I haven't had time to read all of Rondot's testimony, but what I skimmed through is fascinating. (Reads like the Dreyfus Affair minus the anti-semitism, or like a Patrick Modiano novel ;)) Rondot was in fact a special ops counsellor with the Ministry of Defence. He'd worked for Chirac and Villepin on another affair before Clearstream. The idea that the Clearstream file was being driven from high above is at least suggested. And Le Monde says this:
Prise dans leur intégralité, les déclarations du général - prononcées sous serment - mettent aussi en exergue l'importance des "instructions du président de la République", qui seules pouvaient justifier qu'un agent directement subordonné à la ministre de la défense puisse ainsi mener une enquête parallèle Taken overall, the general (Rondot)'s statements -- given under oath -- underline the importance of the "instructions of the President of the Republic", which alone could permit an agent directly under the orders of the Minister of Defence to carry out a parallel investigation in this way...
Taken overall, the general (Rondot)'s statements -- given under oath -- underline the importance of the "instructions of the President of the Republic", which alone could permit an agent directly under the orders of the Minister of Defence to carry out a parallel investigation in this way...
This is now aiming higher than Villepin, imho. Possibly fireworks on the way...
In earlier editions last month, it was reporting Sarkozy's glee at having hard info to bring down at least Villepin, and "Chirac's entourage".
This is certainly not over... In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
Unfortunately, "elsewhere" would probably include Le Pen along with the centre-right and the left...
But the relationship is so noxious that the longer it goes, the likelier they are to both be damaged goods.
Or Villepin is utterly destroyed, Sarkozy is called as PM, and Chirac (plus the job) destroys him there. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
