Interview: 'Even if Saddam worked for us it is time for us to throw him out' * Must Read *

Gulf News ^ | 23-02-2003 | Amir Taheri

[John Lenin]

Interesting theory about the French giving Saddam a false feeling of his own survivability.

[EaglesUpForever]

Let me tell you something more important: the French attitude makes war more likely. It gives Saddam false hope that things can be dragged on and on until the next American presidential election. Thus Saddam sees no reason why he should really show his weapons to the inspectors.

Truer words were never spoken.

[WOSG]

What if France vetoes a second resolution that authorises the use of force?
That won't happen. The last time France vetoed an American resolution was in 1956. At that time the U.S. wanted French, British and Israeli forces to immediately evacuate the Sinai that they had captured from Egypt in the Suez War. The French veto had no real effect. The U.S. succeeded in making sure that Egyptian territory was evacuated.


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wow. good and interesting history.

France was wrong then and is wrong now. Letting their interests over-ride common sense.

[ecomcon]

Bump! I like it.

[section9]

When you need an understanding of what is really going down, read what Richard Perle says.

He states publicly what Bush's inner circle is stating privately.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[stylin19a]

One of your former advisors Laurent Murawiec says that Saudi Arabia should be regarded as "Enemy Number One" of the United States and even invaded and carved into five mini-states. Do you agree?
No, I don't.....
This is puzzling non-answer to the question. "No I don't...what ?"

It seems like every time one turns around, another Saudi is responsible for some attack.
A report came out and denied, that the Saudis were paying blackmail to Osama and his ilk, to be left alone.. To summarily dismiss the Saudis as a threat seems naive.

[FreeReign]

Let me tell you something more important: the French attitude makes war more likely. It gives Saddam false hope that things can be dragged on and on until the next American presidential election. Thus Saddam sees no reason why he should really show his weapons to the inspectors. That gives us the clear reason we need for attacking him. Thus, Chirac's policy will, in the final analysis, lead to Saddam's destruction.

Merci beaucoup Jacques!

[McGavin999]

Great interview. This is straight talk at it's finest.

[Spruce]

Great Post for many reasons.

[FreeReign]

Perle -- I must also tell you that Saudi Arabia is not a monolith.

stylin19a -- It seems like every time one turns around, another Saudi is responsible for some attack. A report came out and denied, that the Saudis were paying blackmail to Osama and his ilk, to be left alone.. To summarily dismiss the Saudis as a threat seems naive.

I think Perle has it right.

[KaiserofKrunch]

Thanks for the post. Really interesting read.

[Spruce]

Here is another PBS interview with Mr. Perle. Very similar with some bio info.

[Rose in RoseBear]

Interesting read!

Pingpingping!

[EternalVigilance]

But we will not accept fudge.

Which explains why the goods being peddled by France, Germany, the U.N., Tom Daschle and Nancy Pelosi, et al, are not finding much of a market currently...

[stylin19a]

If the meaning of monolith is: an organized whole that acts as a single unified powerful or influential force, then anybody and nobody can be a monolith.
That can't be the answer.
Perle is tunnel visioned when it comes to Iraq. Saudi Arabia is not even on his radar screen.

The question I have is...should it be ?

[FirstTomato]

But we will not accept fudge

I always accept fudge.

[rmlew]

What are you talking about?

The US saved the leader of the Pan-Arab national socialist movement, Nasser. He then became a Soviet ally.
We also set the precident that Third World countries could nationalise Western companies and projects.

[rodeocowboy]

Great read!

I did not know that Total Petrolium was owned by the Weasles. I now know never to buy Total gasoline anymore.

[WOSG]

hmmm. actually we were both wrong on Suez, now I think about it ... UK + France's attempt to take over Suez was a fiasco, the fact that they were fighting a crook and dictator - nasser - doesnt evade the fact that france was in it for the wrong reasons. but US was wrong to make them undo it. both US and France together made it a 'bay of pigs'-like failure.

JMHO.

i do not believe nasser set precedent on oil nationalization. that was done earlier in the 1950s.
And Egypt doesnt have oil.

otoh, nasser led to baathist successes in Iraq and Syria, which led to ... ta da - saddam hussein. Were it not for the Suez crisis, Iraq might still be a hashemite regime, like Jordan.

[PoisedWoman]

Excellent interview. I really like Perle's style. He expresses himself eloquently and directly with a minimum of diplomatic "fudging."