Posted on 10/15/2004 1:25:20 PM PDT by El Oviedo
"Favored by Saddam Hussein, the Russians received more than 30 percent of the allocations for Iraqi oil under the UN program from 1996 to 2003. The report says all those who participated in the program received vouchers for the oil at discount prices and then turned a profit by selling them at market value. Not pretty, but not necessarily illegal.
Where it gets nasty is in late 2000, when Hussein's regime imposed a 10-cent surcharge on every barrel. The money, from all appearances an illegal kickback, had to be deposited in Hussein-controlled bank accounts or delivered to Iraqi embassies.
According to calculations based on the report, 27 Russian entities paid the Hussein regime $29.4 million and pocketed an estimated $129.8 million for themselves from December 2000 to April 2003."
(Excerpt) Read more at themoscowtimes.com ...
bump
I had to read to the end to figure out why it was published. After all Old Europe buries its dirty laundry and the press does whatever the government tells it to.
But this article appears to be written in a tone that wants to discredit Putin.
I never thought that I would live to see the day that Russia had a more independent press than France or Germany.
One of the greatest facilitators and profiteers of terrorism besides Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein is still at large. His name is Kofi Annan. As the head of the United Nations, his organization of spies and henchmen act as financial middlemen, brokering deals on behalf of despots, dictators, and easily bribed politicians for a piece of the action. The UN plays everyone off everyone else. They are a successful criminal organisation because they tend to operate relatively unencumbered by such trivialities as sovereign borders or customs, they answer to no one, and cloak themselves in the mystique of international humanitarianism to avoid criminal prosecution.
***Is this one of the countries belonging to the Kerry's "global test" coalition to help the recovery of Iraq?***
I have yet to hear Kerry name even ONE country that would be part of his "global test." He doesn't dare name them. I'm waiting impatiently for some Pubbie to ask him WHICH countries, Senator? I don't think Kerry knows of any which Pres. Bush hasn't already enlisted or which would agree to help us. He'd probably have to go back to his statement about "some heads of countries" which he claimed wanted him to become president; and which he said he couldn't name "for obvious reasons." YEAH, SURE.
btt
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