Iraqi-American Pleads Guilty in Oil-for-Food (noose-tightening alert)

Fox News Online ^ | 1/18/05

[Wolfstar]

WASHINGTON — An Iraqi-born American citizen pleaded guilty Tuesday to several charges as part of the federal investigation into the U.N. Oil-for-Food program, becoming the first person to be convicted in the growing scandal.

Attorney General John Ashcroft announced the agreement with Samir Vincent, accused of being an unregistered Iraqi agent between the first and second Persian Gulf wars.

[SNIP]

The case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York. The criminal indictment and plea deal were filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York.

[SNIP]

The Justice Department said that from 1992 to 2003, Vincent consulted with Saddam Hussein's government about efforts to loosen or end the United Nations sanctions imposed upon Iraq after the 1991 Gulf War.

He was also involved in the drafting of the oil-for-food program, including agreements guaranteeing himself and others "millions of dollars in compensation."

Vincent got instructions in 1995 and 1996 from high-level Iraqi officials, and carried out those instructions out in meetings with U.N. officials, Justice officials said.

[Wolfstar]

Click here if you want to read an excellent update on what Paul Volker's investigation has revealed to date: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,144533,00.html

[Wolfstar]

FYI

[Wolfstar]

Poland should be informed of the depth of United Nations corruption.

[My2Cents]

Wow. This is going to make a great mini-series on HBO.

[Zenith]

He forgot to pay his taxes !!

28 years in the Slammer !!

[Wolfstar]

Wow. This is going to make a great mini-series on HBO.

Grin...if anyone in Hollyweird will touch the story.

[Wolfstar]

28 years in the Slammer !!

Well, he's reached a plea bargain, so he'll get a much reduced sentence in return for his cooperation. But if he messes with the Feds now, they can always go back to the judge and report that the plea agreement was violated. THEN his butt gets thrown in the slammer for a loooong time.

[BIGZ]

Watch your TV listings for Dan Rather to expose this on 60 Minutes.

[Wolfstar]

Watch your TV listings for Dan Rather to expose this on 60 Minutes.

Yeah, right! [snicker]

Tonight's PeterBrianDan "news" shows will be all about how the Dems grilled Condi Rice.

[SoCalPol]

Kofi needs to be put on the hot seat. The two best exposing this nit-wit is Jonathan Hunt of Fox and
Sen N. Coleman.

BTW Just heard again Boxer v Rice. Boxer is nothing
more than a drama queen because she has nothing of
substance to say.

[Wolfstar]

Kofi needs to be put on the hot seat.

I agree, Pol. However, this scandal dramatically highlights of the greatest dangers in these pseudo-world government bodies: Their management and members are unacountable to no one (other than their own home countries).

As for Boxer, the woman is beyond embarrassing. Why Bill Jones went after the Republican senate nomination is a mystery, since he obviously didn't intend to actually run a campaign. So we're stuck with this bee-itch for six more years. Yuck!

[piasa]

2000 : (SAMIR VINCENT ORGANIZED A DELEGATION OF IRAQI RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO VISIT THE US & MEET WITH JIMMY CARTER) ---- "The list of beneficiaries of Saddam's oil vouchers : Saddam Hussein after his capture," Petroleumworld, CARACAS 02 03 04, Petroleumworld.com via http://www.petroleumworld.com/storyT1200.htm

[Wolfstar]

They have this guy, Samir Vincent, cold. He either goes to the pokey for many years, or he helps the Feds unravel more of the Oil-for-Food scandal.

[piasa]

In particular, Iraqi intelligence officials sent a message to Vincent that he was to relay to a former U.S. official regarding Iraq's position on re-admitting weapons inspectors in return for the repeal of sanctions.

[Wolfstar]

I saw that about the "former U.S. official." If I'm not mistaken, it means someone who is a former official now, but one who was in office during the Clinton era.

[My2Cents]

W-S, I really like your theory posted earlier today that the whole WMD thing may have been a scam perpetrated by Saddam and his allies in the international community to keep sanctions in place, as they were all getting filthy rich on the Oil-for-Food gravy train. That would explain why all major European intelligence agencies (e.g., France, Germany, Russian) said that Saddam had WMDs. The CIA didn't have any agents on the ground in Iraq, so what did we know? Your articulation of it was the first time I'd ever heard the theory.

Again, it may very well be that the WMD situation in Iraq prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom can only be understood and explained in relation to Oil-for-Food.

[eureka!]

Hmmmm. Inquiring minds want to know...

[Wolfstar]

Again, it may very well be that the WMD situation in Iraq prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom can only be understood and explained in relation to Oil-for-Food.

Yes, and unfortunately, getting to the bottom of the whole stinking pile may not be possible. Many of the big players are not accountable to our laws -- in fact, to no laws other than those of their own countries of origin. Those of us who think of ourselves as conservatives must learn this lesson very, very well. The ever metastasizing pseudo-world government the Left (mostly Euro-Left) is building is a grave danger.

[My2Cents]

I'd really like to see W set up the UN for a huge fall. I don't know that he'd do it, but if anyone can figure out a way to get us out of the UN, and let that fraudulent organization die, it would be Bush.

[Wolfstar]

I'd really like to see W set up the UN for a huge fall.

Me too. I just don't know that it's possible given how entrenched the monstrosity is now. As for getting us out of it, I have to give GWB props for going further than any president in the postwar period to challenge the validity of the UN. Maybe he's paved the way for a future president to go further.