Don't know about all the negative responses, but I like this sort of rhetoric

President Jacques Chirac just announced today that France reserves the right to retaliate with nuclear weapons against any country that launches terrorist attacks against it or it vital interest (read oil) according to AFP @ Yahoo. Specifically, Chirac stated,

"Leaders of any state that uses terrorist means against us, as well as any that may be envisaging -- in one way or another -- using weapons of mass destruction, must understand that they would be exposing themselves to a firm and appropriate response on our behalf.... That response could be conventional, it could also be of another nature,"

According to Yahoo, “France has configured its nuclear arsenal to be able to respond "flexibly and reactively" to any threat, by reducing the number of nuclear heads on certain missiles on board its submarines.”

The bottom part of the article sites several sources saying these remarks are “irresponsible”, “counterproductive”, and “unwise”.

I disagree. This statement finally shows some backbone coming from at least one of the EU3. It would have been nice to see this type of rhetoric from France with regards to Iraq. Whether or not Chirac will act when attacked is another matter, but the fact that Chirac took such a tough stance against terrorism is enlightening.

One or maybe two factors prompted this speech. France is concerned about the recent riots and what they may lead to and/or France seems to understand what the Global War on Terror is all about. They are truly one in the same. France, it seems, now recognizes this fact.