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Are we blackmailing the UN Big Five?
The American Thinker ^ | January 11, 2006 | James Lewis

Posted on 01/11/2006 8:35:06 AM PST by Tolik

Why are the Big Five UN Security Council members suddenly helping the US against the Tehran regime? The good news is that Russia, France, China, Britain and the US are all sending simultaneous “demarches” – diplotalk for ‘put up or shut up’ – to the Khomeiniacs in Tehran. They are being told to back down on their military nuke program, or else. The Big Five demarche may not work, but it’s a step in the right direction.

In addition, there is news that France, of all countries, is helping to pressure Syria’s dictator Bashar Assad to back down – after his assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri. Assad may even be forced to step down. France has been protecting Abdel Halim Khaddam,  Assad’s former VP, who has been giving news interviews calling for a coup against his former boss: 

“After remaining silent for months, former Syrian vice-president Abdel Halim Khaddam is suddenly talking – using the international media to call for the toppling of his country`s government and suggesting Damascus had a hand in the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.”

Not only are the French moving against their old friend Assad, they are giving high-priority police protection to the man who is trying to overthrow him.

“Khaddam, who moved to Paris in September, is benefiting from French police protection at the Right Bank home where he now lives. Apart from this, the French government maintains he is a private citizen. A Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday there is ‘absolutely no political contact’ with the former vice-president.”

Well, that proves it.

All of which sounds like good news. We know of course that the UN Big Five are helping us because they are good neighbors who just want to stop the spread of WMD’s to the world’s madmen. Oops. Wrong planet.

Actually, we do know that France enjoyed whipping up an orgy of European hatred for the US in its drive to make Paris the real capital of the new Europe. It worked like gangbusters. Chirac and de Villepin are still in charge over there, and they are about as Machiavellian as even French politicians get. For his part, Putin would be happy to see us get a bloody nose, as payback for Russia’s fall from superpower status a decade ago. As for China, the Chinese People’s Army is in a major military build-up, its first objective being to drive the United States out of Asia.

So why are they all suddenly on our side against the regime in Tehran? This is a huge turnaround from successful  sabotage against the United States and the UK four years ago. The political calculations have changed. But why?

Here’s a thought. The US has a big cache of documents showing that Chirac and de Villepin received Oil-for-Food moneys from Saddam, contrary to their own laws.   So did Putin. So did the Chinese. The US could leak some interesting stories to the international press, probably enough to defeat de Villepin’s election run for president of France, and to embarass Putin in Moscow. Even China’s corrupt politicians might get a little nervous. The Communist Party has been known to turn on corruption when it becomes too public.

The US has now had four years to study 2 million documents from Saddam’s secret archives.  A lot of Baath Party torturers must have been eager to talk to the US, just as the Nazis were eager to cooperate after WWII. There must be thousands of Kurds and Shiites out there gunning for their old Baath enemies. So there must be a steady flow of intelligence about Oil for Food and a lot of other Saddam-era influence buying abroad. It defies belief to think that we just haven’t asked anybody how Saddam managed to buy at least three of the five permanent members of the Security Council.

Would it be silly to think that we have the goods on Chirac and Putin? Do we know who was bought off by Saddam’s oil in Beijing? Has Dr. Rice been dropping quiet hints in her travels to those places?

We’ve all been wondering why George W. Bush has been so quiet, in the face of an endless barrage of screaming accusations from the Left. Maybe he doesn’t care about all that. Maybe he’s onto bigger game – like knocking down the next most dangerous member of the Axis of Evil. And given the huge political corruption in France, Russia and China, maybe Bush-Cheney-Rice-Rumsfeld are just doing what adults sometimes have to: They are taking their lumps for the greater good. Maybe we are quietly twisting some arms.

It certainly would answer some puzzles


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: china; france; iran; iraq; oilforfood; russia; un
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To: George Smiley
.....and if that don't get their attention ('leverage'), when no one is really watching or present, a well placed and extremely firm backhanded 'b$tchslap' to the face works every time. :>)
21 posted on 01/11/2006 10:00:52 AM PST by RSmithOpt (Liberalism: Highway to Hell)
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To: Tolik

Nobody would be served by a nuclear Iran.

Everyone looses if the oil flow is disrupted because it becomes radioactive!

The limit to treachery is when the bad behavior you used to support can come back and bite you too.


22 posted on 01/11/2006 10:05:43 AM PST by Pylot
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To: .cnI redruM

I dont see how any countries interests are served by a nuclear Iran and the prospect of a nuclear war in the middle east.


23 posted on 01/11/2006 10:09:48 AM PST by somniferum
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To: Tolik

In answer to the title .. I sure hope so!

Because it's other members of the BIG 5 who will be looking to us to save their blessed assurance should they need assistance with terrorists.


24 posted on 01/11/2006 10:15:29 AM PST by CyberAnt ( I believe Congressman Curt Weldon re Able Danger)
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To: Tolik; wardaddy; Joe Brower; Cannoneer No. 4; Criminal Number 18F; Dan from Michigan; Eaker; ...
So there must be a steady flow of intelligence about Oil for Food and a lot of other Saddam-era influence buying abroad.

Some of that seems to be here:

Strong Implications What the Park arrest portends (Rosett is on the case!)

From time to time, I’ll ping on noteworthy articles about politics, foreign and military affairs. FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.

25 posted on 01/11/2006 2:19:36 PM PST by neverdem (May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows that you're dead.)
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To: Tolik

Those sort of documents are why the countries didn't want the US invading in the first place.


26 posted on 01/11/2006 2:21:59 PM PST by Barney Gumble (A liberal is someone too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel - Robert Frost)
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To: Chode
Wonder if he uses this-


27 posted on 01/11/2006 2:44:53 PM PST by proud_yank (Guns cause crime like forks cause Michael Moore to be fat.)
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To: proud_yank

i would if i could find it... 8^)


28 posted on 01/11/2006 2:48:14 PM PST by Chode (American Hedonist ©®)
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To: Chode


You can order your UN Toilet Paper Here

Perfect gift for any lib! Me, I'm on a student's budget so $5 is pricey. I simply smile knowing that I use the unofficial French (white) flag! Happy Wiping!
29 posted on 01/11/2006 3:03:47 PM PST by proud_yank (Guns cause crime like forks cause Michael Moore to be fat.)
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To: proud_yank

well at that price... i guess it's only go in the "Guestroom Bathroom" and i'll keep using the frog flag too!!!


30 posted on 01/11/2006 3:25:48 PM PST by Chode (American Hedonist ©®)
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To: Tolik

Very interesting, and oh so pleasing to the mind.
BTTT!


31 posted on 01/11/2006 3:32:18 PM PST by Chena (I'm not young enough to know everything.)
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To: neverdem

Interesting.
Though it would hardly really qualify as blackmail.
More like aggressive negotiations with leverage power.
*chuckle*


32 posted on 01/11/2006 4:22:01 PM PST by Darksheare (Beware the waddling Penguin Invaders from Ursa Minor!)
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To: Tolik

Blackmail is such an ugly word...I like to think of it as "Payback is a bitch, isn't it, Kofi?"


33 posted on 01/11/2006 4:23:31 PM PST by WestVirginiaRebel (The Democratic Party-Jackass symbol, jackass leaders, jackass supporters.)
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To: RSmithOpt
.....and if that don't get their attention ('leverage'), when no one is really watching or present, a well placed and extremely firm backhanded 'b$tchslap' to the face works every time. :>)

If you get a chance, get thee to a public library and look up Investor's Business Daily and its coverage of the US Security Council summit which had both Bush and Clinton officials.

Madeleine Not-too-bright is sitting at the end of the table and the look on her face and body English say it all.

"Damn, I can't believe I've been replaced by responsible adults."

Cheers!

34 posted on 01/11/2006 4:53:17 PM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: neverdem

Thanks for the ping!


35 posted on 01/11/2006 9:36:49 PM PST by Alamo-Girl (Monthly is the best way to donate to Free Republic!)
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To: Tolik

This is certainly George Bush's way of doing things. Quietly, determindly, and very adult.


36 posted on 01/12/2006 4:49:39 AM PST by oldtimer2 (Liberal: a power worshipper without power....George Orwell)
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To: Tolik
This actually makes a lot of sense. Bush is a shrewd poker player. Why respond to the screams from the Moonbats when there are bigger fish to fry?
37 posted on 01/12/2006 5:21:16 AM PST by wolfcreek
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To: Tolik

Thanks for the ping.


38 posted on 01/12/2006 8:44:54 PM PST by GOPJ (A. Cub reporters acting as stenographers for a manipulative top FBI agent? Q. What is Watergate?)
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To: Calpernia

Housecleaning.....

Joe Wilson took two trips to Niger, on private company business. Each time his wife got the CIA to pay for it by letting him be a spy to report on sales of yellowcake ore between the President of Niger and Saddam.

Each time he reported no such sales occurred.

Joe Wilson's company was conducting business in Niger, and that was the 'private business' he was on (while supposedly spying for the CIA).

Each time, expenses paid by CIA and he didn't have to sign any disclosure or secrecy agreements.

Now, What business was Joe's company in, and what was it doing in Niger?

Seems his company was a broker, that handled sale of yellowcake ore for the President of Niger.

And the payoffs to the DEMS coffers is why the PLAME/WILSON scandal took place.

The guilty always attack first. And always on the issues they are trying to hide the most.

The DEMS don't want the public knowing what triators they actually are.


39 posted on 01/17/2006 8:24:11 AM PST by UCANSEE2
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To: UCANSEE2
Is housecleaning really going to happen? Or is this a horse and pony show? I'm not a happy camper right now since this thread.
40 posted on 01/17/2006 8:27:34 AM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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