disproved this. It is purely a natural occurrence.

Smoking is not banned everywhere in the US but it is banned in most public places to preserve others rights to not be subjected to second hand smoke.

As far as Iraq's WMD, if we don't find the actual WMD I think all will agree we HAVE found the precursors, labs, protective gear and delivery mechanisms. Of course we are still looking and we may still find the WMD. But there was clear intention on Saddams part to continue his WMD program.

Merde... my nice convincing post went away.
Gonna type it back.
I am shocked when I see how often people jump in their cars when they could walk. I still don't understand why so many cars are so much oversized, especially in USA.
To give you an example: Switzerland will vote this week end whether they want to forbid cars one sunday per month. They cut off their engines at red lights. Swiss home -as in germany-do usually have 3 or 4 diferent rubbish bins: green , brown and yellow + blue (biologic stuff, papers and Pet+aluminium). All empty batteries are given back to shops to be recycled. Bags are no more given in supermarket, and its usual to leave all packaging in shops, to avoid paying expensives taxes for the rubbishes. THEY DO FIGHT POLLUTION.
Is it usual in USA too?
An excellent idea is to invest rather in 1/3 world countries than in western countries, because a dollar can bring much more against pollution when used in 1/3 world countries than in rich countries. And you know what? Helping them and invest money in those countries is the best way to avoid fanatism and fight terrorism.

ps: are u driving each week 5000 miles ?!?

it was about that. that's a rough estimate. It is around 2200 miles to my sister's house and 2200 miles back - so you have about 4500 miles in all. (the 2200 there and back is between states).
That's not including the side trips - we spent about 16 - 19 hours in the car. we took turns driving and sleeping.


Some people ask me "why don't you ever ride the bus?"
People walk when they can, but everything is spread out. Miles and miles apart. the grocery store is 4 miles away - if its 9:00 in the evening or during the day, i'm not going to walk 4 miles to buy 100 dollars worth of food (and other stuff), then try to cart that much back - that would be a 8 mile trek in all. That's a reason most people do not walk.

"All empty batteries are given back to shops to be recycled."
That is done with car batteries and other large batteries- we cannot throw those away.
Many recycle paper, plastic, bottles, cans, etc - but it's a matter getting them to do it.
There are those pressing for a law to MAKE people do it - but are local government and Nation Government like to argue about this and that - they drag it on and on.


p.s. I drive about 400 - 600 miles a week - give or take (during the school year anyways) Depends how often I go out as well. on a small week - only about 100 miles.


I could not walk, as it would take all day to get to just the mall - about 15 miles away from my home.

I spent 2 years in a little town in England back in the 80s and 45 days in a small town in Germany. It was nice, we walked to the store, we walked to the pub, we walked to the video store, we walked everywhere except to work and during in-climate weather. I think most Europeans who have never been to the US don't understand the vastness of our city suburbs and a lot of small town life here in the US.

Oh sure I could get out and walk to the grocery but it is just not a stroll down the block even for me where I have 3 groceries within 3 miles. Unlike the neighborhood corner stores of the past.

When I was growing up we had neighborhood stores which were within walking distance. It was the neighborhood butcher who also sold groceries. I could walk to 3 such corner stores. Now we have these big refrigerators and freezers and when we shop we don't shop for a day or two, we shop for a week or 2 weeks and some even shop for a month. So yes we will get in the car and drive to the grocery, video store or where ever. And many of the suburbs and small towns don't have public transportation it's just not cost effective. So how else do we get around?

I think the US should get back to those neighborhood corner small groceries.

Small corner grocery stores are no longer economically viable. Given the cost structures of distributing and stocking grocery items, small grocery stores must charge a much higer price for goods. Gas would have to cost much, much more in order for the average consumer to see an economic benefit from shopping locally.

It also has to do with the vareity of products available. No small grocery store could ever come close to providing the variety of products available at a Safeway or other large grocery store.

It also depends on the area - small towns can get away with it more then cities. Usually, the larger the store, the more customers.

Thanks for the info, I know all about running a store. I use to own a computer store. And yeah it was a lot of work. My hours were 9 - 6 but most days I didn't leave the store until 11pm or midnight.

But hey, it's a bit off topic so let's get back on topic.

I know about running stores... actually, a factory - my X girlfriend's (still friends today) parents own a factory that designs and creates GM parts and cars.
NICE

My 2 cents:
Chiracs a scumbag, who while trying to protect his Iraqi revenue, attempted to hamstring our government, while providing intel to the enemy. My view is he was attempting to show power to the rest of the EU, by standing up to the U.S. This plan seems not to have worked. He now states he does not understand the bad feelings coming from the American people. How clueless and arrogant can you be? And they use these same adjectives to describe George Bush? Hypocrites!
Chirac needs a jail cell before he deserves a peace prize.
Do they have a "Stab your allies in the back" award?

Old Americans?
they do drive - all the way up to 100 years old. I know 80 year olds that take trips ALL the time to visit other states - I'm not sure how it works in France, but our older people enjoy trips and some just enjoy driving.
I take it your older men and women walk or ride a public transport?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mystic


And I would be [B]REALLY surprise to hear that old people are ALL

The words REALLY and ALL are used to emphasize an interrogation and my scepticism regarding a ...generalization (Old Americans? they do drive - all the way up to 100 years old.)

You've Got it mate? Goooooooooood, because I am getting tired of your game...