Posted on 10/08/2004 2:52:14 PM PDT by Ginifer
The immense scope of an Iraqi effort in the late 1990s to curry political support for ending an international trade embargo is reflected in a list of more than 1,300 oil "vouchers" that then-President Saddam Hussein gave to more than a hundred corporations, foreign officials and political parties stretching from North America to Asia, according to a report issued on Wednesday by the CIA's Iraq Survey Group.
The vouchers, which provided selective rights to buy Iraqi oil at a discount and to resell it for a huge profit, were provided to both mainstream and opposition political parties in countries such as Belarus, Russia, Ukraine and Yugoslavia; to oil companies in Turkey, Japan, Belgium, Italy, Canada and France; to an arms conglomerate in China; and to individuals in Switzerland, Jordan, the Netherlands, Russia, Malaysia and Burma, among others.
Each of the oil sales was approved by the United Nations, which was monitoring Iraqi oil transactions in an effort begun in 1996 -- known as the oil-for-food program -- to ensure that the resulting revenue was used for humanitarian projects. But Iraq saw the program differently, as a key part of a scheme to free itself from the impact of sanctions and, ultimately, to gain political support for their termination, according to the report.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
From the post: "an arms conglomerate in China -"
What exactly is an arms conglomerate - ? Does it mean a weapons buyer - ? If so - China sure knows how to make good use of a bargain -
just a thought -
What's up with the Washington Post actually reporting some news this year? Losing too many subscribers to the Washington Times or what?
If Bush put that group of countries together, John Kerry would call it a "coalition of the bribed and coerced."
I just want to find the one with Chirac's name on it, or some company he or his family controls.
How much did the DNC get?
I've actually noticed the change in the Washington Post going back even futher - my suspicion is that, now that "Federal" D.C. is more of a republican dominated place, the WaPost is following suit and coming out of it's liberal funk.
This article's timing is perfect! The Washington Post is quickly abandoning its long-time friend, the Old Grey Mare.
I just posted today about why it is impossible to win the favor of France, Germany, Russia, China et al in my blog, and why George Bush needs to remind Kerry that we didn't leave these countries, they left us and conspired behind our backs.
I added a link to this article (with freeper credit).
Where's Cheney and Halliburton??
I know- maybe that explains the holdout at the NYT and See-BS ;)
Actually, Kerry would call that bunch his allies.
More likely a manufacturer and/or seller. Something like China North Industries (aka Norinco). In fact that's the most likely candidate without actually seeing the list.
Thanks - and I still think they (China) really know how to make the most - with what they are "given" -
Thanks again -
bump
Gee, that list is very close to this list:
The list of affected local media collectives includes Ambazonia, Uruguay, Andorra, Poland, Western Massachusetts, Nice, Nantes, Lilles, Marseille (all France), Euskal Herria (Basque Country), Liege, East and West Vlaanderen, Antwerpen (all Belgium), Belgrade, Portugal, Prague, Galiza, Italy, Brazil, UK, part of the Germany site, and the global Indymedia Radio site.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1238329/posts
By golly. Amazing coincidence.
The Frogs are really croaking about this release.
This is the Axis of Whining Weasels Funded by the $oddom!
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