The French Connection?

France's corrupt dealings with Saddam flourished throughout the 1990s, despite the strict arms embargo against Iraq imposed by the United Nations after the Persian Gulf war.
By 2000, France had become Iraq's largest supplier of military and dual-use equipment, according to a senior member of Congress who declined to be identified.
Saddam developed networks for illegal supplies to get around the U.N. arms embargo and achieve a military buildup in the years before U.S. forces launched a second assault on Iraq.
One spare-parts pipeline flowed from a French company to Al Tamoor Trading Co. in the United Arab Emirates. Tamoor then sent the parts by truck through Turkey, and into Iraq. The Iraqis obtained spare parts for their French-made Mirage F-1 jets and Gazelle attack helicopters through this pipeline.
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As of last year, Iraq owed France an estimated $4 billion for arms and infrastructure projects, according to French government estimates. U.S. officials thought this massive debt was one reason France opposed a military operation to oust Saddam.

This doesn't sound like the work of an "ally". More like Chirac was vying for "merchant of death' honors.

In any case, the French actions made them nonbelligerent allies of Iraq in its confrontation with the US and UN. No one disputes that FDR was opposing Hitler when he aided England in the summer and fall of 1940 (destroyers for bases deal, lend-lease, etc.) It is also clear that France is no disaffected ally--- under Chirac she has become an active adversary.

Not to mention the fact that had France not actively subverted the arms embargo, Saddam may have been forced to continue the inspections regime and give up his dreams of being the new Saladin.