Free Republic

HOUSTON, Oct. 18 - Billions of dollars of Iraqi oil had been sold under a United Nations program - and food and other goods bought with the proceeds - when Saddam Hussein decided in 2000 that he personally wanted a bigger cut of the action. Documents now suggest that at least one United States company acceded to that demand, paying surcharges that kept the oil flowing. The action by the Coastal Corporation, which was founded by the Texas entrepreneur and oilman Oscar S. Wyatt Jr., is detailed in a formal Iraqi government tally of secret payments made from September 2000...

HOUSTON (AP)--El Paso Corp. and the leader of a dissident effort to urge shareholders to oust its board traded more barbs Monday, trying to shore up support with just a week to go before the company's annual meeting. El Paso said the dissidents may derail the company's agreement to pay $1.7 billion to settle all litigation related to California's energy crisis of 2000 and 2001. Selim K. Zilkha, who launched the effort to replace the board, called that a ``lie'' amid the current leadership's ``increasingly desperate attempts to stay in power.'' The agreement, reached in March and awaiting approval from...