The Quiet Oil-for-Food Scandal (be careful what you wish for).

[rodeodance]

http://www.alternet.org/story/27792/

The Quiet Oil-for-Food Scandal
By Joshua Holland, AlterNet
Posted on November 4, 2005, Printed on November 5, 2005
http://www.alternet.org/story/27792/

Last week, the Independent Committee investigating the Oil-for-Food program (OFF) released its final report detailing how Saddam Hussein's regime skimmed just under two percent from the otherwise successful relief effort by charging kickbacks and "inland transportation" fees to companies doing business with Iraq.

The small group of conservative writers who I've dubbed the "Scandal Pimps" have been less enthusiastic about the release of this report than they've been about those that preceded it. The day after the release, the Wall Street Journal editorialized that the report didn't really add anything new, it just filled in some details.

.......More to the point, the Scandal Pimps are unlikely to delve too deeply into the final report because it reveals that some of our leading corporations, and the vaunted "entrepenuers" that outlets like the Washington Times always crow about, weren't in the least bit reticent to pay off a brutal dictator accused of mass murder in order to pump up their bottom lines.

Even more damning to the conservative worldview is that the United States' "strategic class" was deeply involved. In fact, profits from sales under OFF program that were lubricated with illicit payments to Saddam Hussein found their way into both the Bush and Kerry presidential campaigns of 2004.

[highnooner]

1. Kicked and nominated

[TomClash]

2. Midway Trading?

In Reston, VA? Hehe.

[rooboy]

3. The biggest offender in bribing the Hussein regime...

was the Australian Wheat Board, whose bribes were more than 5 times the amounts paid by the next worst offender. Over $300 million was paid in bribes - it's a massive scandal over here in Oz.

[rodeodance]

6. tsk tsk-the land of OZ has its problems doesn't it. (as we do).

[rodeodance]

7. Norm Coleman looks like he has had a bad night.

[rodeodance]

4. Levin-on c-span now said (3x)--The US had full knowledge and looked

the other way-(as did other nations).

[rodeodance]

5. I recall Fox and Newt blasting the UN for this--(I have not heard their

responses--guess i am afraid of the spin).