Chirac: Iran's Nukes OK If Used On Jews

What's the problem with Iran having the bomb if all they use it on is the Jews?

In a moment of unusual transparency, France's leader expressed what may be a belief held by many in anti-Semitic Europe. Then, in fine French fashion, he quickly raised the white flag. The first Chirac statement, which was recorded on tape, was:

"I would say that what is dangerous about this situation is not the fact of [Iran] having a nuclear bomb. Having one or perhaps a second bomb a little later, well, that's not very dangerous." ...

"Where will it drop it, this bomb? On Israel? It would not have gone 200 meters into the atmosphere before Tehran would be razed." (source)

If the target of Iran's nuke program were anything but Israel, you get the sense Chirac's response would be a bit more hot and bothered ... but a nation of Jews, well, who really cares? Anti-Semitic incidents in France rose dramatically last year, so Chirac's loose political lips are not all that surprising.

Today, his office is backtracking, with this excuse:

"I should rather have paid attention to what I was saying and understood that perhaps I was on the record."

Translation: If I'd known it would get out, I would have lied.

As Iran gets set to celebrate the installation of 3,000 centrifuges, Ahmadinejad and the Ayatollahs must be pleased as punch by the verbal hall pass from Chirac, and the nod that their genocidal hatred of Israel is nothing to be ashamed of.

Related Tags: Chirac, France, Iran, Nuclear, Anti-Semitism