The Chirac-Hussein Connection

STRATFOR ^ | Feb 19, 2003 | Staff

[dennisw]

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[dennisw]

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[Allan]

Rush is talking about this now.

[Allan]

Bump

[Golan Trevize]

Bump for later reading.

[Nachum]

Hardly surprising.

[Skip Ripley]

Is it just me or does this article at least somewhat imply that Chirac has the hots for Saddham. Is Chirac a faeg?

[Allan]

According to Rush Limbaugh
the information in this article
has appeared on 3 web sites simultaneously
and originated in Lebanon.

Someone doesn't like Chirac.

[Allan]

I can remember even back in the 1970's
when Chirac was a minister under Giscard d'Estaing
he was involved in financial scandals even then.

[mombonn]

Someone doesn't like Chirac.

Perhaps he should volunteer to be a human shield for his "good friend".

[desertcry]

"you scratch my back........... No back scratching here, here's what it is: You stuff my military with WMD, and I will stuff your pocket with billions of franks, or what ever currency you desire.

[r9etb]

My opinion of STRATFOR has dropped over the past couple of years, but they do raise some interesting (and to FReepers, already obvious) questions about France's true motives in l'affair Iraq.

IMHO, the "deeper mystery" of Chirac's involvement with Saddam is that France (and Germany) are involved up to their genitals in Iraqi military capabilities.

[knighthawk]

In September 1975, Hussein traveled to Paris, where Chirac personally gave him a tour of a French nuclear plant. During that visit, Chirac said, “Iraq is in the process of beginning a coherent nuclear program and France wants to associate herself with that effort in the field of reactors.” France sold two reactors to Iraq, with the agreement signed during Hussein’s visit. The Iraqis purchased a 70-megawatt reactor, along with six charges of 26 points of uranium enriched to 93 percent -- in other words, enough weapons-grade uranium to produce three to four nuclear devices. Baghdad also purchased a one-megawatt research reactor, and France agreed to train 600 Iraqi nuclear technicians and scientists -- the core of Iraq’s nuclear capability today.

Middle East list

If people want on or off this list, please let me know.

[Ditto]

Bookmark Bump.

[Terriergal]

Great article. I was pretty floored when rush read this today. It's amazing how we can see this when certain people on this forum cannot, and continually insist that France and Germany's hesitation is because Rumsfeld insulted them. duh. Could it be Rumsfeld insulted them because he already *KNOWS* the facts contained in this article?

[Terriergal]

great shots! I guess what they say about the French is true then, they'll get into bed with just about anyone!

[Terriergal]

Whats mysterious about "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours"

LOL.

I think the mystery is in how long Chirac has been scratching, and what kind of scratching Saddam will do for Chirac, and why Chirac doesn't want to admit to having scratched Saddam's back.

(so he can keep on scratching it??)

[Celtjew Libertarian]

Is it just me or does this article at least somewhat imply that Chirac has the hots for Saddham.

I wouldn't put it that strongly, but it's not just you.... OTOH, I have a rather warped mind. I think it's the repeated use of "personal" and "relationship," sometimes together.

For example, this sentence: Partly because of the breadth of the relationship Chirac and Hussein had created in a relatively short period of time and the obvious warmth of their personal ties, there was intense speculation about the less visible aspects of the relationship.

OK.... The paragraph continues to go onto discuss possible financial and political misdealings.... only to come to this sentence: There are endless rumors, all unproven and perhaps all scurrilous, about the relationship.

It really does read as if the "personal relationship" has been quite, shall we say, personal. I don't think the relationship has a homosexual dimension, but the more I reread it, I think there is an intent to imply that there might be.

[CyberCowboy777]

Bump to the top

[Stefan Stackhouse]

It is interesting that these things are starting to come out now that it has become pretty obvious that we don't have the votes for a 2nd UNSC resolution, and thus won't be persuing one. I suspect that we have a lot more along these lines, this is only the tip of the iceburg.

We've let Chirac & Schroder climb way out on a limb. Now the saws are being whipped out.