[Grampa Dave]

"The deals were negotiated separately by CFP Total and by Elf Aquitaine during the mid to late 1990s. At the time, both companies were state-controlled. They have since been privatized and combined into the world's second largest oil giant, TotalFinalElf."

Through my sources, I obtained a copy of one of these contracts. It spans 154 pages, and grants the French exclusive right to exploit one of Iraq's largest oil fields at Nahr al-Umar for a period of twenty years. Under the deal, the French were given 75% of the revenue from every barril of oil they extracted - 75%! That is absolutely stunning. Not even during the pre-OPEC days were foreign oil operators granted such extravagant terms.

I discussed the contract with an independent oil analyst, Gerald Hillman, who estimated that during the first seven years alone, it would earn the French around $50 billion. Elf-Aquitaine negotiated a virtually identical deal with Saddam to expand the gigantic Majnoon oil field as well. Put together, those two deals were worth $100 billion to the French. That's 100 billion good reasons for Mr. Chirac to keep Saddam in power.

FP: The contracts were dependent on Saddam?

Timmerman: That's correct, although I am sure the French are trying to put pressure on the Iraqi Governing Council to honor these scandalously corrupt deals. ==========================================================

The French probably paid for the No War for Oil signs and bumperstickers.

[Grampa Dave]

The French Socialist economy has spawned vast state-owned enterprises that are unable to compete in a free, fair market. To maintain the socialist welfare state, with its ten to twelve percent unemployment rates, the French desperately need to cut backdoor deals with dictators and authoritarian states. Hence, their current fondness for the mullahs in Tehran, and the Chinese communists.

We can throw Germany into this same vile cesspool. One wonders what backdoor deals the Russians and Putie had with their buddy the $oddomite?

[SierraWasp]

"The French probably paid for the No War for Oil signs and bumperstickers."

Maybe, but I've come to believe our own home groan "Puker's for Peace," demonstrate and agitate ONLY because they don't want tax dollars spent on war, justified or not, because it robs them of government socialista programs they adore!!!

[PhilDragoo]

Chirac blocked the Iraq war to keep his oil profits?

I'm shocked, shocked.