>>>And I know you would agree this is all the more reason why we should act responsibly. But it is also the reason why countries like France - whose last little bit of importance in the world comes from its anachronistic permanent seat on the SC - can afford to do business with Saddam, knowing that if he really becomes a threat to the world the US and Israel will protect them, and therefore had lattitude to behave irresponsibly in the matter of Iraq.
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>>You probably haven't heard what French foreign minister had to say about it. Off the top of my head: "Yes, we were Iraq's 7th most important foreign trade partner. But USA was the 1st."
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>Is this supposed to be pre 1991 or since the imposition of sanctions?

AFAIK, it was about the recent few years, up to 2002.