Iraq oil cash funded MPs' campaigns

[SinkingInTheRain]

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,12956,1149796,00.html

Businessmen handed on money illicitly siphoned from UN deals to pressure groups run by George Galloway and Tam Dalyell

David Leigh and David Pallister
Tuesday February 17, 2004
The Guardian

Money illicitly siphoned from the UN oil-for-food programme by Saddam Hussein was used to finance anti-sanctions campaigns run by British politicians, according to documents that have surfaced in Baghdad.

Undercover cash from oil deals went to three businessmen who in turn supported pressure groups involving the ex-Labour MP George Galloway, Labour MP Tam Dalyell, and the former Irish premier Albert Reynolds, it is alleged in documents compiled by the oil ministry, which is now under the control of the US occupation regime.

Separately, a dossier from the oil ministry in Baghdad has been handed by the British Foreign Office to Customs and Excise, which has been asked to investigate. They were also referred to the Cabinet Office because of their political sensitivity.

The so-called oil list has already caused worldwide embarrassment, with allegations made against prominent people and companies in France, Russia, Switzerland and South Africa, as well as employees at the UN.

[Name removed]

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[alcuno]

2. This has been posted before.

As for the story, we'll wait and see. There have been a lot of forged documents floating around lately.

[Name removed]

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[alcuno]

6. Who's "we?" I certainly don't care.

Bottom line - So what if Iraq was funneling money to British politicians? I'm not British. My problem is American politicians stuffing American money into there own pockets via Iraq.

[Bozita]

8. I was gonna say exactly that.

But you did it first ...hmmmmm ... and did it damned well.

Thanks, Alcuno.

[Name removed]

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[alcuno]

11. Once again. I'm not British and "no" I don't care.

I believe that the British have a British legal system, British voters, a British government, and a British press who may be concerned with potential British lawbreakers.

If the possible British lawbreaking doesn't impact the United States as, say, British fabrications on the matter of Iraqi intelligence, then "no" I don't care.

You may have some deep-seated interest in the British legal system, but as an American, you're hardly representative of "many" in that regard.

[papau]

3. The last "George Galloway /Iraq" document turned out to be fake.

Is MI6 or the CIA having a second go at it?

[rooboy]

5. The Key words...

..."which is now under the control of the US occupation regime"

[bemildred]

7. Who gives a shit?

All politicians take money from anywhere. The idea
that Saddam would fund efforts to end the embargo is
not that odd, is it? Why is this even news?

[Name removed]

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[bemildred]

12. You think he talked it over with Saddam before accepting it?

You think they had a deal?
Or is it more likely that some front was used?

When you make a political contribution, they take your
word for it as to who you are and where the money came from.
They don't send out the private dicks to make sure you are
not someone reprehensible.

This sounds like a cheap smear and/or payback to me.

[sangha]

14. You're spinning

What trusted people are you talking about? The article clearly states that it was Arab businessmen who took money from some unnamed Iraqis. Why are you trying to falsely imply that Saddam gave money directly to Labor politicians?

[aneerkoinos]

13. No problem

It's good that Grauniad is telling the story as it is, and correcting the previous rumours of direct bribing.

Read the article, some Iraqi businessman donate money to a campaign (lead by Galloway) to lift UN sanctions. And how is Galloway supposed to know that the money is illegal and coming from Saddam?

I don't see what the problem is. Certainly there is no evidence of Galloway having been involved in anything illegal.