Saddam's loot stashed in Syria?

[Khephra]

Saddam's loot stashed in Syria?
12/10/2003 20:32 - (SA)

Washington - US officials suspect government-controlled banks in Syria are holding up to $3bn in Iraqi assets looted by former dictator Saddam Hussein, Time magazine reported on Sunday.

The newsweekly, quoting an unnamed senior US official, said Washington has demanded Damascus return the money and is not satisfied with Syria's co-operation.

Secretary of State Colin Powell made the demand during a meeting in Damascus in May with Syrian President Bashar Assad, Time reported.

The report comes amid worsening US-Syrian relations and moves in the US congress to tighten sanctions, which the administration of US President George W Bush has said it would not oppose.

more...........

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/Iraq/0,,2-10-1460_1429131,00.html

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Saddam's Syrian Stash
Investigators think they've found some of Hussein's loot. Is the money funding terrorist attacks

Since the fall of Baghdad in April, American officials have scoured the globe in search of Saddam Hussein's legendary fortune. Now they think they have found a big chunk. According to a U.S. estimate, as much as $3 billion in Iraqi assets is sitting in Syrian government- controlled banks, a senior U.S. official tells Time, and Washington is anxious to determine that the money is not funding violence against Americans in Iraq, or being drawn down by regime officials and supporters.

For months the U.S. has quietly insisted that Damascus give up the funds. Secretary of State Colin Powell met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in May and made that unpublicized demand. Top Syrian officials have been given the names of at least two suspect banks and provided with account numbers.

more........

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101031020-517697,00.html

[wtmusic]

1. It's right thar next to them dub-yem-dees...

[Don_G]

2. Accurate Or Another White House "Leak?"

It could just be a feint trying to justify another "war" before the 2004 elections.

[ozone_man]

9. Got to keep Dubya Dubya 2 on course for election 2004.

I have a bet with a colleague that Syria is invaded within a year after Iraq was. I hoped to lose the bet, but it seems to be getting closer to reality. Especially, with Israel bombing Syria. The only way Bush will win is to keep the focus on war and not the economy.

[Don_G]

17. I Think You'll Lose

That 87 Billion Dollar speech jarred a lot of people and they're waking up into the reality of the Scrub Economy.

[VolcanoJen]

3. I thought they already tried to roll out this "new product line."

Is this Phase 2 of the marketing effort?

[morebunk]

4. "suspect' "believe" "think"

bank accounts...anyone can set up bank accounts in someone else's name.
This sounds like the same bunk that we used to invade Iraq. Wonder who is giving the US this intelligence...more of the exiles? or Mossad?

[Laughing Mirror]

5. notice the use of the word "return" in the news 24 story

"Washington has demanded Syria return the money ..."

Return the money? It was Washington's money?

Would somebody please stop this mad mad administration before it's too late?

[Eloriel]

12. Sounds like extortion to me

Not totally unlike the trick they pulled on Saddam Hussein: No matter what you say, we know you've got the goods. You have to get rid of the goods and if you don't, we'll bomb.

Well, he didn't have the goods. It was a no-win situation. PRetty awful when your own government behaves in such a way you finally have a little sympathy for a despicable, corrupt and ruthless dictator.

Eloriel

[Drifter]

6. Is anyone surprised ...

I would not be surprised if this is true.

I certainly would not be surprised if this money is being used to support the resistance.

I would much rather have Saddam Hussein in power (not killing our soldiers), than the mess we have right now.

Sometimes the best thing to do is NOT spank the badger.

Cheers
Drifter

[ByeDick]

7. Impossible

My president told me that Saddam could no longer send money to terrorists.

Just because we don't know where he is, doesn't mean that we can't make claims about what he can and can't do.

You don't think it's easier for Saddam to fund terrorists, now that he's no longer being watched or contained...Umm...Nevermind

[myomy]

8. IsnÕt that where all those pesky WMD are?

.

[bahrbearian]

10. Someone should be Tracking BFEE's Loot

[leesa]

11. My guess is that it's in Cheney's lair.

Those bastards wouldn't let loot get away! Just like the 'stolen' treasures of the museums.

[Wickerman]

13. 3 Billion? Chump change to the Bus* Cabal

They blow through a billion in a week - faster than a bunch a college dropouts in the late 90's with money from some improbale IPO internet project startup.

The only thing is these guys aren't spending the cash a=on whores and champagne - or are they?

[Starfire_Sangraal]

14. Le Canard - Chirac Fears a General Blowout of Middle-East

Hummm... Syria and Iran are being set-up. The neo-con`s cards are clearly on the table. IMO.

From a translation forwarded to a list:


JACQUES CHIRAC FEARS A GENERAL BLOWOUT OF MIDDLE EAST

Date: Friday, 10 October 2003, 12:30 a.m.

PARIS, Oct. 8--According to this week's Le Canard Enchaine, last week, even prior to the Israeli raid on Syria, Chirac was telling people he feared a general explosion in the Middle East.

According to Le Canard, he said this to several people. One of them expressed the fears of Chirac in the following terms:

"Chirac is expecting the worst, especially next November. He said he expected Israeli raids against Syria and Lebanon, accused of supporting the Hamas and the Jihad. He affirmed also that, according to him, the murder of Arafat is in Sharon's program. And that he is envisaging the launching of preventive raids against Iran."

The Canard quotes a diplomat who declared he was not astonished by this analysis: "The Israelis accuse Teheran of developing nuclear weapons and disposing of missiles -- the Shahab 3 -- able to reach Tel Aviv."

Then adding: "If Sharon decides to launch a raid over Iran, he would not do it without first consulting Washington. Just as he did, in spite of the American UN ambassador's denial, before launching his planes over Syria."

Even though he is worried about Iran's nuclear ambitions, Chirac is mistrusting of the Bush/Sharon duo, while deploring the softness of European reactions against this alliance:

"The Israelis want to be Washington's "armed hand" in the region" stated Chirac confidentially, "because Bush cannot allow himself to act militarily in all directions and to bombard here and there."

The Canard further reports on a note by the French secret services, which is probably the cause of Chirac's pessimism, in which they announced an increase of Israeli raids above Lebanon and Syria, an the possibility of a coming raid against the nuclear installations in Teheran.

[newyawker99]

15. Hi Starfire_Sangraal!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Starfire_Sangraal]

16. Re: "Hi Starfire_Sangraal!!"

Thank you, newyawker99, for this genuine and kind welcome.

I`m not american, I`m from Brazil and have been lurking here for sometime now. I love the Du`ers and I`m very fond of William R. Pitts` essays too. It`s a very heartwarming experience for a foreigner like me, aprehensive with the fate of the world, to see the Du`ers manifesto, a might that shal neither allow America to bend to her knees subjugated by indoctrinated fear nor stand for self-delusions of a despot Empire.

I know that you`ll rise for the weak and challenge the tyrants, face to face with the enemies within.

A new world is possible. I have no doubts it will begin with you.

Rise and reverberate.

Regards and gatitude, Starfire_Sangraal

:pals:

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