[Chi-townChief]

This is getting very interesting and may begin to explain the UN double-cross - why did Saddam turn down exile? Did Egypt end up turning him down or did he know he had our French, German, Russian, and UN "allies" in his pocket and believe he would never get the boot? BTW Black Jacques Chirac as "Mr. Arab" has me ROTFLMAO.

[willgolfforfood]

This is mostly a "so what" to me. Part of the deal was probably that his two sons stayed on, in charge. Give one tyrant a Billion Dollar Golden Parachute, and plug two more in.

Exchanging one tyrant for another is one of the reasons the mid-East is in the mess it's in today.

[A_Tradition_Continues]

SADDAM Hussein was prepared to take $1 billion and go into exile before the Iraq war

Fine makins' for a T-shirt. Saddam, noose and the words. "I asked for a Billion Dollars and all I got was a $45.00 Rope.

[weegee]

It was very public at the time before the war that Saddam was offered the opportunity to step down and avoid war (with or without a golden parachute).

He declined and led his nation into war.

[lowbridge]

A Google Translated Article Bites The Left In ...( Bush conversation with Aznar re: Saddam )

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1903411/posts

[Names Ash Housewares]

” and all the information he wants about weapons of mass destruction”

Uh.

WMDs????

I think that pretty much says two key things.

ONE..... there were WMDs or at least important enough info that Saddam wanted to keep.

TWO.... you couldnt do this deal because one of the whole points was Saddam NOT having WMDs.