Keep Bashing France

In article ,
Scott MacEachern wrote:

On Thu, 16 Oct 2003 22:35:27 GMT, Chad Irby wrote:

So far, quite a lot.

It's a shame they aren't reporting it in the European papers.

Nor, strangely enough, in the North American papers.

Well, maybe not in some of them, but many did mention the actual
contents of the report itself, which *does* hold quite a lot of damning
evidence. But the quick and clueless headlines win again...

On the other hand, we have this lead from an article in the New York
Times for 16 October
(http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/16/in...st/16ARMS.html):
"American officials in Baghdad have identified at least 30 businesses
and individuals in the United States that investigators said they
suspect sold tens of millions of dollars in military technology to
Iraq before the war...." Imagine that: American firms selling arms to
Saddam Hussein.

I'd suggest that before doing any more France-bashing, you read that
article.

I'd suggest you do the same. Typical quote:

"Officials said they believed that the two San Diego businessmen, both
of Iraqi descent, delivered and helped to assemble three 85-foot-long
patrol boats, armed with machine guns, as part of an $11 million
contract with Mr. Hussein's military."

"But the American authorities said the Yakous were aware that their
dealings with Mr. Hussein's government violated American laws. Indeed,
officials said the two men told investigators in an interview two
months ago that the embargo forced them to route their supplies through
Jordan, slowing production."

There's also quite a bit of difference between companies that sell arms
to Iraq *in spite of* the US government, and people who sell arms to
Iraq with the *support* of the French government...

Or, like Chirac, sell them nuclear power plants that are basically
designed to make material for bombs (thank goodness the Israelis took
that one out).

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.