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Report: Saddam Was Willing to Accept Exile Before Invasion (!!)

Diane mentioned in a blog post yesterday that the Spanish newspaper El Pais claims to have a transcript of a pre-war meeting between George W. Bush and then-Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar. The transcript, El Pais says, shows Bush was determined to invade Iraq regardless of what happened at the U.N. and in the international diplomatic community.

According to a fuller treatment in the Washington Post today, Bush said a lot more than that.

First of all, Bush was apparently uninterested in a report out of Egypt that Saddam Hussein would accept exile rather than see Iraq invaded. "Saddam Hussein signaled that he was willing to go into exile as long as he could take with him $1 billion and information on weapons of mass destruction," says the Post. Bush was not impressed. No indications are given that the administration discussed the possibility.

Also, Bush had nothing but disregard and disgust for foreign leaders that opposed the invasion. Then-French President Jacques Chirac "sees himself as Mr. Arab," said Bush. Others could be, and should be, strongarmed into support. Then-Chilean President Ricardo Lagos "ought to know that the Free Trade Agreement with Chile is waiting for Senate confirmation and that a negative attitude on this could endanger ratification," Bush warned. "Angola is getting money from the Millennium Account, and those agreements could also be in danger if they don't show themselves to be favorable. And [Russian President Vladimir] Putin ought to know that his attitude is endangering relations" with Washington. Bush does not come off as a man who seeks war as a "last resort," as he said publicly so many times before the invasion.

El Pais is a leading Spanish newspaper. It opposed the war. There has been no independent verification that the transcript, which was allegedly prepared by Spain's ambassador to the United States, is legit. According to the Post, El Pais will not reveal how it obtained the transcript.

Comments

Are you wondering why no one is responding?
Cause youre site is hacked..........:(

Posted by: RTMAN on 09/27/07 at 7:32 PM

The same Spanish government that ran like cowards so they wouldn't be attacked again?

Clinton bombed tens of thousands of civilians in his Bosnian Campaign, used Haliburton in a no-bid contract and because "he didn't inhale" you Bush-haters will do and say anything.

Now, a TRUE journalist would have posted the disclaimer at the END of this story up front.

But, it wasn't about JOURNALISM was it?

It was about agenda-driven Bush hating.

There 's a part of me that hopes Clinton goes back to the White House.

Maybe one more gutting of our military and another round of burying our heads in the sands of appeasement might just open some eyes.

"I did not have sex with that weapon of mass destruction that got sent to Syria that I knew about but did nothing. I mean we could have got Osama at any time, but we didn't have anyone who could take him. If there's one thing I regret; it's not getting Osama."

Keep brainwashing the young ones.

The terrorists will cut your head off too. Maybe you should move to Spain.

No President is all bad. I think Clinton was actually a decent president.

Can't you Bush haters get over whatever it is that makes you so psychotic? Lay off the weed.

Posted by: Alan on 09/28/07 at 6:11 AM

The Spanish Govt. has not denied the account. If it was false, they would have said so. Alan, you are right about Clinton. His actions in Serbia are dispicable and against international law and the UN and he is a war criminal along with Sharon of that Zionist entity for his actions in Lebanon.

Posted by: Sheri on 09/28/07 at 4:18 PM