Liquor Dealer

WASHINGTON — The French government gave members of Saddam Hussein's regime passports that would allow them to enter Europe and escape the coalition's hunt for top Iraqi officials, The Washington Times reported Tuesday.

U.S. intelligence officials told the Times that an unknown number of Iraqi regime members were given French passports by French officials in Syria.

The report could not be independently confirmed.

French passport holders are able to enter any European Union country without a visa, and are usually granted tourist visas upon entry to many other countries, including the United States.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,86117,00.html

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Dragonlich

That visa thing would be correct, unless they're wanted for crimes against humanity and the likes. They'll be picked up and thrown in jail.

I wouldn't be surprised by this French move - they've done similar things in the past. However, I think they made a big mistake this time. I doubt the US government (or the rest of Europe for that matter) will look kindly upon such actions. They already came under a lot of flak over their actions regarding Mugabe of Zimbabwe a while ago, but this would be infinitely more painful.

(...but I want to see some confirmation first)

Daval

wow, that would be pretty amazing if it can be verified.

Even I cringe at the French doing that.

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Mr. Mojo

For those who hate Fox News Its also here - <a target=new href="http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030506-32981825.htm">France helped Iraqis escape - Bill Gertz</a>

and for those that hate the washington times - <a target=new href="http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=69113870&p=69yy4576">French accused of giving passports to Iraqis</a>

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Lebell

It just get's better and better with the French.

I'm ready for the US to cut them loose.

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TaLoN

we need a little of this

crewsor

Rat French Bastids.

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james t kirk

Yeah, if that's true, shame on the French.

I would be very disappointed in them.

I wonder if saddam's sons aren't amoung them? After all they loaded up 3 18 wheelers with 100 dollar bills and drove off. I sure as hell wouldn't want to be one of those drivers.

Money talks, my guess is that those trucks drove to Syria, then they might have bribed the French officials to issue passports.

Sick, but money talks.

drewg

If this is true, the French sure have fucked up for themselves again. But I'm still waiting for confirmation from some of the news companies I trust.

drewg

And by the way, TaLon. Posting pictures like that is really tasteless. I know you're not serious, but If I were to post pictures of New York or Washington DC attacked being nuked most of you who use these boards would be very offended and would probably start flaming me.

Let's keep the TFP discussions above the level of average internett flamewars.

TaLoN

i didn't see any rules stating you can't make fun of something that everyone hates

maximusveritas

TaLon, someone could say that everyone hates the US and so its ok to post pictures of NYC being nuked. If you posted such a picture, you might even be accused of making terrorist threats. It's offensive no matter how you feel about the French government to wish harm on the French people.

As far as this story, it was reported solely by the Washington Times. Both FoxNews and the source provided by Mr.Mojo simply refer to that piece.

The State Department spokesman had this to say: "the French Government has spoken about this, I believe will speak again, and says it's not true. We have nothing that would lead us to doubt that at this point."

sixate

Agreed! Just what the hell have they been thinking?

homerhop

my grandmother used to tell me stories of when her father fought in WW1 and about the French. One story mostly stuck in my mind.When the war was over the Brits were marching one way and the Germans the other.The local french wouldnt even give them(the Brits) a drink of water, but the Germans shared everything they had, even those who had 2 pairs of boots gave 1 pair to the Brits

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The_Dude

well, it's not illegal to issue passports.

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sixate

Are you sure you're not from France? Sure don't sound like any Texans that I've known.

Easytiger

I have played Devil's Advocate on the side of the French before, just for the sake of debate, but if this story is true I sincerely doubt that I'll bother doing it anymore.
It's amazing that the French are snubbing the people who liberated them (ie the US and UK) and cozying up with the people who have been invading them almost every generation since the 1870's (ie Germany).
There are precedents for French rudeness to Americans and the British, and there were some historical alliances between the Germans and the French (almost half of Napoleon's Grande Armee was German, apparently) but for crying out loud, they spent the better part of the 20th century at each other's throats. What's with the buddy-buddy stuff now?

magic_hat

is everyone seeing this?? wait before you start ripping on the French for something they may not have done. Its time for people to stop being so ethnocentric...

Easytiger

But it's fun...as long as we're not messing with the poor sensitive Americans...
Just kidding.

XenuHubbard

I'm just wondering; Nobody in Europe has forgotten the importance of American assistance when it came to getting rid of Hitler.

How many Americans are remembering that without the support of France, the USA would still be an English colony?

The bashing is getting ridiculous, from both sides.

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Prophecy

*shrugs* its politics...
the french have done some pretty amazing stuff lately, however I'm still gonna wait this one out. I mean if it is true, a lot of stuff is gonna be side on both sides and the media is going to have a hay day....

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