Iraq to Probe Alleged Saddam Oil Bribes

Yahoooooooo via Reuters ^ | 1/27/04

[areafiftyone]

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq (news - web sites) plans to investigate allegations that dozens of officials and businessmen worldwide illegally received oil in exchange for supporting former leader Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), 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.

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.

"Anyone involved in stealing Iraqi wealth will be prosecuted," Jihad said.

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.

"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 (news - web sites) stipulating that proceeds from the oil sales be used to buy food, medicine and basic supplies.

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.

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.

"Saddam had no problem giving oil to whoever he wanted," said one Iraqi trader who did business with the former government.

[areafiftyone]

Please correct the title - it should read IRAQ not RAQ. Sorry, I need more coffee this morning :-(

[rhombus]

Follow the money.

[jpl]

I hope we can start with Jacques Chirac.

[FreeAtlanta]

Oh, oh, Mr. Chirac;

[The G Man]

"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."

Shocking.

[Dog]

You have the list?

[tiamat]

I want to know if any of OUR people are on the list....

Tia

[mewzilla]

Hope they go after the UN's Oil For Food program, too.

[Mannaggia l'America]

Any donations to the Clinton Library????

[boomop1]

First look at Kofi.

[Dog]

This could get very big..... I found this article.

Oil probe

The report alleges that at least 270 people, including politicians and journalists of different nationalities received millions of barrels in oil from former Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein as a reward for their support of his regime and for financing the anti-embargo campaign.

And this...

that prominent personalities including journalists, sons of ministers and heads of states were involved in the deal, and had been given huge amounts of crude oil for free.

[Cap Huff]

I hope it does get big.

[MizSterious]

"...journalists..."

This category interests me. Wonder if any of them are from CNN?

[expatpat]

You are absolutely right. I wonder if Fisk is one of them? And Scott Ritter, of course.

[talleyman]

To Journalists?
I'm shocked and deeply saddam'ed...

[Constantine XIII]

In 20 years, that place is going to be a powerhouse. I just pray that they KEEP their heads screwed on straight!

[lentulusgracchus]

Ohhhhhh, this is going to be soooooo good! Hell, it might even be better than Texas barbecue!!

Payback is soooo sweet!

Heeeere little froggy, froggy, froggy.......

Oh, and we also get an early test of the French president's commitment to the ICC, too. Oh, so good!!

[tiamat]

Okay!

Tia

[crazycat]

Brilliant.

Instead of useing the info itself, the US can get Iraqi's themselves to dish the dirt.

[EvilGate]

Oh oh, M.Rumsfeld :

Shaking Hands:

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein greets Donald Rumsfeld,

then special envoy of President Ronald Reagan, in Baghdad on December 20, 1983.

 

[FreeAtlanta]

Not nearly the same as having your photo taken with Saddam, while inspecting a nuclear reactor that you were instrumental in selling him, or participating in one of his military parades. But, continue on in your irrational la la land, just remember to come up for air once in a while. :-)

[EvilGate]

Just to remember, it's too easy, to handle photography out of their original context.
In 1983, Saddam was a 'sizeable' man and all countries over the world (US too) sought to make deals with a rich country.
Remember, Iraq was the only country of the area to being able against the great Iranian Satan.
Your photographies of our national frog with Saddam, date from the Seventies...