Galloway Bluster Fails to Convince Senate

The Scotsman ^ | Wed 18 May 2005 | GETHIN CHAMBERLAIN

[West Coast Conservative]

GEORGE Galloway yesterday failed in his attempt to convince a sceptical US Senate investigative committee that he had not profited from oil dealings with Iraq under the UN’s controversial oil-for-food programme.

Despite a typically barnstorming performance full of bluster and rhetorical flourishes, the former Glasgow Kelvin MP was pinned down by persistent questioning over his business relationship with Fawaz Zureikat, the chairman of the Mariam Appeal - set up to assist a four-year-old Iraqi girl suffering from leukaemia.

And it was a Democrat senator, Carl Levin, rather than the Republican committee chairman, Norm Coleman, who gave him the hardest time as Mr Galloway sought to turn the tables on his inquisitors, leaving him no closer to clearing his name than when he took his seat in front of the sub-committee of the Senate’s homeland security and government affairs committee in Washington.

Time and again, Mr Levin questioned him, requesting wearily that he deliver a straight answer to a straight question. But Mr Galloway could, or would not.

The Respect MP clearly thought he came out on top, and said so bluntly afterwards, describing the chairman as "not much of a lyncher".

But Mr Coleman, accused by the MP of being "remarkably cavalier with any idea of justice", appeared unswayed by Mr Galloway’s testimony. "If in fact he lied to this committee, there will have to be consequences," he said afterwards.

Asked whether Mr Galloway violated his oath to tell the truth before the committee, Mr Coleman said: "I don’t know. We’ll have to look over the record. I just don’t think he was a credible witness."

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Yeah, what was up with Norm Coleman?

[Darkwolf]

Talk about a guy who's believes all of his own press. Even Chrissy Matthews, who wasn't trying, managed to make this guy look like a LIAR. Galloway looked like a DUmmie who's spouting his crap while thinking "How can I be bombing? ALl my friends at DU LOVED it when I said all this stuff!"

When you can't even get Carl Levin on your side, you know you're sinking like a Titanic packed with life-size Michael Moore dolls.

[TexasTransplant]

Them Lying Stinking Bank Accounts, always trying to bring a good man down!

Just ask Kofi, they are trying to pull this same BS with him!

[TexasTransplant]

"When you can't even get Carl Levin on your side, you know you're sinking like a Titanic packed with life-size Michael Moore dolls"

That is 10 x funny and yet accurate.

[Darkwolf]

I have to say, I thought Coleman was fine--he was Galloway's target, but he wasn't swayed, and I think Galloway was blindsided by Levin. I was surprised until I saw Levin on CNN--he sees Galloway not as an enemy of the US but of the UN. So, you see, he was playing to his democrat base; he didn't mind the jabs at America, but once Levin was convinced Galloway was out to hurt the precious UN...

Like the song says, you don't pull on Superman's cape...and you don't mess around with UN.

[Ken H]

On a 1-10 scale, with Kofi being a 10, how big a player is Galloway in the UN-OFF scandal?

[MJY1288]

Norm Coleman did the right thing by not engaging that lying traitorous GasBag Galloway. On a Diplomatic level, both Coleman and Levin were respectful of the foreign visitor, and for no other reason, they took the high road while Galloway came off as a street wise Mafia Con Man

[Darkwolf]

As I understand it, he helped get an associate into the Oil for Food cycle; this guy then drained money from that UN plan and gave money BACK to Saddam, AND to a campaign fund. The fund is NOT a Galloway fund for re-election, but an anti-Iraq War fund.

Think of it this way--what if a friend of Nancy Pelosi (if there is such a creature) got Pelosi to get him into this deal. He then gave some money to Saddam, and gave money to Not In Our Name?

I think it's pretty huge. I can't be exact about a number on your scale, but I will say it's more than a 5, IMO.

[nopardons]

bttt

[ScaniaBoy]

"If in fact he lied to this committee, there will have to be consequences," he said afterwards.

Asked whether Mr Galloway violated his oath to tell the truth before the committee, Mr Coleman said: "I don’t know. We’ll have to look over the record. I just don’t think he was a credible witness."

Remember Alger Hiss? He, and the media, also thought he had come out on top after cogressional hearings, but, but.....

A stint in jail couldn't happen to a nicer man than Galloway.

[MJY1288]

I know you didn't address me, but I have to chime in....

I say Galloway will turn out to be a major player in the whole scandal, simply because he is a prime example of how far reaching Saddam's regime was willing to go to buy influence. The OFF Scandal will end up bringing down all the upper echelon of the U.N. before this is over

[CaptSkip]

If in fact he lied to this committee, there will have to be consequences," he said afterwards.

Maybe Coleman wanted to let Galloway dig his own grave with lies now on the official US Senate record.

[John Lenin]

[ex-Texan]

*BUMP*!

[Ken H]

The OFF Scandal will end up bringing down all the upper echelon of the U.N. before this is over

Music to the ears.

[MJY1288]

Galloway might have won the rhetoric war today, but he struck out in the fact finding end of it. IMHO, Galloway was nothing more than a Mafioso punk who was quick with the prepared insults, and completely void of any real answers

[I still care]

I saw the same interview on CNN. Levin claimed that it was the UN that was the victim of oil for food!

He said the UN was being victimized by people using their humanitarian program for personal wealth. Of course, the CNN anchor never mentioned the involvement of Kofi Annan's son in the scandal.

I said, oh, that's how the left is going to spin it.

[Darkwolf]

I like Koffi with my TOAST!

[Darkwolf]

Yes, but in this case, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, so I'm behind you all the way on this, Carl!