Chirac in an orange jumpsuit isn't a bad idea. ;)
Regards, Ivan
Posted on 02/22/2003 3:30:57 PM PST by MadIvan
FRENCH companies have signed contracts with Iraq worth more than £150m that are suspected of being linked to its military operations, confidential documents reveal.
Mobile laboratories, chemicals and communications equipment are among the goods being peddled by the French in Iraq. Britain and America have successfully objected to more than 150 of the deals but many similar contracts have been given the go-ahead after lobbying by the French.
A senior US official last week warned of weaknesses in United Nations restrictions. “We have a concern that there have been contracts, legal ones, that have supplied component parts (for the Iraqi military).”
The documents, including names of thousands of companies that trade with Baghdad, were leaked as France faces accusations that its conciliatory line towards Iraq is heavily influenced by its extensive business links to the country.
It also emerged last week that a leading French business lobby group was advising companies of “juicy” deals in Baghdad because of American and British reluctance to trade there.
Endorsed by Thierry Mariani, an MP from President Jacques Chirac’s party, the website of the French Office for the Development of Industry and Culture declares: “Iraq has always been an ally of France. The Iraqi government saved our country economically during the oil crisis of 1974.” Praising religious tolerance and women’s rights in Iraq, it added that “Iraq has always condemned terrorism”.
The goods offered by French companies to Iraq and detailed in internal UN documents include:
One set of documents showed £79m worth of contracts blocked or abandoned after objections raised by Britain and America. Another list reveals £74m worth of contracts approved after French lobbying and despite initial objections or concerns raised by British or American officials.
The documents reveal how French businesses have become increasingly bold in their efforts to sell goods that American officials argue are banned under sanctions.
Despite efforts to block the deals, US intelligence officials warn that many products already sold under similar contracts have been diverted to the Iraqi military.
The goods are offered to Iraq under an “oil for food” programme introduced in 1996 to alleviate the effects of sanctions on the population. France, along with China and Russia, accounts for nearly a quarter of the programme.
The UN documents also reveal that more objections have been lodged against French export contracts with Iraq than any other exporting country.
One of the leading US national security laboratories analysed more than 6,000 oil-for-food contracts and warned of the military capability of many of the goods.
The classified report from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, seen by The Sunday Times, warned of one deal by a French company to supply laboratory equipment as offering Iraq a “significant direct application” for weapons of mass destruction programme.
The report said the most worrying contract was for pesticide offered for sale to Iraq by Jordan. According to the report, the pesticide had VX, a chemical warfare agent, as its backbone and was “only two or more steps” from being VX.
The laboratory also highlighted a deal to sell the Iraqis high-speed patrol boats from an unidentified country. It pointed out the use of such boats was “almost exclusively military”.
French companies contacted last week that were involved in blocked or controversial contracts with Iraq all pointed out that their exports were handled through the UN and all official instructions were followed.
“We supply pretty standard laboratory equipment”, said one. “The company is happy to sell only if the UN approves, but we don’t lose any sleep if the contracts are blocked.”
The French are Democrats. They preach socialism and do deals like capitalist serial killers all the while being supported by journalists, Hollywood, poets, African dictators, Arkansas chicken farmers and human shields everywhere. Very similar approach; how progressive.
Actually, I've been thinking for the past week that perhaps the French/German opposition was coordinated with the U.S. Democrats. Think about it.
Last summer the Dems were in desperate straights and knew that a popular war with Iraq would sink them. They were afraid to attack Bush head-on. So doesn't it seem likely they may have called on their socialist friends in Europe to do their bidding?!
[Remember, Carville and company have been supplying political consultation to left-leaning governments around the world (Israel Labor, Germany Socialist Dems, etc) and they could easily have coordinated efforts behind the scenes.]
The obstructionist tactics of France and Germany have been much more effective against Bush than anything the Dems have come up with on their own. Note, too, that Dem criticism takes on Bush for not being able to bring those goverments on board. They never criticize those goverments themselves for making America's position so diffictult. Nooooo, not a peep from them about spreading anti-Americanism abroad.
Doesn't it seem plausible that the Dems have fanned those flames to improve their own position?
Absolutely.
There should be War Crimes Trials with French (and German) Companies in the dock.
RETURN TO SENDER! ONE WAY RETURN!
Chirac in an orange jumpsuit isn't a bad idea. ;)
Regards, Ivan
If You can find a customer that can't buy elsewhere you can pass on your non competative costs an continue. France is a failed manufacturing economy and sells Iraq rather than close its doors and hopes things will improve before anybody notices.
The end is near.
DNC, no. Clinton, perhaps.
The Stratfor report pretty well tied Chirac and Saddam together since 1974. France is out of customers and if Iraq is gone, out of oil at a good price.
If France loses Iraq there could be economic turmoil. Lost customer, lost feedstock, lost gasoline. All are still available, but the cost is prohibitive for a society that can't function competatively in the world ecopomy.
Too many Frenchmen living there.
Regards, Ivan
DITTO !!
...and how many of those are there? We like our TV sets and computers too much to actually fight for a free Republic (free from tyranny.) How many of us would actually do anything about the daily violations of the oath of office from out local cops to the white house? With out constitutional rule of law we are living in tyranny, all that's left is financial interests and the concordant power associated with it. When the military gets the target off of me, and takes the terrorists down, I hope they come home and surround Washington.
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