Oil-for-Food Corruption Report Reads Like List of Who Voted Against Iraq War
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - More than 2,200 companies, including major concerns like DaimlerChrysler, Siemens and Volvo, made illicit payments totaling $1.8 billion to Saddam Hussein's government during the U.N. oil-for food program, a report said on Thursday.
Preferential treatment was given to companies in France, Russia and China, all permanent members of the Security Council, who were more favorable to lifting the 1990 sanctions compared to the United States, Britain and Japan.
Among those named in the report as receiving oil vouchers that could be sold for a commission were British lawmaker George Galloway, former French U.N. Ambassador Jean-Bernard Merimee, former French Interior Minister Charles Pasqua and Russian ultranationalist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky.
Top European companies like Germany's DaimlerChrysler AG and Siemens, Britain's Weir Group and the Brussels-based branch of Volvo Construction Engineers were among those reported to have paid kickbacks to Iraq.
Now, I’m not trying to insinuate anything… well, yes I am.
Notice all the nations that are named, and all the nations of the companies and people named. Now notice the lack of American involvement. I know the American left, and most of Europe would like to continue their stand that the war was “illegal” and “immoral” because the US did not have UN approval. But how about this:
If China, France, Russian, and Germany didn’t have so much money tied up in Saddam Hussien, they wouldn’t have vetoed the proposal for military action to remove him. Their greed and corruption in Iraq is what molded the UN’s position on Iraq, and that is what they are now using to call the war illegal and corrupt. While you cry out to “KNOW THE TRUTH”… well here it is. Are you still ready to condemn those who are corrupt?
Preferential treatment was given to companies in France, Russia and China, all permanent members of the Security Council, who were more favorable to lifting the 1990 sanctions compared to the United States, Britain and Japan.
Among those named in the report as receiving oil vouchers that could be sold for a commission were British lawmaker George Galloway, former French U.N. Ambassador Jean-Bernard Merimee, former French Interior Minister Charles Pasqua and Russian ultranationalist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky.
Top European companies like Germany's DaimlerChrysler AG and Siemens, Britain's Weir Group and the Brussels-based branch of Volvo Construction Engineers were among those reported to have paid kickbacks to Iraq.
Now, I’m not trying to insinuate anything… well, yes I am.
Notice all the nations that are named, and all the nations of the companies and people named. Now notice the lack of American involvement. I know the American left, and most of Europe would like to continue their stand that the war was “illegal” and “immoral” because the US did not have UN approval. But how about this:
If China, France, Russian, and Germany didn’t have so much money tied up in Saddam Hussien, they wouldn’t have vetoed the proposal for military action to remove him. Their greed and corruption in Iraq is what molded the UN’s position on Iraq, and that is what they are now using to call the war illegal and corrupt. While you cry out to “KNOW THE TRUTH”… well here it is. Are you still ready to condemn those who are corrupt?
