[MaeWest]

..putting Germany in the same category as Libya and Cuba as states that would not be helpful in any international effort to overthrow Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein...

There is speculation Saddam owes France and probably Germany money for weapons illegaly purchased from them. If there is a regime change their violation of sanctions would be revealed big time and (probably their biggest concern) they won't get paid.

[mountaineer]

If there is a regime change their violation of sanctions would be revealed big time

That's an interesting development. Quelle surprise: France and Germany aren't exactly paragons of virtue.