January 30, 2004
SADDAM'S WHORES:
Iraqi govt. papers: Saddam bribed Chirac (UPI, 1/28/04)
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.
"We've established what you are; now we're just determining your price." Posted by Orrin Judd at January 30, 2004 8:08 AM
This strikes me as a particularly French form of corruption. Take a politically popular and perhaps even compelled position, and then extract money for taking it. Given the pass the French give their politicians for this sort of thing, I doubt it will have much effect.
Posted by: David Cohen at January 30, 2004 9:09 AMIf true, and it appears it is, you would think it cuts the legs out from under the Dem argument that we needed France, Germany, et al to go into Iraq.
Posted by: AWW at January 30, 2004 9:09 AMThe Law of Conservation of Countries:
Countries in Bush's SOTU + Countries on Saddam's Bribe List = UN
When do I get my Nobel?
Posted by: MG at January 30, 2004 9:13 AMAWW -
It is possible to internationalize foregin policy to include France, Germany, Russia, and China. It just don't come f#kJ! cheap. Right, Senator Kerry?
Posted by: MG at January 30, 2004 9:36 AMWouldn't that be a great scenario -- Chirac having to defend himself at an international tribunal in Brussels?
Not likely to happen, though, since those EU whores tend to stick together. Pity.
Posted by: Josh Silverman at January 31, 2004 10:07 AM