Posted on 10/07/2004 12:15:10 PM PDT by TexKat
WASHINGTON (AFP) - France complained to the United States over accusations that French nationals and businesses took bribes from Iraqmade in a report by the chief US weapons inspector.
The French embassy approached the White House and the US State Department to express anger at the way the allegations were made public.
"The ambassador told the White House and the State Department of our displeasure concerning the methods used," an embassy official told AFP.
The official said France was particularly unhappy about "the fact that the names of individuals and companies were made public without any apparent attempt to verify the allegations, and without giving them an opportunity to explain themselves."
The study by the Iraq Survey Group said former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein paid millions of dollars in cash and petrol export vouchers to elicit help in his bid to end the UN sanctions regime on his country.
Mentioned in Charles Deulfer's report are former French interior minister Charles Pasqua and Patrick Maugein, an official of the French petroleum company Soco International said to be close to French President Jacques Chirac.
Pasqua and Maugein have strenuously denied accepting consideration from the Saddam regime.
France and Russia were the main recipients, according Duelfer's report, by virtue of the influence they wielded as permanent members of the UN Security Council.
The French foreign ministry denied the accusations earlier, calling them "unverified, either with those concerned or with the authorities of the concerned countries."
Duelfer's report, citing documents recovered from Saddam's intelligence services, said the Iraqi payments particularly targeted French political, economic and journalistic circles.
The report refers to a list published last January by the Baghdad newspaper Al-Mada of some 200 names from 40 countries that allegedly peddled influence with Iraq in return for export vouchers for millions of barrels of oil.
Charles Duelfer, head of the Iraq Survey Group, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. France complained to the US over accusations that French nationals and businesses took bribes from Iraq made in a report by Duelfer.(AFP/Getty Images/File/Matthew Cavanaugh)
If the beret fits . . .
Does Franch actually think it has some type of reputation that it needs to protect? I mean, they do realize that "surrender monkey" and "weasel" and "corrupt" are not complements,,,right?
They are complaining on us? Powell should demand that chirac resign over his cronies getting paid off!
Keep squawking France. That's the only way the media will ever report what the Report says about you.
Interesting development.....
If he is wrong about the French and the oils scandal is he also wrong about WMD?
Will two wrongs make a correct?
Interesting development.....
If he is wrong about the French and the oils scandal is he also wrong about WMD?
Will two wrongs make a correct?
They may not, perhaps George could explain that to Mr. Chirac
when they meet the next time.
Hehehehehehe~~!
BOO FRIGGIN' HOO!
Not angry over the actual allegations, just the WAY they were made public. Sheesh, can you say guilty as h311?
No one likes public airing of differences or accusations.
Take, for example, France's public obstruction of American policy in the ME.
Now we're getting somewhere!
Ah, the French think a Savant is a poodle wearing a beret!
Angry that they're Saddam's whores? Go cry to the UN frogs.
I do care that Americans were involved but not named in the report.
I only believe every word of this.
Ask yourself this question: what would make Saddam part with his precious oil revenues? Furthermore, why would he have to pay off bribes unless there was something to hide?
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