Posted on 09/29/2007 9:18:37 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
SADDAM Hussein was prepared to take $1 billion and go into exile before the Iraq war, George Bush, the United States president, is said to have told José WMaria Aznar, the then prime minister of Spain, a month before the 2003 invasion.
During a meeting at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, on 22 February, Mr Bush told Mr Aznar that Saddam could also be assassinated, according to a transcript of their talks published yesterday in the Spanish newspaper El Pais.
"The Egyptians are speaking to Saddam Hussein. It seems he's indicated he would be prepared to go into exile if he's allowed to take $1 billion [£500 million] and all the information he wants about weapons of mass destruction," Mr Bush was quoted as saying. Asked by Mr Aznar whether the Iraqi dictator could really leave, Mr Bush replied: "Yes, that possibility exists. Or he might even be assassinated."
Neither Mr Aznar's private foundation nor the National Security Council in Washington would comment on the transcript, which El Pais said had been made by a Spanish diplomat who attended the meeting.
In the transcript, Mr Bush talks about pressuring countries that were members of the United Nations Security Council to support a resolution authorising force. But, whatever happened, "we'll be in Baghdad by the end of March", he said. "And [the Russian president Vladimir] Putin should know that his attitude is endangering Russia's relations with the United States.
"For my part, I'll try as of now to use the most subtle rhetoric possible, while we try to get the resolution approved."
Mr Bush was dismissive about Jacques Chirac, the former French president, saying he "thinks he's Mr Arab", and he described the US as playing a game of "good cop, bad cop" with the former prime minister, Tony Blair.
"I don't mind being the bad cop if Blair is the good cop," he said.
Mr Bush referred optimistically to the reconstruction of Iraq, which he thought "could be organised into a federation".
Exchanging one tyrant for another is one of the reasons the mid-East is in the mess it's in today.
Fine makins' for a T-shirt. Saddam, noose and the words. "I asked for a Billion Dollars and all I got was a $45.00 Rope.
Amen and goodonya.
It was good to see Uday and Qsay starched on the slab stone dead as yesterday’s mackerel, and watching Saddam take the hemp high jump: far better than than have that murderous family still breathing God’s oxygen while spending $1 Billion of ill-gotten gains in exile.
Sic Semper Tyrranus!
As I say, I find it very interesting - I want to know why Saddam didn’t take the deal. I beleive that he thought he had successfully bought off our “allies.”
It was very public at the time before the war that Saddam was offered the opportunity to step down and avoid war (with or without a golden parachute).
He declined and led his nation into war.
Absolutely - but why???
It is better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.
John Milton in "Paradise Lost"
” and all the information he wants about weapons of mass destruction”
Uh.
WMDs????
I think that pretty much says two key things.
ONE..... there were WMDs or at least important enough info that Saddam wanted to keep.
TWO.... you couldnt do this deal because one of the whole points was Saddam NOT having WMDs.
Clarify that a bit..
TWO.... you couldnt do this deal because one of the whole points was Saddam NOT allowed to be having WMDs.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.