French Fury Grows Over Iraq 'Bribes' (Official American Report)

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 10-27-2004 | Colin Randall

[blam]

French fury grows over Iraq 'bribes'

By Colin Randall in Paris
(Filed: 27/10/2004)

France has angrily stepped up its attack on an official American report that French public figures and companies took bribes worth millions of pounds from Saddam Hussein to help his bid to have United Nations sanctions lifted.

The French foreign ministry denounced as "inaccurate and unfounded" allegations from the Iraq Survey Group (ISG), the US weapons inspectorate, that French interests took financial benefits in the form of cashable oil vouchers in a rampant abuse of the UN oil-for-food programme.

Saddam was reported to have syphoned off £7 billion of oil-for-food proceeds to fund his regime and reward heads of government, ministers, political parties, businesses, pro-Iraq organisations and friendly individuals. One British citizen and his Jordanian assistant allegedly received vouchers worth £3.36 million.

Jean-David Lévitte, France's ambassador to Washington, has registered France's "displeasure" in calls to the White House and State Department, and called the report's conclusions "absurd".

Charles Pasqua, a former interior minister, was said to have been paid £2.3 million. Ex-defence minister Pierre Joxe reportedly was handed £1 million for the French Socialist Party. Both strongly denied the allegations.

The foreign ministry statement said the report had wrongly identified several businesses involved in oil-for-food as French, whereas they were American but had used French branches, agents or intermediaries.

[Pointblank]

I wish my credit cards were French owned...so I could justify stopping payments...outside of that, the French do not get a dime of my money!

[fastattacksailor]

Hell, can you invoke THE RULE again? :-P

[Blue Scourge]

I've lost even more respect for the French....on my scale of rating things...

Jesus ------to------ Devil

The French fall just above gnats and Michael Moore.

[Cobra64]

I don't drink Kalifornikate whine. I don't drink NY Senator Hillary/Schumer wine. Argentin is okay but they and Brazil have problems. That leaves me with Black Swan from Australia. At least they speak English, and Aussies seem to like Americans. Regardless, that's where our wine purchases have been for the last 9 years. We buy it by the case. Merlots, Cabs, and the rest.

[George Smiley]

Change your name. Those ain't B's.

[get'emall]

Do you like "Black Opal" from Australia?

I gave up my favorite vodka (Grey Goose) because it's made in France. Luckily, there is a nice selection of Polish vodka to fill that void.

[RJL]

Someone around here had a list of "American" companies owned by French companies. For instance, Goodyear is owned by Michalen. Red Rood Inns.. BIC... Long list that few of us would have believed.

I thought BF Goodrich was French, but that Goodyear was OK.

[fastattacksailor]

Actually most of the NY wine comes from the North Fork of Long Island----good republican territory.

Will get you a list of those winerys if ya want......

[hoot2]

"The French foreign ministry denounced as "inaccurate and unfounded"..."

even tho he couldn't explain the "new mercedes benz" he was driving.

[KwasiOwusu]

" For instance, Goodyear is owned by Michalen"

That is A VERY BIG FALSEHOOD, dude.
Goodyear is NOT owned by any french company, least of all Michelin.