Iraq to Probe Alleged Saddam Oil Bribes

[papau]

Funny how no US firms are mentioned! A Governing Council that we put in would not be doing our bidding, now, would they?


http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/news/news-energy-iraq-corruption.html January 27, 2004
Iraq to Probe Alleged Saddam Oil Bribes
By REUTERS


Filed at 9:02 a.m. ET
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq plans to investigate allegations that dozens of officials and businessmen worldwide illegally received oil in exchange for supporting former leader Saddam Hussein, officials said Tuesday.

Their statements came after al-Mada, an independent Baghdad newspaper, published a list it said was based on oil ministry documents showing 46 individuals, companies and organizations from inside and outside Iraq who were given millions of barrels of oil.
<snip>

The list includes members of Arab ruling families, religious organizations, politicians and political parties from Egypt, Jordan, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Sudan, China, Austria, France and other countries.

Organizations named include the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Communist Party, India's Congress Party and the Palestinian Liberation Organization.<snip>

Oil traders say Iraq also smuggled oil through southern ports not monitored by the United Nations and through a pipeline running to Syria.

Damascus says the pipeline was only operating for testing purposes.

[bemildred]

1. Funniest thing I've read today.

I can hardly wait for the quick and incisive "investigation".

[daleo]

2. Payoffs for supporting a regime

I am shocked. The bribes are supposed to go from corporations to politicians, not the other way around. No wonder Hussein had to be ousted. This kind of confusion could upset the entire world's economy.

[alfredo]

3. I wonder if some of those foreign companies were running cover

for US concerns?