[NutCrackerBoy]

I didn't read all these details, but France's national interest lay in keeping Saddam in power and removing the sanctions. Isn't that why they opposed, even undermined, the war? I would not be surprised if France did a lot well before the war to try to prevent it.

I wonder why France signed on to UN 1441 in light of all that?

[gondramB]

"I didn't read all these details, but France's national interest lay in keeping Saddam in power and removing the sanctions. Isn't that why they opposed, even undermined, the war? I would not be surprised if France did a lot well before the war to try to prevent it."


So why create fake documents that would influence us in the direction of war? Italy was much more supportive of war - they seem like a more likely source on the surface.

[wickedpinto]

"I wonder why France signed on to UN 1441 in light of all that?"

For the same reason democrats were willing to vote for a use of military strength, but not a declaration of war.

It was a simple ruse used to justify a stance on either side, and blame those who actually make decisions for their decisions no matter what the decision was.

France signed 1441 so that they could be "tough" with saddamn, and then be the ones to walk in and say "We have these BRILLIANT inspectors who say that Saddam is only guilty of neglect, without any sinister plot" This would mean that France can take a strong stance, and then back away with not only honor but glory for having gotten to the bottom of the problem. Once France had finished with their glorious ability to convince the world and avert a bloody war, they could then claim that the neglect over the previous 11-13 years was caused by the UN Sanctions, thereby having the sanctions removed, and then glorying in the wealth that would come out of Iraq as the primary wester service nation for criminals of every ilk.

[Republic of Texas]

At the time I think France believed that 1441 would end up like virtually ALL UN Resolutions. In the trash.

[Anselma]

"I wonder why France signed on" at the UN:

Maybe b/c US could prove the Italo/French forgery?
Maybe b/c Chirac is a very dirty boy, and we've got proof?
Didn't we learn many years ago that France sold nuclear secrets to Pakistan (and Syria? and Iran???)? Did Chirac supervise those deals? Wasn't Chirac in danger of prosecution (for what, I dunno) in France for some major corruption, recently? And he was sweating bullets before he got re-elected, b/c under French law, no current French official can be prosecuted? I bet we have the goods on him and wonder if that, too, is linked to the Oily Food Crimes.
The only refuge for Chirac, after his current office, would be to become some assinine 'crat in the emerging EuroThing- hence he was mortified that the people of France didn't OK the proposed EuroThing Constitution, or whatever they're calling it.