Iraqi govt. papers: Saddam bribed French officials

[charrison]

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Documents from Saddam Hussein's oil ministry reveal he used oil to bribe top French officials into opposing the imminent U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

The oil ministry papers, described by the independent Baghdad newspaper al-Mada, are apparently authentic and will become the basis of an official investigation by the new Iraqi Governing Council, the Independent reported Wednesday.

"I think the list is true," Naseer Chaderji, a governing council member, said. "I will demand an investigation. These people must be prosecuted."

Such evidence would undermine the French position before the war when President Jacques Chirac sought to couch his opposition to the invasion on a moral high ground.

...

French diplomats have dismissed any suggestion their foreign policy was influenced by payments from Saddam, but some European diplomats have long suspected France's steadfast opposition to the war was less moral than monetary.

Worth an investigation.

 

[shiner]

Gee....there's a shock.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Of course we invaded for the oil too.

Let's investigate, and see where this goes.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith
Of course we invaded for the oil too.

Let's investigate, and see where this goes.

If true, it appeears the french would have cast their morals aside for oil.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith
Of course we invaded for the oil too.

Let's investigate, and see where this goes.

If true, it appeears the french would have cast their morals aside for oil.

And if so, they should be called on it like anyone else.

 

[lozina]

Definitely should be investigated, although the 'authentic' Niger documents are still fresh in my memory

 

[glen]

Iraqi govt. papers: Saddam bribed Chirac



BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Documents from Saddam Hussein's oil ministry reveal he used oil to bribe top French officials into opposing the imminent U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

The oil ministry papers, described by the independent Baghdad newspaper al-Mada, are apparently authentic and will become the basis of an official investigation by the new Iraqi Governing Council, the Independent reported Wednesday.

"I think the list is true," Naseer Chaderji, a governing council member, said. "I will demand an investigation. These people must be prosecuted."

Such evidence would undermine the French position before the war when President Jacques Chirac sought to couch his opposition to the invasion on a moral high ground.

A senior Bush administration official said Washington was aware of the reports but refused further comment.

French diplomats have dismissed any suggestion their foreign policy was influenced by payments from Saddam, but some European diplomats have long suspected France's steadfast opposition to the war was less moral than monetary.

"Oil runs thicker than blood," is how one former ambassador put his suspicions about the French motives for opposing action against Saddam.

Al-Mada's list cites a total of 46 individuals, companies and organizations inside and outside Iraq as receiving Saddam's oil bribes, including officials in Egypt, Jordan, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Sudan, China, Austria and France, as well as the Russian Orthodox Church, the Russian Communist Party, India's Congress Party and the Palestine Liberation Organization.

 

[freegeeks]

Originally posted by: charrison

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Documents from Saddam Hussein's oil ministry reveal he used oil to bribe top French officials into opposing the imminent U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

The oil ministry papers, described by the independent Baghdad newspaper al-Mada, are apparently authentic and will become the basis of an official investigation by the new Iraqi Governing Council, the Independent reported Wednesday.

"I think the list is true," Naseer Chaderji, a governing council member, said. "I will demand an investigation. These people must be prosecuted."

Such evidence would undermine the French position before the war when President Jacques Chirac sought to couch his opposition to the invasion on a moral high ground.

...

French diplomats have dismissed any suggestion their foreign policy was influenced by payments from Saddam, but some European diplomats have long suspected France's steadfast opposition to the war was less moral than monetary.

Worth an investigation.

I see

you conveniently left out the other countries on that list like China, Turkey etc...
tell me again that you don't have a bias against the French


do you have a linky

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: freegeeks

Originally posted by: charrison

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Documents from Saddam Hussein's oil ministry reveal he used oil to bribe top French officials into opposing the imminent U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

The oil ministry papers, described by the independent Baghdad newspaper al-Mada, are apparently authentic and will become the basis of an official investigation by the new Iraqi Governing Council, the Independent reported Wednesday.

"I think the list is true," Naseer Chaderji, a governing council member, said. "I will demand an investigation. These people must be prosecuted."

Such evidence would undermine the French position before the war when President Jacques Chirac sought to couch his opposition to the invasion on a moral high ground.

...

French diplomats have dismissed any suggestion their foreign policy was influenced by payments from Saddam, but some European diplomats have long suspected France's steadfast opposition to the war was less moral than monetary.

Worth an investigation.

I see

you conveniently left out the other countries on that list like China, Turkey etc...


do you have a linky

I noticed that with Glen's post. I would be interested in the truth of the matter. All the truth. If I were to get it, there might be considerable embarrasment on all sides of the Pond.

 

[Moonbeam]

I'm trying to figure out why I get this hard on when I find out somebody may not be pure. Maybe I'll ask my Doctor next session.


Bet ya Dari and Galt are envisioning Chirac holding his ankles.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith

Originally posted by: freegeeks

Originally posted by: charrison

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Documents from Saddam Hussein's oil ministry reveal he used oil to bribe top French officials into opposing the imminent U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

The oil ministry papers, described by the independent Baghdad newspaper al-Mada, are apparently authentic and will become the basis of an official investigation by the new Iraqi Governing Council, the Independent reported Wednesday.

"I think the list is true," Naseer Chaderji, a governing council member, said. "I will demand an investigation. These people must be prosecuted."

Such evidence would undermine the French position before the war when President Jacques Chirac sought to couch his opposition to the invasion on a moral high ground.

...

French diplomats have dismissed any suggestion their foreign policy was influenced by payments from Saddam, but some European diplomats have long suspected France's steadfast opposition to the war was less moral than monetary.

Worth an investigation.

I see

you conveniently left out the other countries on that list like China, Turkey etc...


do you have a linky

I noticed that with Glen's post. I would be interested in the truth of the matter. All the truth. If I were to get it, there might be considerable embarrasment on all sides of the Pond.

1. I do no post full articles(I do try to quote them fairly), I included the french rebuttle for that reason.
2. China and Turkey were not instrumental in keeping the US from having UN support for removing Saddam.

IF this is in fact true, this will look very bad for france and the UN.
Like I said, worth investigating.

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith
Of course we invaded for the oil too.

Let's investigate, and see where this goes.

If true, it appeears the french would have cast their morals aside for oil.

Please... they cast away their morals a long time ago. Europeans try to pretend they're morally superior, but they're the most despicable people.

 

[burnedout]

Originally posted by: CanOWorms

Please... they cast away their morals a long time ago. Europeans try to pretend they're morally superior, but they're the most despicable people.

Supposedly, we are the most despicable people.

<----Refuses to go on an apologetic guilt trip.

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: burnedout

Originally posted by: CanOWorms

Please... they cast away their morals a long time ago. Europeans try to pretend they're morally superior, but they're the most despicable people.

Supposedly, we are the most despicable people.

<----Refuses to go on an apologetic guilt trip.

Nope, but Europeans would want you to believe that.

The US has done some bad things, there's no doubt about that. Every country has done many wrongs. However, as a superpower, the US is much more responsible and benevolent than European superpowers. It's impossible to have a perfect, let's hold hands and sing in the meadows, sort of world like the Europeans want you to believe would happen if they're in charge.

 

[sandorski]

It's them! Htey are teh most eval!!

 

[CADsortaGUY]

The Washington Times is reporting it - UPI style

I dare say Turkey did "oppose" the coalition at first. They refused to let us land troops there or some such thing - no?

Interesting developement - ofcourse it could be overstated, but at this point I'm not the least bit suprised they found some evidence of co-operation between Iraq and France. I wonder how far it goes back.

CkG

 

[charrison]

The list of those that recieved oil....

 

[Tripleshot]

Originally posted by: charrison
The list of those that recieved oil....

Amazing! Absolutely amazing!
:Q


It is obvious that if this list is true,oil for food and medicene sure didn't go far. But cash and influence went REAL FAR.

 

[Genesys]

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith
Of course we invaded for the oil too.

Let's investigate, and see where this goes.

right, and when they prove that oil was not the intended purpose for invasion, you and a host of liberals are going to be screaming your heads off for an independant investigation because you believe Bush or someone in his administration is lying.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: Genesys

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith
Of course we invaded for the oil too.

Let's investigate, and see where this goes.

right, and when they prove that oil was not the intended purpose for invasion, you and a host of liberals are going to be screaming your heads off for an independant investigation because you believe Bush or someone in his administration is lying.

Well, if you noticed I put a rolling eye after that. I was responding to the knee jerk post before mine. If one is going to play the " well of course they are French" trick, it is permissible to make the Blood for Oil rallying cry. It holds as much water without substantiation. I personally do not believe it was for oil. I think the motives lie elsewhere. I DO think that many "official" papers turn out to be less than iadvertised. That is why I think a legitimate investigation is in order. I also did NOT jump right in and defend anyone. If a country was accepting a bribe to take some stance, and it turns out to be true, then it ought to come out.

Now, do you want to retract your comment, or pull your foot out of your mouth in silence, or insist that we draw conclusions based on this document without looking into it further?

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: charrison
The list of those that recieved oil....

I'd wait for confirmation from a reliable source.

 

[freegeeks]

Originally posted by: charrison
The list of those that recieved oil....

the USA is also on that list.
10,2 million barrels


LOL - even a former member of Blairs party is on that list
maybe Labor was also bribed


---- like Charrisson said - worh investigating------

all the people and countries should be severely punished if they indeed violated UN resolutions

 

[tcsenter]

the USA is also on that list.
10,2 million barrels

The USA isn't "on that list". An Iraqi-born US citizen who has no connection with the US government is on that list.

LOL - even a former member of Blairs party is on that list maybe Labor was also bribed

"Former" member, who in turn opposed the invasion and defended the Hussein regime. And what would Iraq have received in exchange for bribing the Labor party; opposition to the Hussein regime and support of the US?

Do you have the foggiest idea what a bribe is? Please leave logic and reason to the professionals, you might hurt yourself.

We knew Iraq was buying influence in the United Nations Security Council among certain countries who shall not be named, COUGH! *FranceRussia* COUGH!*, oh my! Pardon me, little tickle in my throat there, all better now.

We also knew these certain countries had an enormous financial stake in not only the Hussein regime, but in the continued existance of the Oil-for-Food program, which proved to be very lucrative for these certain countries, being the largest recipients of Iraqi contracts under this program. We also knew these certain countries had every [financial] reason to oppose regime change and no reason to support it.

But this latest revelation is par for the course! Those who spoke of the "mass plundering of Iraqi oil wealth for greed and profit" seem to have been correct all along, they just had their "plunderers" mixed-up.

 

[robh23]

are these the same french officials who passed nato bombing plans to milosevic in kosovo?

 

[xxxxxJohnGaltxxxxx]

Originally posted by: shinerburke
Gee....there's a shock.