He worked for ELF, now TOTAL, the biggest French oil company and one that was involved in a HUGE Oil-for-Food scandal. TOTAL was developing the Iraqi oil fields through a deal with Saddam Hussein. They make Halliburton look like angels, lol!
Some background on the ELF criminality:
The Elf scandal in France was, according to The Guardian, "the biggest fraud inquiry in Europe since the Second World War. Elf became a private bank for its executives who spent £200 million on political favours, mistresses, jewellery, fine art, villas and apartments". Iraqi-born Nadhmi Auchi, 13th richest man of Britain and ranked in Forbes, received a 15-month suspended sentence for his involvement in the scandal. Auchi was also linked to the Clearstream scandal, while he is BNP Paribas bank's main private share-holder - until 2001, the money for the Oil-for-Food programme transited through the escrow account of the BNP Paribas [1]. Magistrate Eva Joly investigated the case.
He didn't go to prison until November of 2003, and was released due to health reasons in 2004.
And according to Business week, thanks to France's unwillingness to toe the U.S. line, TOTAL was likely to gain the inside track in oil-rich Iraq (prior to the War).
All they were waiting on was the embargo/sanctions to be lifted.
They were/are working for a deal with Iran too.
Tell your friend they're all wet!
He is no friend.... He is a snarky leftist French expat living here in the US. I would love nothing better than sending his sorry ass back to France.