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 Editorials | Issues | September 2007 
Report Says Hussein Was Open to Exile Before 2003 Invasion
 Karen DeYoung & Michael Abramowitz - Washington Post
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He is said to have sought $1 billion and information on arms.
Less than a month before the U.S. invasion of Iraq, 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, according to a report of a Feb. 22, 2003, meeting between President Bush and his Spanish counterpart published by a Spanish newspaper yesterday.
The meeting at Bush's Texas ranch was a planning session for a final diplomatic push at the United Nations. The White House was preparing to introduce a tough new Security Council resolution to pressure Hussein, but most council members saw it as a ploy to gain their authorization for war.
Spain's prime minister at the time, Jose Maria Aznar, expressed hope that war might be avoided - or at least supported by a U.N. majority - and Bush said that outcome would be "the best solution for us" and "would also save us $50 billion," referring to the initial U.S. estimate of what the Iraq war would cost. But Bush made it clear in the meeting that he expected to "be in Baghdad at the end of March."
"It's like Chinese water torture," he said of the U.N. negotiations. "We've got to put an end to it."
White House spokesman Gordon D. Johndroe declined to comment on the report in El Pais, which also posted what it said was a leaked transcript of the meeting on its Web site. "We're more focused on the task at hand rather than 2003," Johndroe said. A senior administration official knowledgeable about the meeting said he doubted the $1 billion claim - an offer reportedly transmitted through Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak - but said he could not be sure. He said the general account of the meeting sounded plausible but did not offer details.
A press official at the Spanish Embassy in Washington said no one was available to comment.
The account offered a rare glimpse of how Bush interacted with a trusted foreign leader, offering blunt assessments and showing a determination that led even Aznar, a close ally on Iraq, to ask that Bush show "a little more patience" in the march toward war. Bush expressed anger and irritation at those governments that disagreed with him, warning that they would pay a price. He directed particular scorn toward then-French President Jacques Chirac, one of the most public opponents of invasion, saying Chirac "sees himself as Mr. Arab."
Although Bush's public position at the time of the meeting was that the door remained open for a diplomatic solution, hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops had already been deployed to Iraq's border, and the White House had made its impatience clear. "Time is short," Bush said in a news conference with Aznar the same day.
El Pais, a leading Spanish daily and a critic of the war, said the transcript of the conversation was prepared by Spain's ambassador to the United States, Javier Ruperez, who was at the meeting in Crawford. The newspaper did not say how it obtained the memo.
In the transcript, translated from Spanish by The Washington Post, Bush said that Europeans were insensitive to "the suffering that Saddam Hussein has inflicted on the Iraqis" and added: "Maybe it's because he's dark-skinned, far away and Muslim - a lot of Europeans think he's okay." But Bush was happy to play the "bad cop," he said. "The more the Europeans attack me, the stronger I am in the United States."
Aznar stressed the importance of U.N. authorization, saying "it was not the same" to act without it. Bush agreed to continue trying to persuade Security Council members, saying that "countries like Mexico, Chile, Angola and Cameroon ought to know that the security of the United States is at stake. [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."
"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.
Aznar and the other leading Bush ally on Iraq, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, were under intense antiwar pressure at home. Bush needed to appear serious about diplomacy to "help us with our public opinion," Aznar said.
"I'm not asking for infinite patience," Aznar said, but "simply that you do what's possible to get everyone to agree." He asked Bush to expand on reports that Hussein might be persuaded to go into exile.
"The Egyptians are talking to Saddam Hussein," Bush said. "He seems to have indicated he would be open to exile if they would let him take one billion dollars and all the information he wants on weapons of mass destruction."
Later in the conversation, Aznar returned to the subject. "Is it true there's a possibility Saddam Hussein might go into exile?"
"Yes, it's possible," Bush responded. "It's also possible he could be assassinated." In any case, Bush said, there would be "no guarantee" for Hussein. "He's a thief, a terrorist and a war criminal. Compared to Saddam, [former Yugoslav president Slobodan] Milosevic would be a Mother Teresa."
Bush noted that he had gone to the United Nations "despite differences in my own administration" and said it would be "great" if the proposed resolution was successful.
"The only thing that worries me is your optimism," Aznar said.
"I'm optimistic because I believe I'm right," Bush replied. "I'm at peace with myself."
Bush Warned Aznar That the Americans Would be in Baghdad in March With or Without a UN Resolution
Ernesto Ekaizer - El Pais Spain
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The Spanish President asked for help overcoming opposition in Spanish Public Opinion.
Four weeks before the invasion of Iraq, which began the night of 19th/20th of March, 2003, George W. Bush maintained publicly his demand against Saddam Hussein in the following terms: Disarm or war. But behind closed doors, Bush recognized that the war was inevitable. During a long conversation with then Spanish president Jose Maria Aznar, held Saturday February 22, 2003 at the Crawford, Texas Ranch, Bush made clear that the moment had arrived to remove Saddam. "Two weeks remain. In two weeks, we will be militarily ready. We will be in Baghdad by the end of March," he said to Aznar.
According to this plan, which Bush had already accepted January 31st, 2003 - according to an interview with British Prime Minister Tony Blair - the US would make a final diplomatic maneuver: propose a second resolution in the UN Security Council. The objective: open the door for legal unilateral war that the US was prepared to launch with more than 200,000 soldiers in the region ready to attack.
Bush was conscious of the internal difficulties faced by Blair, and wasn't unfamiliar with those of Aznar. Only seven days before the reunion at the Crawford Ranch, three million people protested in various Spanish cities against the imminent war. "We need you to help us with public opinion," requested Aznar. Bush explained to him the point of the new resolution he was thinking of presenting: "The resolution will be a medium through which we can help you. It will help me to." To that, Aznar responded "To get the people to support the resolution, it would help us if we could be cosponsors and coauthors." Aznar, then, offered to give Bush political cover in Europe, together with Blair. Aznar's dream of cementing a relationship with the United States like that of the United Kingdom was at the point of becoming a reality.
On February 20th, Aznar traveled with his wife, Ana Botella, to the US with a stop in Mexico to persuade (unfruitfully) President Vincente Fox of the necessity to support Bush. On the 21st, the couple, accompanied by Aznar's presidential advisors, arrived in Texas. Aznar and his wife stayed in the Ranch's guest house.
In the meeting the next day, Saturday, President Bush and his then National Security Adviser, Condoleezza Rice participated, together with European Adviser for the National Security Agency, Daniel Fried. Aznar was accompanied by his international relations adviser, Alberto Carnero, and the Spanish Ambassador in Washington, Javier Ruperez. Bush and Aznar also held, as part of their meeting, a four way telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Ambassador Ruperez translated English for Aznar, and Italian for Condoleezza Rice; two other interpreters did work for Bush and his advisors. Ruperez was in charge of transcribing the conversation in a memorandum that has remained secretive until today.
The conversation was marked by its friendly, direct tone until it turned threatening, when, for example, the parties referred to the necessity of countries like Mexico, Chile, Angola, Cameroon and Russia - all members of the UN Security Council - to vote for the new resolution as a friendly showing towards the United States, else they face the consequences.
The memo noted the low expectations of the UN inspectors' work, who's boss, Hans Blix, just one week before, on February 14, had taken apart the arguments presented by the American Secretary of State, Colin Powell, before the Security Council on February 5th, 2003. The "solid data" of Powell's report was firmly supported by the Spanish Exterior minister, Ana Palacio. These facts were later described by Powell himself as a collection of falsifications.
The Blix Report
According to Blix, Iraq was making steps of active cooperation to resolve the terms of the pending disarmament. His tone had been less critical than his January 27th, 2003 report. "Since we arrived in Iraq three months ago, we have completed more than 400 unannounced inspections in 300 locations. Until now, the inspections have not revealed one prohibited weapon ... If Iraq decides to cooperate more closely with the inspections the disarmament period can be brief," signaled the chief inspector.
On the 14th of February, the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed El Baradei, announced that there were still a few technical questions remaining; but, added "there are no more problems of disarmament to resolve." He said they had not found evidence that Iraq was carrying out nuclear testing, or anything related to nuclear energy, exposing another lie that Powell had presented about the Iraqi Nuclear Program.
Just as the fruits of the initial inspections were beginning to pay off, the final preparations for the war were brought to Bush to fix a date for the beginning of military operations on March 10, to which 9 days were added to obtain the second security council resolution. The process of moral persuasion through which Aznar and Palacio had attempted over the phone and through bilateral meetings only gathered four votes: the three sponsors and Bulgaria. Nine were necessary.
The failure to get legal coverage for the imminent war took Bush, together with Blair and Aznar, to a summit meeting on March 16th 2003 on the Azores Islands, a location suggested by Aznar over Bermuda for the reason he explained to Bush: "The name of these islands is associated with a manner of dressing that isn't precisely adequate for the gravity of the moment in which we find ourselves." There, March 16, Bush, Blair and Aznar decided to substitute the judgment of the United Nations Security Council and usurped its functions by declaring and risking war against Iraq on their own account. On the morning of March 17, the British Ambassador before the UN announced in New York the withdrawal of the second resolution. A defeat on the resolution would have further complicated the path of the war.
Translation: Sam Ferguson.
Spanish Notes Reveal Bush Was Hell-Bent on War, Despite Claiming "I've Not Made Up My Mind"
Think Progress
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Today, the Spanish newspaper El Pais published a transcript of a discussion between President Bush and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar in February 2003 in which Bush told Aznar that the U.S. would go to war with Iraq to disarm Saddam Hussein with or without a UN resolution:
"We must take him right now. We have shown an incredible degree of patience until now. There are two weeks left. In two weeks we will be militarily ready."
Though Aznar asked Bush to "have a little patience" and urged, "It is very important to have a [UN] resolution," Bush pushed for war throughout the meeting, telling the Spanish Prime Minister, "We will be in Baghdad by the end of March."
Just a few days later, Bush insisted to the American public that war with Iraq was not a certainty:
BUSH: "I've not made up our mind about military action. Hopefully, this can be done peacefully." [3/6/03]
BUSH: "We are doing everything we can to avoid war in Iraq. But if Saddam Hussein does not disarm peacefully, he will be disarmed by force." [3/8/03]
Prior to going to war, Bush insisted he would get U.N. authorization. He said, "no matter what the whip count is," the U.S. would go to the UN and "call for a vote." But it's clear Bush was never going to let the U.N. get in the way of his quest for war.
To this day, Bush has continued to insist that the "the United States did not choose war - the choice was Saddam Hussein's." In fact, as this conversation with Aznar illustrates, Bush had made his decision long before exhausting all other options.
For the full transcript in Spanish, click HERE.
Scoop for Spanish Daily: Transcript of Private 2003 Bush Talk Promising Iraq Invasion
E&P Staff - Editor and Publisher
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New York - El Pais, the highest-circulation daily in Spain, today published what it said was the transcript of a private talk between President George W. Bush and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar on February 22, 2003, concerning the coming U.S. invasion of Iraq. It took place at the ranch in Crawford, Texas.
The conversation took place on the President's ranch in Crawford, Texas. The confidential transcript was prepared by Spain's ambassador to the United States, Javier Ruperez, the paper said.
Bush purportedly said he planned to invade Iraq inf March "if there was a United Nations Security Council resolution or not....We have to get rid of Saddam. We will be in Baghdad at the end of March."
He said the U.S. takeover would happen without widespread destruction. He observed that he was willing to play bad cop to British Prime Minister Tony Blair's good cop.
Aznar pleaded for patience and replied that it was vital to get a U.N. resolution, noting that public opinion in Spain was strongly against the war.
El Pais, based in Madrid, has a reported circulation of just over 2 million, and is considered on the left. The transcript tops its front page today, but the headline focuses on Aznar's claim that he was trying to change 200 years of politics in Spain.
The paper's Web site also features at the top an interview with Bruce Springsteen, titled, "Lo último del Boss, en exclusiva."
Agence France Presse translates part of the chat with Bush stating: "I am optimistic because I believe I am right. I am at peace with myself."
While awaiting a full translation, here are excerpts from the rough translation provided by Google.
Bush: Saddam Husein will not change and will continue playing. The moment has arrived for undoing of him. It is thus. I, as for me, will from now on try to use the possible subtlest rhetoric, while we looked for the approval of the resolution....Saddam Hussein is not being disarmed. We must take to him right now. We have shown an incredible degree of patience until now. They are left two weeks. In two weeks we will be militarily ready. I believe that we will obtain the second resolution.... We will be in Bagdad at the end of March. A 15% of possibilities that exist then Saddam Hussein is dead or has gone away...
We would like to act with the mandate of the United Nations. If we acted militarily we will do it with high accuracy and focusing much our objectives. We will decimate the loyal troops and the regular army quickly will know which it is.... We are developing a package of humanitarian aid very hard. We can win without destruction. We are raising Iraq already post Sadam, and I believe that there are good bases for a future better. Iraq relatively hard has a good bureaucracy and a civil society. It would be possible to be organized in a federation. Meanwhile we are doing all the possible one to take care of the necessities political of our friends and allies.
Aznar: It is very important to count on a resolution. ... The next Wednesday [16 of February] I see myself with Chirac. The resolution already will have begun to circulate.
Bush: It seems to me very well. Chirac knows the reality perfectly. Their intelligence services have explained it. The Arabs are transmitting him to Chirac a very clear message: Sadam Hussein must go away. The problem is that Chirac is created Mister Arab and in fact the life is making them impossible. But I do not want to have no rivalry with Chirac....
This is as the Chinese torture of the water. We must end it.
Aznar: I agree, but it would be good for counting on the maximum number of possible people. Then a little patience.
Bush: My patience is exhausted. I do not think to go beyond half of March.
[Saddam] is a thief, a terrorist, a criminal military. Compared with Saddam, Milosevic would be a Mother Teresa. When we enter we are going to discover many more crimes and we will take to the Court the International to him of Justice of Is It. Saddam Hussein thinks that already it has escaped. Think that France and Germany have stopped the process of their responsibilities....
Aznar: In fact the greater success would be to gain the game without shooting a single shot and entering Bagdad.
Bush: For me it would be the perfect solution. I do not want the war. I know what they are, the wars. I know the destruction and the death that bring with himself. I am the one that she has to console to the mothers and the widows of deads. By all means, for us that would be the best solution...
Aznar: We needed that you help us with our public opinion....
Bush: When within years History judges us I do not want that people ask themselves so that Bush, or Aznar, or Blair did not face their responsibilities. In the end, which people wants is to enjoy freedom. ..
Aznar: The only thing which it worries to me about you is your optimism.
Bush: I am optimistic because I believe that I am in the certain thing. I am peacefully with me same. |
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