Travel to France next week
Apr 1st 2003, 2:46 pm
#46
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Travel to France next week <
I read the Lemonde survey in some detail. Among the extreme leftists in
France, up to 50% want the US to lose, I recall. Older people are more
likely to want the US to win. I thought that the figures might be even
worse than that, I think that a little over 50% of the French want the
US to win, so you could read the survey to say that the majority of the
French are supporting the US vs. Iraq. However, it is clear from the
other questions that the vast majority of the French are against the war.
Those who think that 9/11 and more might teach us a good lesson are
gravely and perhaps fatally mistaken. We would not be in Iraq right now
if it was not for 9/11. If we have more terrorist attacks, the US will
probably become more aggressive around the world, not less, and the US
may become less and less popular. Maybe that is what Osama wanted, like
most revolutionaries, to promote strife to promote change. But the
change that results from that kind of revolution is usually not progress
but death and tyranny.
Richard
-------------------------------------------------------
Go Fig wrote:
>
> LeMonde is reporting that 25% of those polled, want the U.S. to lose to
> the butchers army.
>
> jay
> Tue, Apr 1, 2003
> mailto:[email protected]
>
>
> In article ,
> [email protected] (xodus) wrote:
>
> > [email protected] (BB) wrote in message
> > news:...
> > > I am traveling to Frnace next week from the US.
> > >
> > > Is there anything I truly need to worry about?
> > >
> > > Or is all of this being blown out of proportion?
> > > What do I need to be aware of?
> > >
> > > Any suggestions would be appreciated.
> > >
> > > Thanks.
> >
> > Here is a story I read somewhere. Seems like harassment is to be
> > expected. If you go, just be careful. Especially avoid crowds!
> >
> > "Sunday, March 30, 2003
> > Not surprisingly, I've noticed fewer and fewer American
> > tourists in Paris over the past couple of months.
> > The ones whom I have seen have spoken to each
> > other in low tones and have a vigilant air about them.
> > Friday was the first day in a while that I saw an American
> > in the subway. He--a pudgy, middle-aged man--got
> > onto the crowded 6 line (standing room only in the morning)
> > with his suitcase, and his "pardon" gave him away.
> > A young French guy turned to him and, in loud,
> > heavily accented English, said "Do you support the war?"
> > Half of that train must have been looking at the American.
> > The object of their stares looked lost and slightly afraid.
> > Then he made the motion of a thumbs down.
> > A couple of people laughed. The rest went
> > back to their books or to staring out the window.
> > The American got off at the very next subway stop. "
> >
> > Here's a sign saying "U.S. Stay Home"
> > http://theradical.blogspot.com/US%20Stay%20Home.jpg
>
> --
>
> Legend insists that as he finished his abject...
> Galileo muttered under his breath: "Nevertheless, it does move."
France, up to 50% want the US to lose, I recall. Older people are more
likely to want the US to win. I thought that the figures might be even
worse than that, I think that a little over 50% of the French want the
US to win, so you could read the survey to say that the majority of the
French are supporting the US vs. Iraq. However, it is clear from the
other questions that the vast majority of the French are against the war.
Those who think that 9/11 and more might teach us a good lesson are
gravely and perhaps fatally mistaken. We would not be in Iraq right now
if it was not for 9/11. If we have more terrorist attacks, the US will
probably become more aggressive around the world, not less, and the US
may become less and less popular. Maybe that is what Osama wanted, like
most revolutionaries, to promote strife to promote change. But the
change that results from that kind of revolution is usually not progress
but death and tyranny.
Richard
-------------------------------------------------------
Go Fig wrote:
>
> LeMonde is reporting that 25% of those polled, want the U.S. to lose to
> the butchers army.
>
> jay
> Tue, Apr 1, 2003
> mailto:[email protected]
>
>
> In article ,
> [email protected] (xodus) wrote:
>
> > [email protected] (BB) wrote in message
> > news:...
> > > I am traveling to Frnace next week from the US.
> > >
> > > Is there anything I truly need to worry about?
> > >
> > > Or is all of this being blown out of proportion?
> > > What do I need to be aware of?
> > >
> > > Any suggestions would be appreciated.
> > >
> > > Thanks.
> >
> > Here is a story I read somewhere. Seems like harassment is to be
> > expected. If you go, just be careful. Especially avoid crowds!
> >
> > "Sunday, March 30, 2003
> > Not surprisingly, I've noticed fewer and fewer American
> > tourists in Paris over the past couple of months.
> > The ones whom I have seen have spoken to each
> > other in low tones and have a vigilant air about them.
> > Friday was the first day in a while that I saw an American
> > in the subway. He--a pudgy, middle-aged man--got
> > onto the crowded 6 line (standing room only in the morning)
> > with his suitcase, and his "pardon" gave him away.
> > A young French guy turned to him and, in loud,
> > heavily accented English, said "Do you support the war?"
> > Half of that train must have been looking at the American.
> > The object of their stares looked lost and slightly afraid.
> > Then he made the motion of a thumbs down.
> > A couple of people laughed. The rest went
> > back to their books or to staring out the window.
> > The American got off at the very next subway stop. "
> >
> > Here's a sign saying "U.S. Stay Home"
> > http://theradical.blogspot.com/US%20Stay%20Home.jpg
>
> --
>
> Legend insists that as he finished his abject...
> Galileo muttered under his breath: "Nevertheless, it does move."
Apr 1st 2003, 3:50 pm
#47
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Travel to France next week <
a truly unrepentant loser of a person named magda posts what must be one of
many obnoxious messages concerning people losing their lives and her wish
for more of the same.
"Magda" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Tue, 01 Apr 2003 20:26:32 GMT, in rec.travel.europe, Go Fig
arranged
> some electrons, so they looked like this :
> ... LeMonde is reporting that 25% of those polled, want the U.S. to lose
to
> ... the butchers army.
> ...
> If only it would teach you a lesson !...
> The WTC wasn't enough, you really need another one. Or maybe many others.
you madam are one of those truly wretched animals who hope for the rest of
us to "just come around to your way of thinking" but if we cannot then you
will pray to your holy god for the deliverance by fire of our bent and ugly
souls. if i saw you on the street i would recognize you not by the
heavenly aura but by the snarl permanently etched into your otherwise
unremarkable face. go back to your friends who, of course, all agree with
you and rub each others hands and say a prayer and give a coin to a beggar
(i am hoping a bit here) so that you can know in your heart that you are the
one good and true person on this earth. oh and by the way just to be clear
since i am sure you see only the good in yourself - you are a despicable
scumbag.
many obnoxious messages concerning people losing their lives and her wish
for more of the same.
"Magda" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Tue, 01 Apr 2003 20:26:32 GMT, in rec.travel.europe, Go Fig
arranged
> some electrons, so they looked like this :
> ... LeMonde is reporting that 25% of those polled, want the U.S. to lose
to
> ... the butchers army.
> ...
> If only it would teach you a lesson !...
> The WTC wasn't enough, you really need another one. Or maybe many others.
you madam are one of those truly wretched animals who hope for the rest of
us to "just come around to your way of thinking" but if we cannot then you
will pray to your holy god for the deliverance by fire of our bent and ugly
souls. if i saw you on the street i would recognize you not by the
heavenly aura but by the snarl permanently etched into your otherwise
unremarkable face. go back to your friends who, of course, all agree with
you and rub each others hands and say a prayer and give a coin to a beggar
(i am hoping a bit here) so that you can know in your heart that you are the
one good and true person on this earth. oh and by the way just to be clear
since i am sure you see only the good in yourself - you are a despicable
scumbag.
Apr 1st 2003, 3:53 pm
#48
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Travel to France next week <
On Wed, 02 Apr 2003 03:46:58 GMT, in rec.travel.europe, Richard Ferguson
arranged some electrons, so they looked like this :
... I read the Lemonde survey in some detail. Among the extreme leftists in
... France, up to 50% want the US to lose, I recall. Older people are more
... likely to want the US to win. I thought that the figures might be even
... worse than that, I think that a little over 50% of the French want the
... US to win, so you could read the survey to say that the majority of the
... French are supporting the US vs. Iraq. However, it is clear from the
... other questions that the vast majority of the French are against the war.
...
... Those who think that 9/11 and more might teach us a good lesson are
... gravely and perhaps fatally mistaken. We would not be in Iraq right now
... if it was not for 9/11.
No, you would be after *Bin Laden* right now.
Don't blame him for Iraq, blame Shrubbie.
If we have more terrorist attacks, the US will
... probably become more aggressive around the world, not less, and the US
... may become less and less popular. Maybe that is what Osama wanted, like
... most revolutionaries, to promote strife to promote change. But the
... change that results from that kind of revolution is usually not progress
... but death and tyranny.
Exactly. With this war against Iraq you are simply playing Bin Laden's game. Very smart of
you, sending your marines to do the diplomates' job.
Someone should teach Shubbie to play chess - alas, he hasn't got enough brains for that.
arranged some electrons, so they looked like this :
... I read the Lemonde survey in some detail. Among the extreme leftists in
... France, up to 50% want the US to lose, I recall. Older people are more
... likely to want the US to win. I thought that the figures might be even
... worse than that, I think that a little over 50% of the French want the
... US to win, so you could read the survey to say that the majority of the
... French are supporting the US vs. Iraq. However, it is clear from the
... other questions that the vast majority of the French are against the war.
...
... Those who think that 9/11 and more might teach us a good lesson are
... gravely and perhaps fatally mistaken. We would not be in Iraq right now
... if it was not for 9/11.
No, you would be after *Bin Laden* right now.
Don't blame him for Iraq, blame Shrubbie.
If we have more terrorist attacks, the US will
... probably become more aggressive around the world, not less, and the US
... may become less and less popular. Maybe that is what Osama wanted, like
... most revolutionaries, to promote strife to promote change. But the
... change that results from that kind of revolution is usually not progress
... but death and tyranny.
Exactly. With this war against Iraq you are simply playing Bin Laden's game. Very smart of
you, sending your marines to do the diplomates' job.
Someone should teach Shubbie to play chess - alas, he hasn't got enough brains for that.
Apr 1st 2003, 4:27 pm
#49
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Travel to France next week <
once again little magda playes with the electrons and ...
"Magda" wrote in message
news
[email protected]...
> On Wed, 02 Apr 2003 03:46:58 GMT, in rec.travel.europe, Richard Ferguson
> arranged some electrons, so they looked like this :
> ... I read the Lemonde survey in some detail. Among the extreme leftists
in
> ... France, up to 50% want the US to lose, I recall. Older people are
more
> ... likely to want the US to win. I thought that the figures might be
even
> ... worse than that, I think that a little over 50% of the French want
the
> ... US to win, so you could read the survey to say that the majority of
the
> ... French are supporting the US vs. Iraq. However, it is clear from the
> ... other questions that the vast majority of the French are against the
war.
> ...
> ... Those who think that 9/11 and more might teach us a good lesson are
> ... gravely and perhaps fatally mistaken. We would not be in Iraq right
now
> ... if it was not for 9/11.
> No, you would be after *Bin Laden* right now.
> Don't blame him for Iraq, blame Shrubbie.
> If we have more terrorist attacks, the US will
> ... probably become more aggressive around the world, not less, and the
US
> ... may become less and less popular. Maybe that is what Osama wanted,
like
> ... most revolutionaries, to promote strife to promote change. But the
> ... change that results from that kind of revolution is usually not
progress
> ... but death and tyranny.
> Exactly. With this war against Iraq you are simply playing Bin Laden's
game. Very smart of
> you, sending your marines to do the diplomates' job.
> Someone should teach Shubbie to play chess - alas, he hasn't got enough
brains for that.
yes and the only way to fix a frown is to turn it upside down. you are not
only a fool but a sad fool at that.
"Magda" wrote in message
news
[email protected]...> On Wed, 02 Apr 2003 03:46:58 GMT, in rec.travel.europe, Richard Ferguson
> arranged some electrons, so they looked like this :
> ... I read the Lemonde survey in some detail. Among the extreme leftists
in
> ... France, up to 50% want the US to lose, I recall. Older people are
more
> ... likely to want the US to win. I thought that the figures might be
even
> ... worse than that, I think that a little over 50% of the French want
the
> ... US to win, so you could read the survey to say that the majority of
the
> ... French are supporting the US vs. Iraq. However, it is clear from the
> ... other questions that the vast majority of the French are against the
war.
> ...
> ... Those who think that 9/11 and more might teach us a good lesson are
> ... gravely and perhaps fatally mistaken. We would not be in Iraq right
now
> ... if it was not for 9/11.
> No, you would be after *Bin Laden* right now.
> Don't blame him for Iraq, blame Shrubbie.
> If we have more terrorist attacks, the US will
> ... probably become more aggressive around the world, not less, and the
US
> ... may become less and less popular. Maybe that is what Osama wanted,
like
> ... most revolutionaries, to promote strife to promote change. But the
> ... change that results from that kind of revolution is usually not
progress
> ... but death and tyranny.
> Exactly. With this war against Iraq you are simply playing Bin Laden's
game. Very smart of
> you, sending your marines to do the diplomates' job.
> Someone should teach Shubbie to play chess - alas, he hasn't got enough
brains for that.
yes and the only way to fix a frown is to turn it upside down. you are not
only a fool but a sad fool at that.
Apr 2nd 2003, 12:58 am
#50
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Travel to France next week <
Do you have any plans to visit Provence? Absolutely the most beautifull part
of France
"xodus" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> [email protected] (BB) wrote in message
news:...
> > I am traveling to Frnace next week from the US.
> >
> > Is there anything I truly need to worry about?
> >
> > Or is all of this being blown out of proportion?
> > What do I need to be aware of?
> >
> > Any suggestions would be appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks.
> Here is a story I read somewhere. Seems like harassment is to be
> expected. If you go, just be careful. Especially avoid crowds!
> "Sunday, March 30, 2003
> Not surprisingly, I've noticed fewer and fewer American
> tourists in Paris over the past couple of months.
> The ones whom I have seen have spoken to each
> other in low tones and have a vigilant air about them.
> Friday was the first day in a while that I saw an American
> in the subway. He--a pudgy, middle-aged man--got
> onto the crowded 6 line (standing room only in the morning)
> with his suitcase, and his "pardon" gave him away.
> A young French guy turned to him and, in loud,
> heavily accented English, said "Do you support the war?"
> Half of that train must have been looking at the American.
> The object of their stares looked lost and slightly afraid.
> Then he made the motion of a thumbs down.
> A couple of people laughed. The rest went
> back to their books or to staring out the window.
> The American got off at the very next subway stop. "
> Here's a sign saying "U.S. Stay Home"
> http://theradical.blogspot.com/US%20Stay%20Home.jpg
of France
"xodus" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> [email protected] (BB) wrote in message
news:...
> > I am traveling to Frnace next week from the US.
> >
> > Is there anything I truly need to worry about?
> >
> > Or is all of this being blown out of proportion?
> > What do I need to be aware of?
> >
> > Any suggestions would be appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks.
> Here is a story I read somewhere. Seems like harassment is to be
> expected. If you go, just be careful. Especially avoid crowds!
> "Sunday, March 30, 2003
> Not surprisingly, I've noticed fewer and fewer American
> tourists in Paris over the past couple of months.
> The ones whom I have seen have spoken to each
> other in low tones and have a vigilant air about them.
> Friday was the first day in a while that I saw an American
> in the subway. He--a pudgy, middle-aged man--got
> onto the crowded 6 line (standing room only in the morning)
> with his suitcase, and his "pardon" gave him away.
> A young French guy turned to him and, in loud,
> heavily accented English, said "Do you support the war?"
> Half of that train must have been looking at the American.
> The object of their stares looked lost and slightly afraid.
> Then he made the motion of a thumbs down.
> A couple of people laughed. The rest went
> back to their books or to staring out the window.
> The American got off at the very next subway stop. "
> Here's a sign saying "U.S. Stay Home"
> http://theradical.blogspot.com/US%20Stay%20Home.jpg
Apr 2nd 2003, 1:08 am
#51
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Travel to France next week <
[email protected] (xodus) wrote in message news:...
> [email protected] (BB) wrote in message news:...
> > I am traveling to Frnace next week from the US.
> >
> > Is there anything I truly need to worry about?
> >
> > Or is all of this being blown out of proportion?
> > What do I need to be aware of?
> >
> > Any suggestions would be appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks.
>
> Here is a story I read somewhere. Seems like harassment is to be
> expected. If you go, just be careful. Especially avoid crowds!
>
> "Sunday, March 30, 2003
> Not surprisingly, I've noticed fewer and fewer American
> tourists in Paris over the past couple of months.
> The ones whom I have seen have spoken to each
> other in low tones and have a vigilant air about them.
> Friday was the first day in a while that I saw an American
> in the subway. He--a pudgy, middle-aged man--got
> onto the crowded 6 line (standing room only in the morning)
> with his suitcase, and his "pardon" gave him away.
> A young French guy turned to him and, in loud,
> heavily accented English, said "Do you support the war?"
> Half of that train must have been looking at the American.
> The object of their stares looked lost and slightly afraid.
> Then he made the motion of a thumbs down.
> A couple of people laughed. The rest went
> back to their books or to staring out the window.
> The American got off at the very next subway stop. "
>
> Here's a sign saying "U.S. Stay Home"
> http://theradical.blogspot.com/US%20Stay%20Home.jpg
See below. The French are monkeys - Gaullic chimps.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2003150899,00.html
> [email protected] (BB) wrote in message news:...
> > I am traveling to Frnace next week from the US.
> >
> > Is there anything I truly need to worry about?
> >
> > Or is all of this being blown out of proportion?
> > What do I need to be aware of?
> >
> > Any suggestions would be appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks.
>
> Here is a story I read somewhere. Seems like harassment is to be
> expected. If you go, just be careful. Especially avoid crowds!
>
> "Sunday, March 30, 2003
> Not surprisingly, I've noticed fewer and fewer American
> tourists in Paris over the past couple of months.
> The ones whom I have seen have spoken to each
> other in low tones and have a vigilant air about them.
> Friday was the first day in a while that I saw an American
> in the subway. He--a pudgy, middle-aged man--got
> onto the crowded 6 line (standing room only in the morning)
> with his suitcase, and his "pardon" gave him away.
> A young French guy turned to him and, in loud,
> heavily accented English, said "Do you support the war?"
> Half of that train must have been looking at the American.
> The object of their stares looked lost and slightly afraid.
> Then he made the motion of a thumbs down.
> A couple of people laughed. The rest went
> back to their books or to staring out the window.
> The American got off at the very next subway stop. "
>
> Here's a sign saying "U.S. Stay Home"
> http://theradical.blogspot.com/US%20Stay%20Home.jpg
See below. The French are monkeys - Gaullic chimps.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2003150899,00.html
Apr 2nd 2003, 1:13 am
#52
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Travel to France next week <
> > The American got off at the very next subway stop. "
Why?
Tim.
Why?
Tim.
Apr 2nd 2003, 1:34 am
#53
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Travel to France next week <
"Johnny Hallyday" schreef in bericht
news:[email protected]...
> [email protected] (xodus) wrote in message
news:...
> > [email protected] (BB) wrote in message
news:...
> > > I am traveling to Frnace next week from the US.
> > >
> > > Is there anything I truly need to worry about?
> > >
/yest that you are coming from a hostile prairie.kindly note the correct
name is johnny haliday
hahahahaha you mule ****er
news:[email protected]...
> [email protected] (xodus) wrote in message
news:...
> > [email protected] (BB) wrote in message
news:...
> > > I am traveling to Frnace next week from the US.
> > >
> > > Is there anything I truly need to worry about?
> > >
/yest that you are coming from a hostile prairie.kindly note the correct
name is johnny haliday
hahahahaha you mule ****er
Apr 3rd 2003, 6:20 am
#54
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Travel to France next week <
Tim wrote:
>
> > > The American got off at the very next subway stop. "
> Why?
> Tim.
Maybe it was his stop.
>
> > > The American got off at the very next subway stop. "
> Why?
> Tim.
Maybe it was his stop.
Apr 5th 2003, 10:41 pm
#55
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Travel to France next week <
mrtreval wrote in message news:...
> Tim wrote:
> >
> > > > The American got off at the very next subway stop. "
> > Why?
> > Tim.
>
> Maybe it was his stop.
Maybe he was afraid of ugly mob violence. With synogogues burning and
British graves vandalized, I would have gotten off too.
Intimidation alone is a kind of violence.
--------------------------------------------
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/04/in...partner=GOOGLE
NTimes
Chirac Apologizes for Vandalized Graves
By JOHN TAGLIABUE
PARIS, April 3 — President Jacques Chirac, seeking to avoid a further
worsening of relations with Britain, has written words of apology and
outrage to Queen Elizabeth over the desecration of graves at a
cemetery in northern France for British soldiers who fell in World War
I.
Last week, graffiti calling for the graves to be removed and
denouncing the war in Iraq, as well as British and American leaders,
were sprayed on several graves in the cemetery at Étaples, north of
Paris, where about 11,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers are
buried.
"Saddam will win, and he will make you bleed," read one of the
graffiti, in French, in large red letters beneath a swastika. Another
read, "Dig up your garbage, it is contaminating our soil."
Mr. Chirac, in his letter, wrote, "These unacceptable and disgraceful
acts are unanimously condemned by the French people," adding, "In the
name of France, and in my own name, please accept my deepest regrets."
"France knows what it owes to the formidable devotion and courage of
the British soldiers who came to help it free itself in the fight
against barbarity," Mr. Chirac wrote.
Referring to the references to the fighting in Iraq, Mr. Chirac said,
"Know that, at a time when your soldiers are engaged in combat, the
thoughts of the French are naturally with them."
Mr. Chirac described the graffiti at the cemetery, near Calais, as
"inadmissible and shameful."
The French foreign minister, Dominique de Villepin, wrote to his
British counterpart, Jack Straw, expressing "emotion and indignation"
at the vandalism.
In London, a spokesman for Prime Minister Tony Blair welcomed Mr.
Chirac's apology.
"We unreservedly welcome both the content and the sentiment of
President Chirac's letter," the spokesman said, "and the sentiment
towards our troops serving in action at the moment, and that his
thoughts and the thoughts of the people of France are with those
soldiers."
The graffiti were discovered last week by British tourists, who
photographed them. Officials said they were probably painted on the
night of March 26-27.
Today, Mr. Chirac sent the French government's secretary of state for
veterans affairs, Hamlaoui Mekachera, to the cemetery for a
wreath-laying ceremony.
Representatives of the British Commonwealth War Graves Commission,
which looks after the graves, also attended the service.
British, Canadian and Australian soldiers who died in World War I are
buried at the cemetery. No American war dead lie there.
But in Paris, anti-American graffiti were sprayed earlier this week on
a memorial in the Luxembourg Gardens commemorating the victims of the
Sept. 11 attacks in New York and Washington.
Christian Poncelet, the speaker of the French Senate, which meets in a
palace on the gardens' edge, denounced the incident as unspeakable.
> Tim wrote:
> >
> > > > The American got off at the very next subway stop. "
> > Why?
> > Tim.
>
> Maybe it was his stop.
Maybe he was afraid of ugly mob violence. With synogogues burning and
British graves vandalized, I would have gotten off too.
Intimidation alone is a kind of violence.
--------------------------------------------
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/04/in...partner=GOOGLE
NTimes
Chirac Apologizes for Vandalized Graves
By JOHN TAGLIABUE
PARIS, April 3 — President Jacques Chirac, seeking to avoid a further
worsening of relations with Britain, has written words of apology and
outrage to Queen Elizabeth over the desecration of graves at a
cemetery in northern France for British soldiers who fell in World War
I.
Last week, graffiti calling for the graves to be removed and
denouncing the war in Iraq, as well as British and American leaders,
were sprayed on several graves in the cemetery at Étaples, north of
Paris, where about 11,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers are
buried.
"Saddam will win, and he will make you bleed," read one of the
graffiti, in French, in large red letters beneath a swastika. Another
read, "Dig up your garbage, it is contaminating our soil."
Mr. Chirac, in his letter, wrote, "These unacceptable and disgraceful
acts are unanimously condemned by the French people," adding, "In the
name of France, and in my own name, please accept my deepest regrets."
"France knows what it owes to the formidable devotion and courage of
the British soldiers who came to help it free itself in the fight
against barbarity," Mr. Chirac wrote.
Referring to the references to the fighting in Iraq, Mr. Chirac said,
"Know that, at a time when your soldiers are engaged in combat, the
thoughts of the French are naturally with them."
Mr. Chirac described the graffiti at the cemetery, near Calais, as
"inadmissible and shameful."
The French foreign minister, Dominique de Villepin, wrote to his
British counterpart, Jack Straw, expressing "emotion and indignation"
at the vandalism.
In London, a spokesman for Prime Minister Tony Blair welcomed Mr.
Chirac's apology.
"We unreservedly welcome both the content and the sentiment of
President Chirac's letter," the spokesman said, "and the sentiment
towards our troops serving in action at the moment, and that his
thoughts and the thoughts of the people of France are with those
soldiers."
The graffiti were discovered last week by British tourists, who
photographed them. Officials said they were probably painted on the
night of March 26-27.
Today, Mr. Chirac sent the French government's secretary of state for
veterans affairs, Hamlaoui Mekachera, to the cemetery for a
wreath-laying ceremony.
Representatives of the British Commonwealth War Graves Commission,
which looks after the graves, also attended the service.
British, Canadian and Australian soldiers who died in World War I are
buried at the cemetery. No American war dead lie there.
But in Paris, anti-American graffiti were sprayed earlier this week on
a memorial in the Luxembourg Gardens commemorating the victims of the
Sept. 11 attacks in New York and Washington.
Christian Poncelet, the speaker of the French Senate, which meets in a
palace on the gardens' edge, denounced the incident as unspeakable.
