http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_836022.html
Saddam offered 'astonishing' deal to US days before war
A Pentagon advisor has revealed Saddam Hussein made a desperate
attempt to forge a deal with the US to prevent war.
Baghdad intelligence officials made a proposal, with Saddam's backing,
which would allow American troops and inspectors into the country to
search for weapons of mass destruction.
The deal also involved a secret meeting in London between a Lebanese
businessman, who had been briefed by the head of the Iraqi
Intelligence Service, and Richard Perle, a top Pentagon adviser.
The deal would involve Baghdad handing over a man accused of
involvement in the 1993 World Trade Centre bombing, and elections
would be held in Iraq, according to the New York Times.
The deal, described by Mr Perle as "a quite astonishing proposal", was
sought as coalition troops were massing on the border with Iraq.
It was apparently a last-ditch attempt to open communications between
the two countries through a clandestine channel, rather than usual
diplomatic means.
Mr Perle met with the businessman, named as Imad Hage, in London in
March, days before war broke out.
But, following years of bluff and deception by the Saddam regime, the
offer was declined.
"I was dubious that this would work but I agreed to talk to people in
Washington," Mr Perle said.
Mr Hage, who has joint Lebanese-American citizenship, said: "They (the
Iraqis) wanted to talk and they offered things they never would have
offered if the build-up hadn't occurred."
A Pentagon spokesman said: "Iraq and Saddam had ample opportunity,
through highly credible sources, over a period of several years, to
take action to avoid war and had the means to use highly credible
channels to do that. Nobody needed to use questionable channels to
convey messages."
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