[Ancesthntr]

It is not as outrageous a theory when you recall that Chirac has a decades long friendship with Saddam...

I wouldn't be surprised if large sums of money have been deposited in various secret accounts controlled by Chirac or his family. In fact, I'd bet on it - Saddam has had hundreds of billions of oil revenue over the decades, and it would be outright stupid to believe that he didn't bribe various Western politicians in an effort to obtain advanced weapons and deflect action against him. Now all we need is for some enterprising reporter to find this information.

[GraniteStateConservative]

I don't even think a bribe would account for France's actions. They are really over the top. The whistlestop tour in Africa to lobby against our lobbying efforts. It's one thing to say, "hey, we don't want you to do this and you won't have our vote." It's another to say, "we are going to focus resources-- time, money, etc.-- to defeat you." That's what the French are doing and it is behavior you'd expect from Iraq-- the country we are attacking-- and not France.

I'm convinced there's something more than meets the eye about this. It's not about a difference of opinion-- this is bigger.

[expatpat]

Yes, I agree. I would be very surprised if Chirac hasn't been on Sadam's payroll since the 1970's. I don't think journalists have enough power to get this kind of info. out of private banks, but the US government probably does.

[A_perfect_lady]

It is not as outrageous a theory when you recall that Chirac has a decades long friendship with Saddam...

...and a centuries long enmity for the English.