UN mandarin Kofi Annan knows the difference between a reckless, out-of-the-blue, unilateral threat to what passes for world peace at the UN, and working with the UN for months till the UN can no longer manage its responsibilities. Mr. Annan finds the appropriate response to each.
UN'S ANNAN REACTS TO FRENCH NUCLEAR THREAT
UNITED NATIONS January 25, 2006 (AFP) - UN chief Kofi Annan, reacting to France's threat to use nuclear weapons against state sponsors of terrorism, on Wednesday urged all countries to ensure that such weapons are not used. ... Asked to comment on Chirac's remarks, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Annan "very much believes that all nations need to show their commitment to the NPT (nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) and take concrete measures to ensure that nuclear weapons will neither be tested nor used".
ANNAN WARNS US NOT TO ACT ALONE ON IRAQ
UNITED NATIONS September 12, 2002 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan warned the United States from the rostrum of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday about the dangers of acting alone against Iraq. Speaking in the presence of US President George W. Bush, Annan acknowledged that the UN Charter gave every country the right to self-defence if attacked. But, he said: “When states decide to use force to deal with broader threats to international peace and security, there is no substitute for the unique legitimacy provided by the United Nations.”
France: Reacts (at a remove). America: Warns.
Try working within the feckless UN and Mr. Annan takes it to the man -- if he happens to be an American, or -- bonus slam -- GWB. But make your threat outside of the purported legitimizing institutions of the UN, and Mr. Annan leaves it to a functionary to blow us a breezy soundbite. How to explain Mr. Annan's invisible and tepid response to French nuclear apocalypse diplomacy?
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Bonjour,
Il semble que la Management n'aime pas que l'on souligne l'excellence du nucléaire français par rapport aux échecs US (3-milles-Island) en la matière...
Good luck for your nuclear industry and your catastrophic GM !!
Bonjour,
In 2005, there are 104 U.S. commercial nuclear generating units that are fully licensed to operate. In France, there are 59 units.
In US, we produce more nuclear power than France (in fact the US is the world’s largest supplier of nuclear power), but it is only about 20% of total electric power produced; in France it is between 75% and 80% of total electric power.
Go here and click list for US or France for some nuclear facts.
I did like this quote:
Ironically, the French nuclear program is based on American technology. After experimenting with their own gas-cooled reactors in the 1960s, the French gave up and purchased American Pressurized Water Reactors designed by Westinghouse.
Um, the bolding about giving up was mine. :)
Also, at 3 mile island, the reactor vessel and containment building were never breached so that very little radiation was released into the environment.
Good luck to your country in the suburbs….do you still have your car, or has it been “nuked”?
Any reason why we are talking about 3 Mile Island in a thread about Jack threatening to use nuclear weapons? Oh that's right ab/ay rode the short elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
