[Mephisto]

Originally posted by Thermodyne:
The Stingers are not all that advanced,...

Go tell the Soviets. They will like to hear how they lost against inferior weapons…

Back then we armed lots of people, but not with frontline aircraft, and not with advanced chemical plants and reactors.

Of course not, the Iranians build their own F-14s I guess.
Thermo, any major power in the world sells weapon to other states and the US does not deserve more bashing for it then other weapon selling nation. But saying the US does not sell high tech weapons to dictators and 3-World-nations is just plain wrong.

Originally posted by Thermodyne:
What we are saying is that the US did not do it for direct profit. Our interests were always strategic.

And you think that's any different for France? Please!

Originally posted by Thermodyne:
What were the interests of France, beyond lining there pockets with Iraqi cash?

I'm not Chirac so I cannot tell you but I can guess: Keeping the only remaining superpower from gaining the oil of the Iraq which could be used to blackmail France, Europe and every industry nation (think Japan) into anything if they want to avoid economic havoc. Limiting the US influcence in the middle east. Arming Iraq to counter Iran, Turkey and Jordan. Gain influence on Saddam to get his oil instead of the US. Just out of my head, there may be many more interests.

Originally posted by Perrin:
France was trying to hide their mistakes by blocking the military action.

Huh? It is public knowledge! France never ever said they did not sell weapons to Iraq. Not even once. Everybody knows it! It's only stupid to deny something everybody knows and the French are really not stupid.