Search for Iraqis focuses on Europe
May 7, 2003
By Bill Gertz THE WASHINGTON TIMES
U.S. intelligence agencies are intensifying the search in Europe for officials of Saddam Hussein's government who fled Iraq with the help of French passports, U.S. officials said yesterday.
Defense and intelligence officials said they have been frustrated by the failure to capture senior Iraqi leaders since the fall of Baghdad on April 9.
Officials said they do not know yet whether the failure to capture high-ranking Iraqis is linked to the issuance of the French passports.
Asked if that was a hint, the officials nodded vigorously and said "We're not saying it's France's fault we can't find Saddam, or the WMD, or the lost billion dollars, or our own butts.  We're just saying."
In other news, some officials are now speculating that France may have bribed some Republican lawmakers to oppose President Bush's proposed tax cut, but declined to speculate on whether the failure to pass the tax cut is linked to the French bribes.
Also, other officials said that France had probably developed the SARS virus, but said they do not know yet if its spread to North America is linked to its creation by France.
Finally, William Bennet claimed that France had rigged the slot machine payouts in Las Vegas, although he said at this time he did not know if his bonehead loss of $8 Million was linked to French interference.
On Friday, President Bush is expected to blame France for his high golf score, male pattern baldness, and Mondays.