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| Iraq |
| Iraq to Probe Alleged Saddam Oil Bribes |
| 2004-01-27 |
| Iraq plans to investigate allegations that dozens of officials and businessmen worldwide illegally received oil in exchange for supporting former leader Saddam Hussein, officials said Tuesday. Their statements came after al-Mada, an independent Baghdad newspaper, published a list it said was based on oil ministry documents showing 46 individuals, companies and organizations from inside and outside Iraq who were given millions of barrels of oil. "I think the list is true. I will demand an investigation. These people must be prosecuted," Naseer Chaderji, a Governing Council member, told Reuters. Sounds like fun, I’ll make popcorn. The list includes members of Arab ruling families, religious organizations, politicians and political parties from Egypt, Jordan, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Sudan, China, Austria, France and other countries. Organizations named include the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Communist Party, India’s Congress Party and the Palestinian Liberation Organization. Assem Jihad, an oil ministry spokesman, said thousands of documents which were looted from the State Oil Marketing Organization after Baghdad fell to U.S. forces on April 9 may prove that Saddam used bribery to gain support. Guess they forgot to torch that building. Oil ministry officials say they have stopped selling oil to companies that may have acted as fronts to supporters of the toppled leader. Entifadh Qnbar, a spokesman for the Iraqi National Congress, a secular party headed by former exile Ahmad Chalabi, said even Arab oligarchs from oil producing countries received oil from Saddam. Well, you can never have too much oil. "These people took bribes. Sadly, the Iraqi people paid the price," Anbar said. Despite U.N. sanctions, Iraq was allowed to sell oil from 1996-2003 under an agreement with the United Nations stipulating that proceeds from the oil sales be used to buy food, medicine and basic supplies. That worked well, didn’t it? But bankers say some international companies selling goods to Iraq may have paid commissions to Iraqi officials that were deposited in Arab banks in exchange for winning contracts under the oil for food deal. Which is why they didn’t want the sanctions lifted. Oil traders say Iraq also smuggled oil through southern ports not monitored by the United Nations and through a pipeline running to Syria. Damascus says the pipeline was only operating for testing purposes. Testing how much they could get away with. "Saddam had no problem giving oil to whoever he wanted," said one Iraqi trader who did business with the former government. We noticed. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #8 Yes Chuck, That would 2717-07559. My pass word is "Lucky". First National Bank, Caymen Islands. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-1-28 1:28:56 AM |
| #7 ...thousands of documents which were looted from the State Oil Marketing Organization after Baghdad fell to U.S. forces on April 9... What? But...I thought we had MARINES protecting the Oil Ministry, while the Iraqi National Museum of Worthless Old Babylonian Trash was being looted... |
| Posted by: mojo 2004-1-27 1:43:29 PM |
| #6 will G.Galaway be in this list,i sure hope he will |
| Posted by: Jon Shep U.K 2004-1-27 12:49:14 PM |
| #5 Lucky, I personally have access to 15 million US dollars at an Arab bank. You should send me your bank account info and we'll split it. |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2004-1-27 12:38:18 PM |
| #4 This could be really interesting. "Arab banks," that gives me a chuckle. Who would put money in an Arab bank? (for any length of time) |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-1-27 11:17:00 AM |
| #3 Only Germany seems to be missing from the list List isn't complete, note the phrase "and other countries". I'm sure Germany, and some of our friends, and even some US companies may be on that list. |
| Posted by: Steve 2004-1-27 11:08:28 AM |
| #2 So many shoes dropping that Imelda Marcos must be involved. |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2004-1-27 10:43:26 AM |
| #1 Saddam's version of mutilateralism. Only Germany seems to be missing from the list of the major obstructionist to Operation Iraqi Freedom. |
| Posted by: Gasse Katze 2004-1-27 10:06:53 AM |