AP: Aide Says Saddam Tried Last-Minute Deal

[politicat]

Here's the yahoo link: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=736&e=1&u=/ap/20031107/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_s_final_offer

Here's the BBC link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3247461.stm

Here's the lead from the BBC:

A Lebanese-American businessman has said he conveyed a last-ditch Iraqi plea to the US administration to avoid war but the approach was rebuffed.

The offer from Saddam Hussein's regime was turned down about a week before US-led forces invaded Iraq in March, Imad Hage told the BBC.

He said the Iraqi intelligence chief told him in Beirut that Baghdad did not want a confrontation.

The Iraqis also insisted they had no weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

....

This goes on to state that they offered to let the inspectors in, free and fair elections, give the US oil concessions and other "considerations" (Can you read this as "bribes"? I can!) and assistance with the Arab-Israeli peace process....

And it died on the table because S. Hussein wouldn't step down immediately.

If this is true, this is the worst travesty possible.

[dArKeR]

1. Saddam tried to make peace: former official - Taipei Times

Saddam Hussein personally initiated an attempt to reach a last-minute deal with Washington to avoid the US-led invasion that ousted his regime, a former Iraqi government official said.

The official, who spoke to The Associated Press on Friday on condition of anonymity, said Iraqi officials had Saddam's "full consent" when they approached the US with the deal, offering oil contracts for US companies and open access for UN weapons inspectors.

The aide was not part of the national leadership, but his job provided him daily contact with the dictator and insight into the regime's decision-making process during the past decade and its critical final days.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/11/09/2003075153