Stardate 20030331.0954

(On Screen): TotalFinaElf, the French oil company, made a couple of major deals with Saddam to develop oil fields in Iraq, which would go into effect only after the UN trade sanctions were lifted (and while Saddam remained in power). These deals were particularly favorable to TotalFinaElf and were potentially worth upwards of €50 billion.

French President Chirac has been the strongest and most unwavering opponent of any war to remove Saddam from power. In the 1990's, France was among the leading voices in the UNSC for lifting the sanctions.

A former executive of TotalFinaElf now reveals that the equivalent of about $5 million had been paid by TotalFinaElf to certain French political parties, including Chirac's.

Hmmm...