The Chirac-Hussein Connection

STRATFOR ^ | Feb 19, 2003 | Staff

[okie01]

**Anyone know if any of the major news orgs are covering this yet?

Fox probably will. But don't count on anybody else even whispering about it.

Conventional wisdom in the mainstream media is that France, in their resistance to the US "warmongering", is standing on the high ground of principle. That France is really all alone in their pig-headedness and that Chirac might have motive more corrupt than pure would be, ah, "inconvenient".

[dixiechick2000]

Thanks for the ping, knighthawk.

Very interesting, to say the least!

[Ethyl]

Good post, this needs to be seen by the FR night readers.

bump

[Ethyl]

Bump it to the top. Those that work and didn't hear Rush need to know...........

[dixiechick2000]

You are right. Great post!

Bump for the night crowd!

[dixiechick2000]

A welcome to Free Republic bump!;o)

[Ethyl]

We have got to keep this up, I haven't seen it on the latest posts yet...........BUMPER CROP

[Ethyl]

Everybody needs to see this, Come on Dixiechick2000 let's do it.

[dixiechick2000]

I've got to go, but I can give it one more BTTT!

[Ethyl]

Thank you for the welcome, Been a lurker for 8 years. How do we get this to the top?

[BossLady]

"Whatever personal chemistry there might have been between the two leaders obviously remained in place a decade later"

What a revealing article! This bit is what sealed the idea about their 'relationship' for me. Why would someone use the word 'chemistry' if they are just buddies? You don't see this kind of rheotoric used when writers talk about Bush and Blair.

[Valin]

Strange /sarcasm...I was listening to NPR today at work and they didn't mention anything about this.
Someone said Rush was talking about it. If this is true(and I have no reason to doubt it) it would go a long way toward explaining why the french are acting the way they are.
follow the money follow the money follow the money

[WOSG]

Chirac is covering for Saddam because he doesnt want the Bghdad files revealing how close he has been to this regime .... he better hope we bomb thei Govt ministry buildings thoroughly and burn the papers totally.

[Victoria Delsoul]

"In 1981, the Israelis destroyed the Iraqi reactor in an air attack. There were rumors - which were denied -- that the French government was offering to rebuild the reactor. In August 1987, French satirical and muckraking magazine, "Le Canard Enchaine" published excerpts of a letter from Chirac to Hussein -- dated June 24, 1987, and hand-delivered by Trade Minister Michel Noir -- which the magazine claimed indicated that he was negotiating to rebuild the Iraqi reactor. The letter says nothing about nuclear reactors, but it does say that Chirac hopes for an agreement "on the negotiation which you know about," and it speaks of the "cooperation launched more than 12 years ago under our personal joint initiative, in this capital district for the sovereignty, independence and security of your country." In the letter, Chirac also, once again, referred to Hussein as "my dear friend."

"Chirac and the government confirmed that the letter was genuine. They denied that it referred to rebuilding a nuclear reactor.

"Only two possible conclusions can be drawn from this letter: Chirac either was trying, in the midst of the Iran-Iraq war and after his denial of involvement in the first place, to rebuild Iraq's nuclear capability, or he wasn't. And if he wasn't, what was he doing that required such complex language, clearly intended for deniability if revealed? No ordinary state-to-state relationship would require a combination of affection, recollection of long history and promise for the future without mentioning the subject. If we concede to Chirac that it had nothing to do with nuclear reactors, then the mystery actually deepens."

Worth repeating.

[ellery]

bttt

[dixiechick2000]

"Thank you for the welcome, Been a lurker for 8 years. How do we get this to the top?"

LOL I haven't been able to figure that one out since the forum changed! The only suggestion I have is to ping a lot of people.

Glad you finally decided to join. What took you so long?

[mafree]

Follow da oil too.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Mega-France Crushing 'Year of the Frog' Ping! I heard Rush read this yesterday. Chirac is in trouble. France will be the laughingstock, much as we were under Clintoon.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Major ping! Want to wipe some France off your shoe?

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

"I believe Rush just mentioned this."

Yes indeed! I hope that doesn't mean it should be buried. Heck, Rush often reports things that no one else bothers with. Remember his warnings about SUVs?