Posted on 09/08/2004 12:08:10 AM PDT by kattracks
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 late winter of 2002 helped explain why France refused to deal harshly with Iraq and blocked U.S. moves at the United Nations.
"No wonder the French are opposing us," one U.S. intelligence official remarked after illegal sales to Iraq of military and dual-use parts, originating in France, were discovered early last year before the war began.
That official was careful to stipulate that intelligence reports did not indicate whether the French government had sanctioned or knew about the parts transfers. The French company at the beginning of the pipeline remained unidentified in the reports.
France's government tightly controls its aerospace and defense firms, however, so it would be difficult to believe that the illegal transfers of equipment parts took place without the knowledge of at least some government officials.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
Didn't we find when we invaded, new French missiles date-stamped 2003?
The French are not our friends. But sKerry will only act with their approval.
Blessings, bobo
USA, Soviet Union, France & Germany equipped Saddam with latest technologies and Weapons in the 1980s.
FYI.
United States stood by for years
thank you president clinton for ALL the(NO) help in protecting these United States.
The oil for weapons disguised as food scandal continues to get uglier and uglier.
In fact, you were put out of business (or at least had a mission alteration) as a result of those things that happened during the 80's. If I remember correctly (I'm just an AF puke), F14's were originally envisioned to eliminate (and protect carriers against) incoming Soviet bombers, using their spiffy Phoenix AAMs.
OMG, that's the State Department. They'd tell me to negotiate with my brother's cat if he wouldn't come out from under the bed to urinate.
What's your point? You were a little URL-heavy, and word-light.
BTW, thanks for showing me the bastards that asked him to sit at the bargaining table. LOL
The first actual combat exercise for the tomcats belongs to the Imperial Iranian Air Force in the late 70s and early 80s.
They were the first to use AWG-9 & AIM-54A against Soviets MIG-25s over flying the Iranian territories.
http://www.iiaf.net
My point in posting the URL was to answer your question, what "we" said that ticked Putin off.
My opinion on the matter, the State Department is as good at ticking off foreign countries, as it is at ticking off Americans. Sometimes diplomatic words are undiplomatic. For example, I'm still mighty ticked with France. In my own undiplomatic way, I ask, who the F are they? True diplomacy has little or nothing to do with just saying the right words. As the old proverb goes, Walk a mile another man's moccasins, something State clearly failed to do.
;o)
No offense, but your point?
Nothing... just reminding a part of history ;-)
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