France's economic ties to Iraq

BBC News Online ^ | Februari 13 2003 | John Laurenson

[knighthawk]

Opinion polls show almost 80% of people in France are against a US-led war against Iraq.

Many of those see American military and economic aims in Iraq as one and the same thing.

America's critics claim that America's policy on Iraq is driven by its appetite for oil.

But could similar claims be made about France?

Power games

During the late 1970s, French companies started work on the Tamuz One nuclear reactor near Baghdad - designed to produce plutonium - and on a second reactor, Tamuz Two.

The first was destroyed by Israeli fighter bombers in 1981.

During the Iran-Iraq war, France was soon supplying Iraq with top level military hardware of its own.

All told, France sold some $25bn-worth of weaponry to Iraq before the UN embargo was imposed after the Gulf War.

A report commissioned by the French parliament published last September puts the value of French exports to Iraq since sanctions were imposed at $3.5bn.

Agnes Levallois, a specialist in business in the Middle East, cites the example of French pharmaceutical firms, all of whom she says sell antibiotics and other basic medicines in Iraq.

Oil the spur

In July 2001, when relations chilled, Saddam froze these companies' contracts, but renewed them once diplomatic relations thawed.

Even in 2001, France sold Iraq $650m-worth of goods, more than any other country, and was the Western country with the largest number of stands at last November's Baghdad Trade Fair.

But above all, the French are interested in Iraqi oil.

Nicolas Sarkis, of Arab Oil and Gas magazine, says France's state-controlled TotalFinaElf is poised to win contracts to drill the largest unexploited oil reserves in the world.

Ahmed Chalabi, the Iraqi banker who presides the Iraqi National Council - the American-backed organisation supposed to bring democracy to a post-Saddam Iraq - has said that American firms will be given a "preponderant role".

If war is unleashed on Iraq, it will not only be a blow to French diplomacy but to French industry as well.

[knighthawk]

All told, France sold some $25bn-worth of weaponry to Iraq before the UN embargo was imposed after the Gulf War.

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[knighthawk]

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[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for this incredible article/thread.

It all boils down to money, and this article documents the greed and criminal trades the French have had with Iraq.

I have just bookmarked this thread for those idiots on FR who still defend the French.

Thanks for including me in your European ping list!

[Travis McGee]

Isn't Chirac a known bribe-taker?

Chirac was instrumental in pushing the nuclear plant deals.

I wonder what his kickback % was?

I wonder if proof of Swiss account payoffs is how Saddam controls Chirac today?

[johnb838]

I wanna know what the French have done with them SINCE 1991.

[knighthawk]

This one is thanks to Kaslin!

[Grampa Dave]

John from this article: A report commissioned by the French parliament published last September puts the value of French exports to Iraq since sanctions were imposed at $3.5bn. The sanctions were started after Desert Storm was over.

[KLT]

QUIET OR THEY WILL SHOOT US IN THE HEAD....
WE ARE FRENCH, WE HAVE NO BRAINS!

[Grampa Dave]

Exactly what is the exact money trail from their cash cow, Uncle Soddomite, the Insane to the whore$ in charge of France, Germany and Belgium?

I have bet for a long time that there has been some sweetheart kickback for each barrel of oil sold to France and Germany. These whore$ got an automatic payment per barrel each day that was sent to their Swiss or some off shore accounts.

When the US got the uncensored full documents from the UN inspectors was when the French and German Whore$s for Soddomite went crazy.

It did not take a genius to realize that those uncensored documents left a blood money trail to each company in France and Germany that had been selling illegal material and tech to the Iraqs.

Just follow the money to these Whore$ and the American Whore$ for Soddomite, and the mystery of why certain people are defending Soddomite clears up. He is a huge cash cow for countries and evil politicians and mediots around the world.

[July 4th]

The French have their hands dirty. A war exposes the ties, and shifts the gratitude of the Iraqis to the Americans once we're liberated the place. I've always believed this was reason #1 why the French are being so obstinate.

[Grampa Dave]

We also traded with the USSR to keep them alive during WWII. Then they be our cold war enemies after the war. They were needed to defeat Hitler.

The key here is the trade after Desert Storm I.

Why are you defending the French and Germans here? You are the hole!

[listenhillary]

If we're all idiots on this message board, why do you come back?

[Travis McGee]

"Your mothair was a..."

Oh never mind. Don't get me started.

[Archimedes2000]

You couldn't possibly be more wrong. There is a difference between selling Iraq a french Mirage fighter jet and selling Iraq computers. there is a difference between building a bioweapons facility for Iraq (as the french did, for $1Billion plus) and selling disease cultures to facilities Iraq claimed were for vaccines. (for $35.00)

The French were the # 2 supplier for Iraqi arms prior to 1991, second only to the USSR, and just ahead of China. But don't let the facts get in the way of your hatred.

[Travis McGee]

At this level, you have to go back to who owns who.

You own people by paying huge bribes,(Chirac) and filming it secretly, or setting honey traps and filming it. (Ritter)

Saddam owns Chirac, Ritter, and many others.

[KLT]

How about? I will fart in your general direction....Hah, Hah, Hah! Just thinkin about this cracks me up....

[Howlin]

[Kay Soze]

And guess which country fired on and killed US troops en route to get Hitler?

Which country would not allow US planes to fly OVER it to get Kadafi after he killed US Citziens on TWA and in a disco in Italy?

Which former colonial power in Rwanda could have stopped the genocide of tutsi?

Piss on the French.