>>>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?

I don't know the answer to that, Charles, but here's an example of how things like this get muddy...

A large cigarette manufacturer in the US had to stop shipping to Iraq after 1991 (or whenever... it may have been later). Their subsidiary in FRANCE kinda took over that market. The French employee responsible was feted at US HQ many times over the next many years because his volumes were highest of all. Everyone in the company knew full well where his sales were going.

So was it the French that were reaping profit from Iraq post embago or was it the US?

cheers