[Shermy]

In fact, BNP Paribas is actually controlled by Power Corporation, an appropriately named Canadian company that has a shocking track record of 'business' relationships with the worst gangsters and tyrannical regimes in the world.

Didn't know that. Knew TotalFinaElf had multi-billions in potential oil drilling rights with Saddam, which helped explain Chretien's vociferous attacks on Bush - it was a family matter for him. (BTW, his daughter's name is "France")

Chretien got a post-PM "job" with the Canadian company PetroKazakhstan. Anyone know if it is connected to Total or Power Corp.?

[Allan]

Chretien got a post-PM "job" with the Canadian company PetroKazakhstan

The 'little man from Shawinigan' seems to be doing very well for himself.

[Fedora]

Thanks; I'll look into it. Two notes to start with:

PetroKazakhstan's CEO Bernard Isautier has this in his background:

The Officers And Directors

Mr. Isautier is currently a director of a number of companies. From 1993 to 1995, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd.. . .Early in his career, Mr. Isautier served as an advisor to the French Minister of Energy and Industry and as an advisor on uranium development to the President of the Republic of Niger.

There's also a Jacques Lefèvre on their board; he also shows up here along with Bertrand Collomb from Total and Vivandi Universal and Atco (another name I'm finding shows up when I search on this):

LaFarge

[marron]

I think PetroKazakhstan was originally Hurricane, and was one of the early companies to operate in Kazakhstan. I believe they operated in Sudan as well.