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Facts on Who Benefits From Keeping Saddam Hussein In Power
The Heritage Foundation | Feb. 28, 2003 | Unk

Posted on 03/14/2003 1:08:54 PM PST by bruin66

Facts on Who Benefits From Keeping Saddam Hussein In Power by The Heritage Foundation WebMemo #217 February 28, 2003

France
a. According to the CIA World Factbook, France controls over 22.5 percent of Iraq's imports.[1]
French total trade with Iraq under the oil-for-food program is the third largest, totaling $3.1 billion since 1996, according to the United Nations.[2]
In 2001 France became Iraq's largest European trading partner.
b. Roughly 60 French companies do an estimated $1.5 billion in trade with Baghdad annually under the U.N. oil-for-food program.[3]
c. France's largest oil company, Total Fina Elf, has negotiated a deal to develop the Majnoon field in western Iraq. The Majnoon field purportedly contains up to 30 billion barrels of oil.[4]
d. Total Fina Elf also negotiated a deal for future oil exploration in Iraq's Nahr Umar field. Both the Majnoon and Nahr Umar fields are estimated to contain as much as 25 percent of the country's reserves.[5]
e. France's Alcatel company, a major telecom firm, is negotiating a $76 million contract to rehabilitate Iraq's telephone system.[6]
f. From 1981 to 2001, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), France was responsible for over 13 percent of Iraq's arms imports.[7]

Germany
a. Direct trade between Germany and Iraq amounts to about $350 million annually, and another $1 billion is reportedly sold through third parties.[8]
b. It has recently been reported that Saddam Hussein has ordered Iraqi domestic businesses to show preference to German companies as a reward for Germany's "firm positive stand in rejecting the launching of a military attack against Iraq." It was also reported that over 101 German companies were present at the Baghdad Annual exposition.[9]
c. During the 35th Annual Baghdad International Fair in November 2002, a German company signed a contract for $80 million for 5,000 cars and spare parts.[10]
d. In 2002, DaimlerChrysler was awarded over $13 million in contracts for German trucks and spare parts.[11]
e. German officials are investigating a German corporation accused of illegally channeling weapons to Iraq via Jordan. The equipment in question is used for boring the barrels of large cannons and is allegedly intended for Saddam Hussein's Al Fao Supercannon project.[12]

Russia
a. According to the CIA World Factbook, Russia controls roughly 5.8 percent of Iraq's annual imports.[13] Under the U.N. oil-for-food program, Russia's total trade with Iraq was somewhere between $530 million and $1 billion for the six months ending in December of 2001.[14]
b. According to the Russian Ambassador to Iraq, Vladimir Titorenko, new contracts worth another $200 million under the U.N. oil-for-food program are to be signed over the next three months.[15]
c. Soviet-era debt of $7 billion through $8 billion was generated by arms sales to Iraq during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war.
d. Russia's LUKoil negotiated a $4 billion, 23-year contract in 1997 to rehabilitate the 15 billion-barrel West Qurna field in southern Iraq. Work on the oil field was expected to commence upon cancellation of U.N. sanctions on Iraq. The deal is currently on hold.[16]
e. In October 2001, Salvneft, a Russian-Belarus company, negotiated a $52 million service contract to drill at the Tuba field in Southern Iraq.[17]
f. In April 2001, Russia's Zaruezhneft company received a service contract to drill in the Saddam, Kirkuk, and Bai Hassan fields to rehabilitate the fields and reduce water incursion.
g. A future $40 billion Iraqi-Russian economic agreement, reportedly signed in 2002, would allow for extensive oil exploration opportunities throughout western Iraq.[18] The proposal calls for 67 new projects, over a 10-year time frame, to explore and further develop fields in southern Iraq and the Western Desert, including the Suba, Luhais, West Qurna, and Rumaila projects. Additional projects added to the deal include second-phase construction of a pipeline running from southern to northern Iraq, and extensive drilling and gas projects. Work on these projects would commence upon cancellation of sanctions.[19]
h. Russia's Gazprom company over the past few years has signed contracts worth $18 million to repair gas stations in Iraq.[20]
i. The former Soviet Union was the premier supplier of Iraqi arms. From 1981 to 2001, Russia supplied Iraq with 50 percent of its arms.[21]

China
a. According to the CIA World Factbook, China controls roughly 5.8 percent of Iraq's annual imports.[22]
b. China National Oil Company, partnered with China North Industries Corp., negotiated a 22-year-long deal for future oil exploration in the Al Ahdab field in southern Iraq.[23]
c. In recent years, the Chinese Aero-Technology Import-Export Company (CATIC) has been contracted to sell "meteorological satellite" and "surface observation" equipment to Iraq. This contract was approved by the U.N. oil-for-food program.[24]
d. CATIC also won approval from the U.N. in July 2000 to sell $2 million worth of fiber optic cables. This and similar contracts approved were disguised as telecommunications gear. These cables can be used for secure data and communications links between national command and control centers and long-range search radar, targeting radar, and missile-launch units, according to U.S. officials. In addition, China National Electric Wire & Cable and China National Technical Import Telecommunications Equipment Company are believed to have sold Iraq $6 million and $15.5 million worth of communications equipment and other unspecified supplies, respectively.[25]
e. According to a report from SIPRI, from 1981 to 2001, China was the second largest supplier of weapons and arms to Iraq, supplying over 18 percent of Iraq's weapons imports.[26]
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[1] Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook 2002, at http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook.
[2] Jon Talton, "French Ideals and Profits in the Iraqi Triangle", The Arizona Republic, February 23, 2003.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Kenneth Katzman, Iraq: Oil-for-Food Program, International Sanctions, and Illicit Trade, Congressional Research Service, September 26, 2002.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Evelyn Iritani, "Hussein's Government Signs Lucrative Contracts, Especially with Nations that Oppose the U.S. Led Effort to Oust the Regime," The Los Angeles Times, November 11, 2002.
[7 ]Information from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), "Arms Transfers to Iraq, 1981-2001," at http://projects.sipri.se/armstrade/IRQ_IMPORTS_1982-2001.pdf.
[8] David R. Sands, "France, Germany Protect Iraq Ties," The Washington Post, February 20, 2003.
[9] Ibid.
[10] "Africa Analysis-Trade Points Way to Peace", The Financial Asia Africa Intelligence Wire, November 19, 2002.
[11] Faye Bowers, "Driving Forces in War-Wary Nations: The Stances of France, Germany, Russia and China Are Colored by Economic and National Interests," Christian Science Monitor, February 25, 2003.
[12] "Helping Saddam Rearm," The Wall Street Journal, October 11, 2002.
[13] Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook 2002, at http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook.
[14] Testimony provided by Ariel Cohen to the House International >Relations Committee, "Russia and the Axis of Evil: Money, Ambition and U.S. Interests," February 26, 2003.
[15] Nelli Sharushkina, "Russia Plays the Field in Iraq-Mixed Signals Worry Baghdad," Energy Intelligence Briefing, February 5, 2003.
[16] Dan Morgan and David B. Ottaway, "In Iraqi War Scenario, Oil Is Key Issue," The Washington Post, September 15, 2002.
[17] Ibid.
[18] Scott Peterson, "Russia's Newest Tie to Iraq: Moscow Is Set to Sign a $40 billion Economic Pact with Baghdad Next Month," Christian Science Monitor, August 20, 2002.
[19] "Mideast Tensions to Delay Iraq Iraqi-Russian Signing," Energy Compass, April 19, 2002.
[20] Dmitry Zhdannikov, "Russian's Grim About Working Under Saddam," The Houston Chronicle, April 14, 2002.
[21] Information from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), "Arms Transfers to Iraq, 1981-2001," at http://projects.sipri.se/armstrade/IRQ_IMPORTS_1982-2001.pdf.
[22] Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook 2002, at http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook.
[23] Trish Saywell, "Oil: The Danger of Deals with Iraq," Far Eastern Economic Review, March 6, 2003
[24] Kenneth R. Timmerman, "Rogues Lending Hand to Saddam," Insight on the News, March 4, 2003.
[25] Ibid.
[26] Information from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), "Arms Transfers to Iraq, 1981-2001," at http://projects.sipri.se/armstrade/IRQ_IMPORTS_1982-2001.pdf.


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: china; france; germany; iraq; warlist
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Know your friends...
1 posted on 03/14/2003 1:08:55 PM PST by bruin66
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To: bruin66
read later
2 posted on 03/14/2003 1:24:08 PM PST by LiteKeeper
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To: bruin66
Geez, talk about connecting the dots!
3 posted on 03/14/2003 1:41:43 PM PST by caisson71
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To: bruin66
OPEC, Russia and Iraq (Moscow Times)

"...The ideal outcome for Russia is exactly the same as that for Saudi Arabia and OPEC, i.e. maintenance of the status quo and the sanctions regime on Iraqi oil. Thus, Russia's opposition to a U.S. invasion of Iraq is completely rational. ...

4 posted on 03/14/2003 1:49:22 PM PST by Shermy
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To: caisson71
Geez, talk about connecting the dots!

You're right. I had never seen it all in one place, before.

5 posted on 03/14/2003 1:53:37 PM PST by bruin66
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To: *war_list
http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list
6 posted on 03/14/2003 1:58:13 PM PST by Libertarianize the GOP (Ideas have consequences)
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To: bruin66
Sanctions are a joke. They just create a HUGH black market. Seriesly.
7 posted on 03/14/2003 2:17:16 PM PST by slimer
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To: bruin66
China, Russia, France, and Germany should've long ago realized that nothing - especially not their impotent vetos - is going to stop us from taking care of the business at hand, so it's in their best interests to let it happen and hope to get a slice of the Iraqi oil pie after we get through with them. As it stands now, all they're accomplishing by their short-sighted intransigence is alienating the only world superpower and destroying the only institution - the UN - that they perceive is able act as a buffer on that superpower.
8 posted on 03/14/2003 4:25:00 PM PST by Mr. Mojo
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To: bruin66
It'll be nice to see our "friends" and enemies on their knees after this 2nd step of the war on terror is over....
9 posted on 03/14/2003 4:33:35 PM PST by b4its2late (Law not enforced is not law.)
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To: slimer
Seriesly.

LOL!

10 posted on 03/14/2003 4:34:21 PM PST by b4its2late (Law not enforced is not law.)
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To: bruin66
Good post.
11 posted on 03/14/2003 4:42:11 PM PST by pttttt
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To: b4its2late
"It'll be nice to see our "friends" and enemies on their knees after this 2nd step of the war on terror is over...."

Talking about our "friends" -- the French.

Cavuto's parting words tonight were on the French. It was excellent! I wish I could remember it word for word, but it was cutting and to the point. It ended with something about us being ?stupid? to think that France was ever our 'friend.

12 posted on 03/14/2003 5:01:28 PM PST by Exit148
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To: bruin66
Wow....
13 posted on 03/14/2003 5:09:45 PM PST by Tamzee ("Sabotage".... a French word....)
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To: bruin66
BTTT
14 posted on 03/14/2003 5:32:02 PM PST by RAT Patrol
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To: bruin66
WOW!!!Glad the French aren't in it for the money. SARCASM OFF.
15 posted on 03/14/2003 5:35:43 PM PST by LaGrone
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To: bruin66
Iraq reverses Russia oil ban

Guardian UK, 1/21/03 (excerpt)

Iraq has moved to mend bridges with the Kremlin and Russian oil companies after a dispute over a multibillion dollar oilfield threatened to jeopardise Baghdad's relationship with a potentially crucial ally.

In what many will see as an attempt by Saddam Hussein to curry favour with Moscow, Iraq agreed to reverse a decision to cut the Russian oil firm Lukoil out of a deal over the huge West Qurna field.

A contract to develop the field was torn up by Iraq in December. Yesterday the reversal appeared to bear almost immediate fruit with Russian diplomats calling for renewed effort to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis in the Gulf.

16 posted on 03/14/2003 5:38:17 PM PST by P.O.E. (God Bless and keep safe our troops.)
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To: bruin66; ALOHA RONNIE; timestax; Quix
Hillary Rodham Clinton benefits from Saddam Hussein as well.

HRC is scared that a Bush-Administration victory will undermine her chances at winning the presidency in 2004 or 2008.

Never forget... "9-11 should have been ours" wailed the Conspiring Clinton's after September 11!!

17 posted on 03/14/2003 5:47:33 PM PST by Joy Angela
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To: Joy Angela
Why does it say in the CIA world fact book that the US has like 46% of Iraqi exports?
18 posted on 03/14/2003 5:57:43 PM PST by aberham
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To: Joy Angela
Good point.

Such hideous creatures.
19 posted on 03/14/2003 6:13:01 PM PST by Quix (MARCH BIBLE CODES DIGEST LATEST RESEARCH COMPARES WAR AND PEACE VS BIBLE W SURPRISES 4 BOTH SIDES)
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To: bruin66


20 posted on 03/14/2003 6:23:57 PM PST by ppaul
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