except in the US case, which hasn't yet hit the light of day, the discussions of dividing up Iraq's oil predated 9/11. While they may have been limited to US firms, i'd be willing to suspect that US subsidiaries of BP and Shell may well have been invited.

which then casts further doubt on the motives of the UK meetings.

regarding the expectation of French participation in the regime change, didn't a french firm have the major contract with Saddam Hussein?

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin