as military action began to look more and more inevitable in the first months of 2003, french president jacques chirac became the main spokesman for the view that un weapons inspectors needed more time to search iraq for banned arms. he backed a request by the un's chief nuclear weapons inspector, mohamed elbaradei, for an extension of "several months." the french president noted that his country was coordinating its positions closely with germany. germany indeed voiced its opposition to a un security council vote on military action and, unlike france, indicated that it would oppose any request for un support for military action.