[ThJ1800]

Good article. Bump for later reference.

[Yo-Yo]

France still hasn't been paid for the Nuclear Reactor that the Israeli Air Force blew up, and Russia hasn't been paid for the T-72 tanks that we're blowing up.

France and Russia need those oil field contracts to recoup their money, and that is why they don't want regime change in Iraq. New goverment means new contract bidding.

Hell, if we wanted Iraq's oil, we wouldn't be invading the country, we'd be lifting sanctions so we could BUY the oil.

[Kay Soze]

"All the while Saddam was encouraged to hold out by countries that made it clear that they would readily support a waiving of sanctions and anything else Saddam wanted in return for oil contracts and other financial benefits."

Its because of France, Germany and Russia that the sanctions were never allowed to produce a peaceful resolution to this conflict.

France, Germany, Russia and China considered Iraq their cake and for 12 years violated numerous UN sanctions in arming Iraq.

It was in their financial interests to keep sanctions on Iraq while at the same time violating them.

Only those that stood with us should be allowed in to reconstruct Iraq.