Free Republic

French connection armed Saddam By Bill Gertz THE WASHINGTON TIMES The United States stood by for years as supposed allies helped its enemies obtain the world's most dangerous weapons, reveals Bill Gertz, defense and national security reporter for The Washington Times, in the new book "Treachery" (Crown Forum). In this excerpt, he details France's persistence in arming Saddam Hussein. First of three excerpts New intelligence revealing how long France continued to supply and arm Saddam Hussein's regime infuriated U.S. officials as the nation prepared for military action against Iraq. The intelligence reports showing French assistance to Saddam ongoing in the...

Iraqi Armored Force Falls to U.S. Advance By CHRIS TOMLINSON .c The Associated Press NEAR NAJAF, Iraq (AP) - The alert crackled over the radio at midmorning Sunday: An armored column of more than 30 Iraqi vehicles was coming, and a company of the 3rd Infantry Division was ordered forward to dig in behind irrigation levees. Peering into the distance, the soldiers could barely make out the Iraqi vehicles. They seemed little more than blips on the horizon. Then the U.S. Air Force arrived. Slow-flying A-10 Thunderbolt attack planes swooped down and began picking off the Iraqi vehicles one by...