After pushing their massive pipeline project as leader of German, Gerhard Schroeder goes ont he payroll of a state—controlled Russian company. Captains Quarters, picking up from Davidsmedienkritik, has the story. 

Gee, I see a pattern. Chirac has had  close associates on the payroll of Saddam Hussein; the Russians have had their leaders also found to have been on the payroll of Saddam; the Brits have George Galloway; now Germans have their ex—leader joining up with the Russians for a project he pushed as the leader of Germany. Note, many people have a problem with this project because it will lead to the EU being more dependent on the Russians, with consequent adverse effects on their foreign policy.

There have been many who have speculated that Chirac was also on the payroll of Saddam and that one of his reasons to stay in office is because, by virtue of sating in office, he is shielded from prosecution. His party emmebrs tried a fast one in the last year to make the shield applicable to past office—holders, but this stunt was defeated.

Ed Lasky  12 10 05