Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Document: Saddam Supporters Received Lucrative Oil Contracts
ABC News ^ | 1-29-2004 | Brian Ross

Posted on 01/30/2004 5:11:45 AM PST by Stars N Stripes

Jan. 29— ABCNEWS has obtained an extraordinary list that contains the names of prominent people around the world who supported Saddam Hussein's regime and were given oil contracts as a result.

All of the contracts were awarded from late 1997 until the U.S.-led war in March 2003. They were conducted under the aegis of the United Nations' oil-for-food program, which was designed to allow Iraq to sell oil in exchange for humanitarian goods. The document was discovered several weeks ago in the files of the Iraqi Oil Ministry in Baghdad.

According to a copy obtained by ABCNEWS, some 270 prominent individuals, political parties or corporations in 47 countries were on a list of those given Iraq oil contracts instantly worth millions of dollars.

Today, the U.S.Treasury Department said that any American citizens found to be illegally involved could face prosecution.

"You are looking at a political slush fund that was buying political support for the regime of Saddam Hussein for the last six or seven years," said financial investigator John Fawcett.

Investigators say none of the people involved would have actually taken possession of oil, but rather just the right to buy the oil at a discounted price, which could be resold to a legitimate broker or oil company, at an average profit of about 50 cents a barrel.

List Includes Prominent Names

Among those named: Indonesia President Megawati Sukarnoputri, an outspoken opponent of U.S.-Iraq policy, who received a contract for 10 million barrels of oil — about a $5 million profit.

The son of the Syrian defense minister received 6 million barrels, according to the document, worth about $3 million.

George Galloway, a British member of Parliament, was also on the list to receive 19 million barrels of oil, a $90.5 million profit. A vocal critic of the Iraq war, Galloway denied any involvement to ABCNEWS earlier this year.

"I've never seen a bottle of oil, owned one or bought one," Galloway said in a previous interview with ABCNEWS.

According to the document, France was the second-largest beneficiary, with tens of millions of barrels awarded to Patrick Maugein, a close political associate and financial backer of French President Jacques Chirac.

Maugein, individually and through companies connected to him, received contracts for some 36 million barrels. Chirac's office said it was unaware of Maugein's deals, which Maugein told ABCNEWS are perfectly legal.

The single biggest set of contracts were given to the Russian government and Russian political figures, more than 1.3 billion barrels in all — including 92 million barrels to individual officials in the office of President Vladimir Putin.

Another 1 million barrels were contracted to the Russian ambassador to Baghdad, 137 million barrels of oil were given to the Russian Communist Party, and 5 million barrels were contracted to the Russian Orthodox Church.

Also on the list are the names of prominent journalists, two Iraqi-Americans, and a French priest who organized a meeting between the pope and Tariq Aziz, Saddam's deputy prime minister.

The following are the names of some of those who, according to the document, received Iraqi oil contracts (amounts are in millions of barrels of oil):

Russia The Companies of the Russian Communist Party: 137 million The Companies of the Liberal Democratic Party: 79.8 million The Russian Committee for Solidarity with Iraq: 6.5 million and 12.5 million (2 separate contracts) Head of the Russian Presidential Cabinet: 90 million The Russian Orthodox Church: 5 million

France Charles Pasqua, former minister of interior: 12 million Trafigura (Patrick Maugein), businessman: 25 million Ibex: 47.2 million Bernard Merimee, former French ambassador to the United Nations: 3 million Michel Grimard, founder of the French-Iraqi Export Club: 17.1 million

Syria Firas Mostafa Tlass, son of Syria's defense minister: 6 million

Turkey Zeynel Abidin Erdem: more than 27 million Lotfy Doghan: more than 11 million

Indonesia Megawati Sukarnoputri: 11 million

Spain Ali Ballout, Lebanese journalist: 8.8 million

Yugoslavia The Socialist Party: 22 million Kostunica's Party: 6 million

Canada Arthur Millholland, president and CEO of Oilexco: 9.5 million

Italy Father Benjamin, a French Catholic priest who arranged a meeting between the pope and Tariq Aziz: 4.5 million Roberto Frimigoni: 24.5 million

United States Samir Vincent: 7 million Shakir Alkhalaji: 10.5 million

United Kingdom George Galloway, member of Parliament: 19 million Mujaheddin Khalq: 36.5 million

South Africa Tokyo Saxwale: 4 million

Jordan Shaker bin Zaid: 6.5 million The Jordanian Ministry of Energy: 5 million Fawaz Zureikat: 6 million Toujan Al Faisal, former member of Parliament: 3 million

Lebanon The son of President Lahoud: 5.5 million

Egypt Khaled Abdel Nasser: 16.5 million Emad Al Galda, businessman and Parliament member: 14 million

Palestinian Territories The Palestinian Liberation Organization: 4 million Abu Al Abbas: 11.5 million

Qatar Hamad bin Ali Al Thany: 14 million

Libya Prime Minister Shukri Ghanem: 1 million

Chad Foreign minister of Chad: 3 million

Brazil The October 8th Movement: 4.5 million

Myanmar (Burma) The minister of the Forests of Myanmar: 5 million

Ukraine The Social Democratic Party: 8.5 million The Communist Party: 6 million The Socialist Party: 2 million The FTD oil company: 2 million


TOPICS: War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bloodforoil; bribery; iraqioil; oilforfood; saddam
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-45 next last
Did a search and only found some stories from June of last year about similar documents that were deemed to be forgeries. These appear to be new. Anyone else heard about these?
1 posted on 01/30/2004 5:11:47 AM PST by Stars N Stripes
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Stars N Stripes
"I've never seen a bottle of oil, owned one or bought one," Galloway said in a previous interview with ABCNEWS.

Never owned a car then I guess. Wow...these people ARE dumber than posts.

2 posted on 01/30/2004 5:15:35 AM PST by AntiKev (I've learned to stop worrying and love the bomb. Why can't THEY?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Stars N Stripes
I can't imagine but that Saddam is spilling a lot of information.
3 posted on 01/30/2004 5:15:42 AM PST by Meldrim
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Stars N Stripes
Also on the list are the names of prominent journalists, two Iraqi-Americans

I didn't see these names listed.
4 posted on 01/30/2004 5:16:45 AM PST by demkicker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Stars N Stripes
is this oil for blood?
and where oh where is Dick Cheney and Halibutron?

you know this isn't going to get the media play it deserves...
5 posted on 01/30/2004 5:16:46 AM PST by camle (keep your mind open and somebody will fill it with something for you))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Stars N Stripes
Yes,I believe Memri had this ..but not a major news source.It is astonishing how the favors were spread around for support.
6 posted on 01/30/2004 5:17:30 AM PST by MEG33 (America will never seek a permission slip to provide for the security of our country)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Stars N Stripes
I've never seen a bottle of oil, owned one or bought one," Galloway said

...and we believe you. I'm sure none of the other 270 alleged recipients saw any oil either.

Another evil attempt of the "Bush cabal" to smear innocent folks that wouldn't go along with his Blood for Oil plan ;-)

7 posted on 01/30/2004 5:18:04 AM PST by evad (Even with hindsight, liberals get it wrong.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Stars N Stripes
Yeah, it's been posted here a couple of times over the last couple of days. Who cares though? Its still fun!

Interesting to note that pretty much the entire world socialist movement is on the payroll. Hopefully volume II yields us Terry McAullife, the NAACP, NARAL, and the ACLU.

8 posted on 01/30/2004 5:18:46 AM PST by The G Man (Wesley Clark is just Howard Dean in combat boots)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Stars N Stripes
Rush reported this yesterday. his source was a new Iraqi press outlet, but I don't remember the name of the source (it was Arabic sounding, so I wouldn't have a clue how to spell it if I did remember it). Perhaps this info is at Rush's website.

In light of these documents, anyone who thought France and Russia's opposition to the war was ideological is a fool. They just didn't want to be discovered dipping their hands into the cookie jar.

If found to be legitimate, these documents are further proof that the U.N. consists of a bunch of corrupt countries gaming the system and covering up for one another.
9 posted on 01/30/2004 5:20:47 AM PST by randita
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: evad; Stars and Stripes
I've never seen a bottle of oil, owned one or bought one," Galloway said

Investigators say none of the people involved would have actually taken possession of oil, but rather just the right to buy the oil at a discounted price, which could be resold to a legitimate broker or oil company, at an average profit of about 50 cents a barrel.

Galloway must think people are REALLY stupid . . .

10 posted on 01/30/2004 5:22:00 AM PST by AnAmericanMother (. . . sed, ut scis, quis homines huiusmodi intellegere potest?. . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Stars N Stripes
Liberals scream "War for oil!" but where are their screams, "Oil for NO WAR!"
11 posted on 01/30/2004 5:22:11 AM PST by Boxsford
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: The G Man
Ok, thanks. I guess my searching skills need a little polishing.
12 posted on 01/30/2004 5:22:47 AM PST by Stars N Stripes (My baloney has a first name, it's h o m e r, my baloney has a second name it's h o m e r .......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Stars N Stripes
I've been waiting for this to come out. I am BLOWN AWAY that it is ABC reporting it!
13 posted on 01/30/2004 5:23:31 AM PST by SW6906
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: The G Man
Here's the original post:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1067968/posts

Consider this a BTTT :)

14 posted on 01/30/2004 5:24:49 AM PST by Stars N Stripes (My baloney has a first name, it's h o m e r, my baloney has a second name it's h o m e r .......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Stars N Stripes
Bump!
15 posted on 01/30/2004 5:28:27 AM PST by MonroeDNA (Soros is the enemy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: demkicker
United States: Samir Vincent: 7 million, Shakir Alkhalaji: 10.5 million
16 posted on 01/30/2004 5:31:25 AM PST by theDentist (Boston: So much Liberty, you can buy a Politician already owned by someone else.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: demkicker
"Also on the list are the names of prominent journalists, two Iraqi-Americans

I didn't see these names listed."

I think that the journalists and the two Americans are different people. Americans appear about half way through the list. The only journalist I noticed that was labeled that way is a Lebanese guy listed under Spain near the top.
17 posted on 01/30/2004 5:37:59 AM PST by green iguana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: William McKinley
Could you post the ties to "D" that were posted in previous article.
18 posted on 01/30/2004 5:38:12 AM PST by hoosiermama (prayers for all)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Stars N Stripes
This has been discussed, but I double checked your source..ABC News.

Interesting.
19 posted on 01/30/2004 5:41:53 AM PST by cyncooper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dog
Ping

ABC News picks up The List. I can't recall who all was on that thread the other night, if you want to alert others to ABC picking up the ball on this story.
20 posted on 01/30/2004 5:42:48 AM PST by cyncooper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-45 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson