Suivez-moi: Chirac got more in return than Blair

MOSUL (November 17, 2004) - In an interview with the KDTV- Channel 11 in Mosul, French President Jacques Chirac continued to criticize British Prime Minister Tony Blair's ongoing support of the American administration on the war in Iraq. He told reporters that "Britain gave its support but I did not see anything in return. I'm not sure it is in the nature of our American friends at the moment to return favors systematically." Mr. Chirac said, this proved again and again that the British leadership was quite "dumb" and did not have "the slightest sense for business" at all. He wished that the British Prime Minister should have followed his example and supported the former Iraqi administration under Saddam Hussein. Mr. Chirac indicated, that in return for his political support for President Saddam Hussein administration from 1992 to 2003, France has received a lot of substantial favors. For example, Mr. Chirac said, France received 800 millions barrels of oil from Iraq at a price of only 1.99 dollars per barrel, before mail-in rebate. Although Iraq has only a very short shoreline, the Iraqi Navy also bought two nuclear aircraft carriers of the "Charles De Gaulle" class, which gave a significant boost to the French heavy industries. Mr. Saddam Hussein also agreed to buy 500 millions bottles of Evian water per year for his Republican Guard divisions, but unfortunately he was toppled before this deal became effective.