Paris
French diplomats in Syria gave fleeing Iraqi officials French passports so they could disappear into the European Union, unnamed U.S. intelligence officials told The Washington Times. “It’s like Raoul Wallenberg in reverse,” said one Bush administration official, referring to the Swedish diplomat who supplied travel documents to help Jews escape the Nazis. “Now you have the French helping the bad guys escape from us.” France has close diplomatic ties to Syria, one of its former colonies. But it adamantly denied issuing passports to Iraqis. “It is certainly time for rumors of this type—totally unfounded and a dishonor to those who spread them—to stop,” French Embassy spokeswoman Nathalie Loiseau said.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.