The 'orror. The 'orror.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner was quoted over the weekend, in an interview conducted in English, as saying Israel "will eat" Iran if Tehran gains possession of nuclear weapons.
What he really said, according to a statement issued a short time later by Kouchner's office, was that Israel will "hit" Iran if it developed nuclear weapons -- that is, carry out a pre-emptive strike.
Kouchner "regrets the unfortunate misunderstanding this phonetic confusion has caused," the French Foreign Ministry said.
Meanwhile, in Brussels, NATO's supreme commander for Europe, General John Craddock, was quoted, briefly, by Reuters today, in remarks about tougher action being needed against drug labs and trafficking networks in Afghanistan, as saying, "This is not about eradication. The fear that this will make the Taliban more mad-ass? Give me a break!"
Reuters quickly issued a correction, saying that what the general really said was, "This is not about eradication. The fear that this will make the Taliban more mad at us? Give me a break!"
-- Grant Podelco
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner was quoted over the weekend, in an interview conducted in English, as saying Israel "will eat" Iran if Tehran gains possession of nuclear weapons.
What he really said, according to a statement issued a short time later by Kouchner's office, was that Israel will "hit" Iran if it developed nuclear weapons -- that is, carry out a pre-emptive strike.
Kouchner "regrets the unfortunate misunderstanding this phonetic confusion has caused," the French Foreign Ministry said.
Meanwhile, in Brussels, NATO's supreme commander for Europe, General John Craddock, was quoted, briefly, by Reuters today, in remarks about tougher action being needed against drug labs and trafficking networks in Afghanistan, as saying, "This is not about eradication. The fear that this will make the Taliban more mad-ass? Give me a break!"
Reuters quickly issued a correction, saying that what the general really said was, "This is not about eradication. The fear that this will make the Taliban more mad at us? Give me a break!"
-- Grant Podelco