Posted on 05/17/2005 11:05:40 AM PDT by Brit_Guy
George Galloway has told US senators who accused him of profiting from Iraq oil dealings their allegations were the "mother of all smokescreens". In a combative performance before a senate committee, the British MP accused the US lawmakers of being "cavalier" with justice.
He said: "I am not now nor have I ever been an oil trader and neither has anyone on my behalf."
The senators say he was given credits to buy Iraqi oil by Saddam Hussein.
Mr Galloway, who travelled to Washington in a bid to clear his name, went on the offensive from the beginning of his testimony.
He said he had met Saddam Hussein on two occasions - the same number of times as US defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Sanctions busters?
"The difference is Donald Rumsfeld met him to sell him guns and maps - the better to target those guns. I met him to try to bring about an end to sanctions, suffering and war," he said.
The biggest sanctions busters were American companies "with the connivance" of the US government.
Mr Galloway denied being an apologist for the former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
He said he had been a long-term opponent of Saddam, and had a much better record of opposition to the Iraqi leader than members of the American or British
Earlier this month, Mr Galloway, who was expelled from the Labour Party for his views on Iraq, narrowly beat Labour's Oona King to win the Bethnal Green and Bow constituency, in East London, for the fledgling Respect party.
The United Nations-backed oil for food scheme enabled Saddam Hussein to export oil to pay for essential humanitarian aid to help the Iraqi people cope with UN sanctions imposed in 1991.
The options to buy barrels of Iraqi oil were alleged to have been given as rewards for supporting Saddam Hussein.
The former Iraqi leader sold the vouchers at below market prices to favoured parties, who were able to sell them on at profit.
One of the main allegations raised by the senate sub-committee is that Mr Galloway received oil allocations with the assistance of Fawaz Zureikat.
Mr Zureikat, who was chairman of the Marian Appeal set up by Mr Galloway to help a four year old Iraqi girl with leukaemia, has strongly denied making any arrangements linked to oil sales on behalf of Mr Galloway.
Libel action
Mr Galloway told the senators: "I can assure you Mr Zureikat never gave me a penny from an oil deal, a cake deal, a bread deal or from any other deal.
"He donated money to our campaign which we publicly brandished on all our literature along with all the other donors to the campaign."
On Monday Russian politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky denied the committee's accusations that he accepted millions of dollars in Iraqi oil allocations.
In December, Mr Galloway won £150,000 in libel damages from the Daily Telegraph over its separate claims he had received money from Saddam's regime.
Last month the newspaper won permission to appeal against the ruling to pay the damages, plus £1.2m in costs.
The Senate committee's report also accused Mr Pasqua of receiving oil rights from Iraq, something he has vehemently denied.
and click to see the video. I could say very, very many things about George Gallaway. Most would get me kicked off Free Republic for bad language. One thing I will award him is an award for having a hide thicker than any elephant. I strangley admire his ability to talk with such self assurity without any notes. This video is powerful and will be a real propoganda bonus to anti-war types - particulalry here in Europe. I Think this committee has probably done more damage than good on this issue - he won that round (and anyone who thinks he didn't has more blinkers than me!), which distracts us from the real issues and gives this odious apologist political capitol when he should be an utter irrelevance.
Wow, he throws in that "mother of all" phrase like, like, like, he's close with Saddam or something!
Wow! It almost has the ring of a MONICA denial to it does it not?
I saw some of it and he didn't disappoint, he acted like I thought he would, dodging questions and puffing himself up in the process. Coleman and Levin did let him ramble on and didn't slam him when needed, especially after the Israel crack.
He must have put on a good show in the general election to oust the labor candidate.
Watching with great interest.
FRegards,
Coleman was just being a prosecutor. he wasn't challenging the slanderous statements, boldface lies about America or hysterical claims about the sanctions. But it was still a mistake to call this up to teh stand.
"and click to see the video. I could say very, very many things about George Gallaway. Most would get me kicked off Free Republic for bad language. One thing I will award him is an award for having a hide thicker than any elephant. I strangley admire his ability to talk with such self assurity without any notes. This video is powerful and will be a real propoganda bonus to anti-war types - particulalry here in Europe. I Think this committee has probably done more damage than good on this issue - he won that round (and anyone who thinks he didn't has more blinkers than me!), which distracts us from the real issues and gives this odious apologist political capitol when he should be an utter irrelevance."
I agree, Galloway won round 1, but another FReeper pointed me back to the light by saying something like (note lose quote) "Galloway will be brought down and that is all that counts in the end".
I was sure once Galloway was finshed with his opening, that Coleman would come out of the gate strong, but he didn't. Coleman did a better job than Levin who only seemed to get upset when Galloway kept interupting him. By 6:00pm the MSM following the DUer's will be in full force with his jabs at our country.
I am looking forward to round 2. Someone will hand Galloway his hat, and my world be seem at bit more balanced once that happens.
I'm reading he divorced his first wife..(of 20 years) to marry a Palestinian woman, a doctor.
Not really, he carpetbagged to a district that was majority muslim and racebaited against the labour candidate that was half jewish.
Ok, he's denying all of these accusations - criminals generally do - but I'm assuming there was some prima facie evidence to support the accusations or he wouldn't have been called in to begin with. Does anyone here know what that evidence is? And if there was no evidence, why was he brought in to testify?
To finish my thought, if there is evidence against Galloway, I certainly wouldn't trust the BBC to report it.
I suppose that the "definition" of OIL TRADER would be of some import here. A carefully crafted statement that can later be manipulated as to its "true" meaning is a most useful tool. Always remember that the Devil himself has no greater power than deception.
Heard him on the radio this morning. He is an obnoxious twit who badly needs to have his face readjusted.
Georgie Porgie met with Saddam to end sanctions but ends up receiving credits to buy Iraqi oil. Something's wrong with this picture.
Why did the Senate give this A$$#OL3 a stage to run down the American people? I can't believe they allowed him to come to the US Senate and call Senator Coleman the hero of the neo-cons for being a liar. He should be barred for the US for his views, not invited to call the American people names on our land.
Somebody remind me who is running the Senate...
Holtz
JeffersonRepublic.com
"Why did the Senate give this A$$#OL3 a stage to run down the American people? I can't believe they allowed him to come to the US Senate and call Senator Coleman the hero of the neo-cons for being a liar. He should be barred for the US for his views, not invited to call the American people names on our land.
Somebody remind me who is running the Senate... "
I was pointed to the DU. They love the Galloway. I never go over there unless a FReeper brings them to my attention, but after reading what they think I am sickended! They are happy, and laughing at their own countries expense! As a matter of fact, I don't think they would be any happier if Kerry had won the election.
I'm sure we took him to a nice lunch, and picked up the check after he spit on us.
GRR!!!!
They should have tranqed his A** right then and there.
I'm no George Galloway fan (understatement!) but it was a dumb move to let him testify and always likely that he would produce some headline-grabbing soundbites.
The one about having met Saddam Hussein the same number of times as Donald Rumsfeld ("the only difference is Rumsfeld was trying to sell him guns"), you have to admit is quality!
I disagree. The more you let these socialist crooks spew their venom and nonsense the worse they look. See Howard Dean as an example.
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