France denies giving information to Saddam

Straits Times ^ | April 30, 2002

[Dog Gone]

PARIS - France has denied a report in a British newspaper that claimed its journalists had found documents in Baghdad indicating that Paris had informed Saddam Hussein regularly of its dealings with Washington.

'There is no credibility whatsoever to this information,' Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin told France-Info radio on Monday.

'Everybody knows that France never had a soft attitude towards the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein,' he said.

The French minister made the comments during an official visit to the Czech Republic for discussions on the future expansion of the European Union.

On Sunday, Britain's Sunday Times said its reporters had found documents in the Iraqi Foreign Ministry revealing that Paris had shared with Baghdad the contents of private transatlantic meetings and diplomatic traffic from Washington.

The paper said the information kept Saddam abreast of every development in US planning and might have helped him to prepare for war.

One report warned of a US 'attempt to involve Iraq with terrorism' as 'cover for an attack on Iraq', according to the Times.

Another document, dated Sept 25, 2001, from Iraqi foreign minister Naji Sabri to Saddam's palace, was reportedly based on a briefing from the French Ambassador in Baghdad and covered talks between presidents Jacques Chirac and George W. Bush, the newspaper said.

'I simply want us to avoid giving credibility to rumours and malicious gossip,' said Mr de Villepin.

France 'permanently acts with transparency and in the interests of the region', he added.

France was a top opponent of the US-led invasion of Iraq and threatened to use its veto in the United Nations Security Council to block any resolution authorising war.

[etcetera]

"'There is no credibility whatsoever to this information,' Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin told France-Info radio on Monday."

Who speaks of credibility?

[At a Later Date]

Yeah, like we're gonna believe anything France says at this point. Anyway, it appears that any info France gave Saddam didn't do him any good.

[ralph rotten]

Sound a lot like BAGHGAD BOB---COULD IT BE

[HassanBenSobar]

Where is Baghdad Bob when the French need him to speak for them?

[HassanBenSobar]

rotten indeed. Beat me by *that* much...LOL

[tet68]

'Everybody knows that France never had a soft attitude towards the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein,' he said.

ROFSCCTN!

Zut,But of course~! Chirac was hard as a rock! The Brute!

[Cultural Jihad]

Time to remove the U.N. veto power from France and Russia. Let Spain and Australia have their permanent seats. If the dictator-enablers want to start their own 'United Brutes' as a competition to the United Nations then that is fine, too. ;-)

[anniegetyourgun]

'Everybody knows that France never had a soft attitude towards the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein,' he said."

Exactly...everyone knows it was something more akin to flaccid. Lapdogs would never use the term "soft".....

[Shermy]

'Everybody knows that France never had a soft attitude towards the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein,' he said.

Guilty. French politicians are shameless, aren't they?

[lilylangtree]

Hahahahahahahahahah! Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin = Baghdad Bob

[Dog Gone]

Yeah, like we're gonna believe anything France says at this point.

You notice that de Villepin made the statement to French radio. Anyone else would have laughed out loud.

[anniegetyourgun]

'I simply want us to avoid giving credibility to rumours and malicious gossip,' said Mr de Villepin."

I do wonder if journalists in the U.K. and elsewhere will take it lying down that the French are calling them liars.....

[pragmatic_asian]

Are you going to believe your own eyes or France?

[DeFault User]

'Everybody knows that France never had a soft attitude towards the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein,' he said.

That statement is so pregnant, so ripe for a reply ....but in the interest of good taste we shall pass.

[Migraine]

'There is no credibility whatsoever to this information,' Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin told France-Info radio on Monday.

Weasel words. He should have said, 'There is no TRUTH' to it.

It's like the White House when the Democracks had it: "There is not a SHRED of evidence...", rather than "That's a lie", or "That's simply false. I guarantee it."

[ellery]

bump

[VRWC_minion]

'Everybody knows that France never had a soft attitude towards the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein,' he said

[witnesstothefall]

Verrrrry interesting. A slew of non-denial denials. When the Frenchie ambassador stamps his foot and begins taking personal offense, we'll know for sure they're guilty. A Frenchman in distress is quite a sight.

[DannyTN]

"'Everybody knows that France never had a soft attitude towards the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein"