Bill Gertz reports this morning in the Washington Times that the French supplied pass ports to many of the most wanted figures in the Saddam regime as Baghdad fell. From the article:
The French government secretly supplied fleeing Iraqi officials with passports in Syria that allowed them to escape to Europe, The Washington Times has learned.An unknown number of Iraqis who worked for Saddam Hussein's government were given passports by French officials in Syria, U.S. intelligence officials said.
The passports are regarded as documents of the European Union, because of France's membership in the union, and have helped the Iraqis avoid capture, said officials familiar with intelligence reports.
The French support, which was revealed through sensitive intelligence-gathering means, angered Pentagon, State Department and intelligence officials in Washington because it undermined the search for senior aides to Saddam, who fled Iraq in large numbers after the fall of Baghdad on April 9.
I'm not surprised. I've said before that the French have gone flat evil. This is just par for the course. You can expect more of this from France as the war on terrorism continues.
Hmmm. This isn't fully baked yet. Unknown number of Iraqis. Sensitive inteligence gathering means. If its true then it is interesting that the French would help these men at this time. Regardless of how much money changed hands prior to the war, the Iraqi leaders fleeing the middle east right now aren't in a position to funnel any more money to the French, and aren't likely to be in that position any time soon. Perhaps they would be in the position to roll over on some seedy scheme that will make the perpetrators look even worse than they do right now?
Dave, didn't you hear about Saddam's $1 billion bank withdrawal just before the war started?
aren't in a position to funnel any more money to the French
Maybe not (mod the above comment about Uday's bank withdrawal), but after all, action to frustrate the enemy's goals is not unusual even if you don't get paid for it. Pulling Iraqis out before the US can capture them would make sense here, because it would harm US interests - receiving a bribe would just be an extra.
Thanks for the link, interesting, $650 Mil found might be part of the $900 Mil taken...makes the change in my sofa pale in comparison. You really have to watch where you leave your .9 billion more closely ,;-)
If it is true that these "officials" have made deals they made with the French, one might wonder how long they'll live to enjoy their freedom. The French may be getting them out to do them in....
Did you mean "have always been" instead of "have gone"?
You know, I follow this blog with great interest, but really, when I read things like "French have gone flat evil." then, I just get scared. Whenever you think that there is something "falt evil" it is just because you haven't tried to understand, and you have fallen victim of misinformation.
Kjetil, this is an important difference between attitudes in America and Europe, and it would serve you well to understand it better.
Examine that comment for a minute: "Whenever you think that there is something "falt evil" it is just because you haven't tried to understand, and you have fallen victim of misinformation"
If I take that at face value, you're saying evil doesn't exist. That's a position I understand, but can't accept because it doesn't match reality. There is no amount of "understanding" that will excuse a regime that slowly feeds people into plastic shredders feet first so it can watch their facial expressions. Or regimes that murder millions of their countrymen. Or the genocidal violence in places like Rwanda, where whole families are hacked to death with machetes.
To believe evil does not exist, in the wake of the 20th century no less, is to either be living in deep denial or to possess a very crippled sense of humanity befitting "Nietzsche's last man." But that may not be exactly what you meant. Is it?
Now, a debate about whether the French and their "reverse Raoul Wallenberg" approach are "flat evil" is worthwhile and stimulating. We had that here on Winds of Change.NET a while ago, with members lining up for and against.
If that's what you're here to discuss, by all means fire away. And thanks for reading.
As far as I'm concerced, the French have graduated from annoying poodles to MY enemy. They are STILL trying to kill our people, destroy our will and tear down alliances while we speak. While the Euros and the French dont yet get it, the French have become the american people's enemy. Our sacrifice and willingness to help them has only resulted in their treachery when we needed their help. As the leader of Europe, France has doomed all Euros to our direct reprisals by all means necessary. I make this statement not as a threat but as a statement of reality. You cannot spit in a tigers face and not expect to get bitten. First, you will notice that we will pull out our troops from your countries. Second, you will notice more trade wars and undermining of your economies (such as they are). Third, you will notice that your other enemies will "some how" have all the intellegence against you to stop you and shoot at your troops at every turn. Lastly, when the fighting time comes due to your complete UNWILLINGNESS to face your enemy until he is in your capital, not only will we NOT come to your rescue, but we will be having parties cheering for your deserved defeat (yet once again)