Saddam's Useful Idiots

Wall Street Journal Opinion ^ | March 15, 2004 | ROBERT L. POLLOCK

[Cincinatus' Wife]

A year ago John Kerry described the nations that would liberate Iraq as a "coalition of the bribed, the coerced, the bought and the extorted." It turns out that may be a better description of his own antiwar camp. From Jacques Chirac's and Vladimir Putin's political cronies to Tony Blair's own Labour Party, many of the most vocal opponents of enforcing U.N. resolutions turn out to have been on the take.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

UN caves in on inquiry into its Iraq oil-for-food 'scandal'

[goldstategop]

We don't have a paper trail from Saddam to John F. Kerry.

[crazycat]

Looks like the WSJ is being fed lots of interesting info from someone. There must be tons of this stuff out there, as Saddam seems to have documented every thing very neatly.

A constant drip feed in the run up to November, should have all sorts of people running scared.

[Paul C. Jesup]

We don't have a paper trail from Saddam to John F. Kerry.

Who needs a paper trial, we have Saddam, all we got to do it ask him.

[Paul C. Jesup]

We don't have a paper trail from Saddam to John F. Kerry.

Who needs a paper trial, we have Saddam, all we got to do is ask him.

[WhiteyAppleseed]

In late January the al Mada newspaper in Baghdad published his name on a list of 270 individuals, companies, churches and political parties that Iraqi Oil Ministry documents allege benefited from Saddam's largesse. The Iraqi Governing Council has hired a team of professional auditors to investigate; some of the alleged beneficiaries have already confessed.

Considering that they confessed does that mean that they are in jail? Did they waive their Miranda rights? That's a long list, 270 in number. Where's the list? Are all on the list idiots or just the ones mentioned?

It should be reiterated that there is no hard evidence of any wrongdoing on Mr. al-Khafaji's part.

But what did the beneficiaries confess to, then?

If there's no fire with all this smoke, as everyone involved maintains, then surely they will welcome the scrutiny it deserves. The U.S. Treasury says it is aware of the Iraqi Oil Ministry documents, and is looking into the matter.

And we should be provided with an accounting of their findings.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Rep. Jim McDermott

Former House Minority Whip David Bonior

Rep. John Conyers

__________________________________

Cynthia McKinney : * Accepted money from several individuals under investigation for links to Middle Eastern terrorist groups;

* Written a letter to Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, apologizing for then-Mayor Giuliani's decision to reject the prince's $10 million donation to a post-9/11 relief fund. (Giuliani ripped the check up after the prince suggested that America stop supporting Israel; bin Talal later donated millions to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers.) McKinney's own senior senator, Zell Miller, rightly called the letter "disgraceful." Source

[samtheman]

The Iraqi Governing Council has hired a team of professional auditors to investigate; some of the alleged beneficiaries have already confessed.

Sounds like the new Iraqi government has inquiring minds. They want to know.

[sauropod]

read later

[MEG33]

Why I don't trust the UN.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Sounds like the new Iraqi government has inquiring minds. They want to know.

Bump!

[Bubba_Leroy]

In late January the al Mada newspaper in Baghdad published his name on a list of 270 individuals, companies, churches and political parties that Iraqi Oil Ministry documents allege benefited from Saddam's largesse.

Does anyone know where a copy of this list is posted?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Ex-minister denies Iraq oil claim


Former French Interior Minister Charles Pasqua has denied claims that he received gifts from Saddam Hussein in return for supporting his regime.
Mr Pasqua rubbished recent reports in Iraqi newspaper al-Mada, saying he had "never received anything from Saddam Hussein, neither petrol nor money".

The paper printed a list of foreigners who, it says, received oil coupons for backing an end to sanctions.

Mr Pasqua denies claims he was given 12 million barrels of crude oil.

He told French television: "I have never received any gifts from the Iraqi government and I am not in the habit of making my decisions on the basis of any remuneration I might receive.

"That is not part of my ethics or my conception of things."

Mr Pasqua denied knowing that any such transactions were taking place in the 1990s but he said it did not surprise him.

"Former Interior Minister Charles Pasqua is not involved, but maybe other former ministers are involved," he said.

Mr Pasqua told Le Monde newspaper that he was not and had never been a friend of Saddam Hussein.

He said the neo-Gaullist RPR party he was part of at the time of the first Gulf War in 1991 pushed for action against the Iraqi regime.

There are at least 11 French names on the list of more than 270 foreigners published by al-Mada.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3435319.stm

[Cincinatus' Wife]

***The list, compiled in Arabic from documents uncovered in Iraq's oil ministry, included many of Saddam's nearest and dearest from some 50 countries, including the PLO, pro-Saddam British MP George Galloway, and French politician Charles Pasqua. (Messrs. Galloway and Pasqua have denied receiving anything from Saddam.) According to the list, first published by the Iraqi daily Al Mada in January, Mr. Sevan was another beneficiary, via a company in Panama known as Africa Middle East Petroleum, Co. Ltd. (AMEP), about which we have learned quite a bit.*** Source

[Cincinatus' Wife]

The Saddam Oil Bribes: the complete al-Mada list

[Cincinatus' Wife]

From LINK in post #15

The total quantities of crude oil allocated for (middle companies!) in the Memorandum of Understanding:

Syria:

1. Awad Ammurah/more than 18 million barrels.

2. Bashar Nuri/more than 12 million barrels.

3. Ghassan shallah/11 million barrels.

4. Muhammad Ammar Nufal/3.5 million barrels.

5. Tamam Shihab/1 million barrels.

6. Hamidah Na'na/more than 9 million barrels.

7. Firas Mustafa Talas/6 million barrels.

8. Salim al-Tun/3.5 million barrels.

9. Lutfi Fawzi/2.5 million barrels.

10. Lead Contracting /3.5 million barrels.

11. Ghassan Zakariya/6 million barrels.

12. Muhammad Ma'mun al-Sab'i/4 million barrels.

13. Hasan al-Kayyal/2 million barrels.

14. Anwar al-Aqqad/2 million barrels.

Amman:

1. Al-Shanfari Group/5 million barrels.

Cyprus:

1. Muhammad al-Huni/more than 17 million barrels.

2. Nafta Petroleum/13.2 million barrels.

3. Continental/a million barrels.

Turkey:

1. Zayn-al-Abidiin Irdim/more than 27 million barrels.

2. Lutfi Dughan/more than 11 million barrels.

3. Muhammad Aslan/13 million barrels.

4. Takfun/15.5 million barrels.

5. KCK Company/1 million [not further specified].

6. Delta Petroleum/1 million.

7. Cita/1 million.

8. Ozia/1 million.

9. Samir/1 million.

10. Muhtashim/1 million.

11. Muqdir Sarjin/1 million.

Vietnam:

1. Vienapco/1.2 million.

2. Drilling Med/1 million.

3. Vinafood/1 million.

4. OSC/one ton.

Sudan:

1. Sumaso/1 million.

2. Petroleum Products Company/one ton.

3. Oil Plus/two tons.

Yemen:

1. Abd-al-Karim al-Iryani/1 million.

2. Tawfiq Abd-al-Rahim/1.5 million.

3. Shahir Abd-al-Haqq/more than 1 million.

India:

1. Biham Sing/1 million.

2. The Indian Congress Party/1 million.

Pakistan:

1. Oil and Gas Grop/one ton.

2. Abu-Abd-al-Rahman/one ton.

3. Al-Sayyid Azzaz/one ton.

Malaysia:

1. Fayiq Ahmad Sharif/1 million.

2. Bitmal Company/1 million.

3. Tridebeer/1 million.

4. Mastik/Fayiq Ahmad Sharif/1 million.

5. Hawala/1 million.

Indonesia:

1. President Sukarno's daughter/1 million.

2. Jawa Atlantic/1 million.

3. Makram Hakim/1 million.

4. Megawati/1 million.

5. Muhammad Amin Rayyis/1 million.

6. Natuna Oil/2 millions.

United Arab Emirates:

1. Fal Petroleum/1 million.

2. Ahmad Mani Sa'id al-Utaybah/1 million.

3. G One Oil/1 million.

4. Sultan Bin-Zayid Al Nuhayyan/1 million.

5. Al-Huday/1 million.

6. Millennium/one ton.

7. Pony Fuel/one ton.

Morocco:

1. Abdallah al-Salawi/1 million.

2. Nadil al-Hashimi/5.7 million.

3. Muhammad al-Basri/4.5 million.

Algeria:

1. Abd-al-Majid al-Attar/1 million.

2. Abd-al-Qadir Bin-Musa/1 million.

Tunisia:

1. Midex Petroleum/1 million.

2. Firnaco/1 million.

3. Maydur/1 million.

Italy:

1. Roberto Frimigoni/1 million.

2. Salvatore Nicotra/1 million.

3. Filluni/1 million.

4. Father Benjamin/1 million.

5. West Petrol/one ton.

6. Hatarlak/one ton.

7. ABC/one ton.

8. Italian Oil Society/1 million.

Spain:

1. Basim Qaqish/1 million.

2. Javier Robert/1 million.

3. Ali Ballut/1 million.

Yugoslavia:

1. The Socialist Party/1 million.

2. The Leftist Party/9.5 million.

3. The Italian Party/1 million.

4. Kostonica's party/1 million.

Belarus:

1. The Liberal Party/1 million.

2. The Belarus Communist Party/one ton.

3. Pilminal Company/1.2 million.

4. Bellfarm Company/1 million.

5. The Chief of the Presidential Office/1 million.

6. Lada Company/1 million.

Romania:

1. Yelf Adirlink/1 million.

2. The Romanian Labor Party/5.5 million.

Britain:

1. George Galloway/Fawwaz Zurayqat/1 million.

2. Mojahedi-e Khalq/1 million.

Canada:

1. Arther Millholland/1 million.

United States:

1. Shakir al-Khafaji/1 million.

2. Samir Vincent/10.5 million.

Chad:

1. Chad's Foreign Minister/1 million.

Thailand:

1. Thai rice merchant Jayborn/1 million.

Panama:

1. Mr Sifan.1 million.

Hungary:

1. Hungarian Interest Party/4.7 million.

South Africa:

1. Infiom Management (Sandy Majali)/9 million.

2. Tokyo Saxwell/4 million.

3. Montica/4 million.

4. Omni Adell/4 million.

Philippines:

1. Philippines Producers' Group/3 million.

Netherlands:

1. Sai Bolt/3 million.

France:

1. Adax/3.8 million.

2. Travocora/Patrick Mugan/25 million.

3. Michel Grima/17.1 million.

4. The Arab-French Friendship Society/15.1 million.

5. Ayks/47.2 million.

6. Charles Pascua/12 million.

7. Elias al-Grizli/14.6 million.

8. I Lutici (Claude Kaspert)/4 million.

9. Bernard Mirami/3 million.

10. Bernard Mirami/8 million.

11. Di Suza/11 million.

China:

1. Mr Wan/39.1 million.

2. Noresco/17.5 million.

3. Zink Ronk/13 million.

4. Byorg/13.5 million.

5. South Holken/1 million.

Jordan:

1. Layth Shubaylat/15.5 million.

2. Fakhri Qa'war/6 million.

3. Grand Resources/2 million.

4. Al-Rashid International (Ahmad al-Bashir)/9 million.

5. Fawwaz Zurayqat/6 million.

6. Salim al-Nu'as/3 million.

7. Ziyad al-Raghib/7 million.

8. Mashhur Hudaythah/4 million.

9. Shakir Bin-Zayd/6.5 million.

10. Muhammad Salih al-Hurani/4 million.

11. Tujan Faysal/3 million.

12. Jordanian Ministry of Energy/5 million.

13. Ziyad Yaghmur/2 million.

14. Wamid Husayn/1 million.

Palestine:

1. Abu-al-Abbas/1 million.

2. Abdallah al-Hurani/8 million.

3. Wafa Tawfiq Sayigh/3.5 million.

4. The PLO/4 million.

5. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine/5 million.

6. The PLO (Political Department)/5 million.

Egypt:

1. Incom Company (Muhammad Shitat)/14 million.

2. Abd-al-Azim Manaf/6 million.

3. Khalid Jamal Abd-al-Nasir/18.5 million.

4. Imad al-Jildah/14 million.

5. Muhammad Salah/7 million.

6. Muhammad Hilmi/4.5 million.

7. The United Arab Company/6 million.

8. The Nile and the Euphrates Company/3 million.

9. Mahmud Majdi al-Ma'sarawi/7 million.

10. Ilhami Bashandi Corporation/2 million.

11. Al-Multaqa International Corporation/2 million.

Lebanon:

1. B. B. Energy/2 million.

2. Fadi International/2 million.

3. Haytham Saydani/2 million.

4. Planet Petroleum/1 million.

5. George Trakhainan/7 million.

6. Son of President Lahhud/4.5 million.

7. Ali Tu'mah/1 million.

8. Al-Hilal Company (Adnan al-Janabi)/1 million.

9. The International Company for Trade and Investment/3 million.

10. Faysal Darniqah/3 million.

11. Vim Oil Company/1 million.

12. Najah Wakim/3 million.

13. Usamah Ma'ruf/3 million.

14. Zuhayr al-Khatib/3.5 million.

Bahrain:

1. Kazim al-Darazi Corporation/2 million.

2. Ali al-Musallam Corporation/3 million.

3. Concrete Contracting Corporation/2 million.

Saudi Arabia:

1. Naja Company/3 million.

2. Asis Company/2 million.

Qatar:

1. Hamad Bin-Ali Al Thani/14 million.

2. Al-Dulaymi Group/4 million.

3. Gulf Petroleum/2 million.

4. Petrolina Oil/2 million.

5. Oil Wells Maintenance/2 million.

Libya:

1. Shukri Ghanim/1 million.

Brazil:

1. Fu'ad Sarhan/10 million.

2. The 8 October Movement (Shavez) 4.5 million.

Ireland:

1. Riyadh al-Tahir/11 million.

2. Afro Eastern/2 million.

Nigeria:

1. Haison/7.2 million.

2. Zaz Company/1 million.

3. A. A. G. Company (Nigerian Ambassador)/1 million.

4. Ccampac/1 million.

Kenya:

1. Muhammad Uthman Sa'id/1 million.

Bulgaria:

1. The Bulgarian Socialist Company/12 million.

2. Arak Paul/2 million.

Austria:

1. Hans Kogler/1 million.

2. The Arab-Austrian Society/1 million.

Switzerland:

1. Media/1 million.

2. Delta Service/2 million.

3. Iblom/1 million.

4. Sibol/1 million.

5. Klinco/12 million.

6. Lakia/2 million.

7. Alkon/1 million.

8. Taurus/1 million.

9. Petrogas/1 million.

10. Finar/1 million.

11. Napex Company/1 million.

Myanmar:

1. Myanmar Forests Minister/1 million.

Slovakia:

1. The Slovak Communist Party/1 million.

Ukraine:

1. The Social Democratic Party/1 million.

2. The Ukraine Communist Party6 million.

3. Energy resources/1 million.

4. Vazmash Impex/1 million.

5. Naftu Gas/8 million.

6. Hio (Sokolov) Compnay/1 million.

7. Orchatski/1 million.

8. Federalte Torkofi/1 million.

9. Trans Isako/1 million.

10. The Ukrainian House/1 million.

11. F. T. D./1 million.

12. The Ukrainian Socialist Party/1 million.

Russia: The documents indicate that Russia has been granted 1.36 billion barrels, which is a hint that this "grant" was given to the Russian State. The paragraph about Russia is the biggest of all. They included the names of companies, parties, and government and non-government personalities as follows:

1. Zarabish Oil Company/174.5 million.

2. Rose Oil Impex-Azakov (The Russian Presidential Office)/66.9 million (including 1 million barrels for Mr Tatzinko, Russia's Ambassador to Baghdad).

3. The Russian Communist Party companies/1 million.

4. Amircom (Unity Party/Emergency Ministry)/1 million.

5. Mashino Import/1 million.

6. Alpha Ico (Russian Foreign Ministry)/1 million.

7. Yatomin (Russian Foreign Ministry)/30.1 million.

8. Slav Oil (Gotzariv)1 million.

9. Zan Gas Company/49.1 million.

10. Rose Oil/35.5 million.

11. Gasbin Invest-Kalmayka/1 million.

12. Ka Gas and Oil Company-Kalmayka/1 million.

13. Gas Brum Company/26 million.

14. Tat Oil-Tatersan/1 million.

15. Bash Oil Company/1 million.

16. Look Oil Company/63 million.

17. Sirgot Oil Gas Company/1 million.

18. Siberia Oil and Gas Company/1 million.

19. Nafta Moscow Company/25.1 million.

20. Unaco Company/22.2 million.

21. Sidanco Company/21.2 million.

22. Sap Oil Company/8.1 million.

23. Tans Oil Company/9 million.

24. Yukos Company/2 million.

25. The Liberal Democratic Party (Jirinovski)/79.8 million.

26. Peace and Unity Party's companies (Mrs Saji)/34 millions.

27. The Russian Committee for Solidarity with Iraq (Mr Rudasiev)/6.5 million.

28. The Russian Society for Solidarity with Iraq (Goravilion)/12.5 million.

29. Rose Oil and Gas Export Company (Mr Akababon)/12.5 million.

30. Oral Invest Company (Mr Stroyev)/8.5 million.

31. Zidag Moscow-Science Academy/3.5 million.

32. Rawmin (son of the former Ambassador to Baghdad)/19.7 million.

33. Zarabish Oil (Gopkin University)/3.5 million.

34. Nordwest Group/2 million.

35. Zarabish Oil and Gas Brum (Mr Hassan)/3 million, but only 1 million barrels have been delivered.

36. Soyuz Oil and Gaz (Mr Shavranik)/25.5 million.

37. Mr Nikolai Rizkof/13 million.

38. Stroi Oil and Gas Company/6 million.

39. Akht Oil Company/4.5 million.

40. The Chechen Administration/2 million.

41. Adil al-Hilawi (A. N. M. Aviation)/5 million.

42. Khruzlet/5 million.

43. Transnafta/3 million.

44. Chief of the Russian Presidential Office/5 million.

45. The Russian Orthodox Church/5 million.

46. The Russian National Democratic Party/2 million.

[1Old Pro]

Ritter is a proven child predator, he's a sick man. Sick men do strange things and should not be trusted.

[Feiny]

Ritter is the lowest form of human scum.

He described the $400,000 not as a grant but as an "interest-bearing loan" from Mr. al-Khafaji's Falcon Management to his own Five Rivers Productions. He said none of the money will probably be repaid because the movie failed to make money.

More nonsense than I can handle here.....If you never have to repay the money....it is not a loan.

[JasonC]

At least one of those who confessed was a French businessman with close ties to President Chirac. He acknowledges making profits of $.50 a barrel to "flip" oil contracts, millions of barrels worth, but maintains it was perfectly legal. Since his friend and boss is the (notoriously corrupt) head of state, he has precious little to worry about.

[Valin]

Thank you for posting this.


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