Hunt Oil talked to State Dept. prior to signing KRG deal, contrary

[slipslidingaway]

to prior statements

http://iraqoilreport.com/2007/10/12/hunt-oil-talked-to-state-dept-prior-to-signing-krg-deal-contrary-to-prior-statements/


DK diary
Kucinich Will Introduce Legislation to Prevent Oil Privatization
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/12/21258/482


New Revelations on Hunt Oil Deal Raise More Questions
http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=76216

"Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) said today’s United Press International (UPI) report on Hunt Oil raises more questions worthy of Congressional investigations and that he will introduce legislation to ban U.S. oil companies from operating in Iraq.

“The Bush Administration has been pressing for the privatization of Iraq’s oil. This move by Hunt Oil, with its numerous connections to the President, would seem to advance that goal. The deal would seem to pressure the central Iraq government to capitulate, since the Hunt Oil deal with the Kurdistan Regional Government would be a precedent that the Iraq government could hardly ignore.

“I’m concerned that if we don’t reverse the “war for oil” policy, many negative consequences for the United States could follow. I think it would prevent any hope of an emerging peace process in the Middle East,” Kucinich said.

Earlier this year Congress passed and the President signed the supplemental Iraq funding bill that included a limitation on the U.S. government controlling Iraqi oil, which leaves private control of Iraq’s oil resources by U.S. oil companies on the table. Sec. 3301 states no funds can be expended by the United States Government “To exercise United States control over any oil resource of Iraq.” There is no similar prohibition on oil companies.

“This Congress failed to prohibit oil companies from taking advantage of the U.S. invasion. I intend to close this major loophole by introducing legislation to prohibit U.S oil companies from gaining financial interests or financial control of Iraq’s oil resources,” Kucinich said.

On September 18, 2007, Kucinich sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urging an immediate investigation into Hunt Oil Company’s recent production sharing agreement for petroleum exploration with Kurdistan.

“The war in Iraq is a stain on American history. Let us not further besmirch our nation by participating in an outrageous exploitation of a nation, which is in shambles due to the U.S. intervention,” Kucinich said in an hour-long speech on the floor of the House of Representatives on May 23, 2007.'

[Kagemusha]

1. Ugh, no, I specifically remember what Hunt said, and it wasn't that.

He didn't say he didn't TALK to the State Department, or that anyone did so on his behalf. He said he did not ask for advice or permission.

This is in the same league as Bob Novak saying that since Valerie Plame's maiden name wasn't a state secret, reporting that name was OK, ignoring that the important part was that the woman (under any name) worked for the CIA.

[slipslidingaway]

2. If you could post a link that would be great, I do not remember

the details, thanks.

[Kagemusha]

3. Google provided this.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071003/bs_nm/huntoil_iraq_dc

Note that the actual Hunt quote doesn't even say what the article itself says Hunt said. Maybe the State Department attempted advice, but it wasn't solicited, or heeded if it was received.

[slipslidingaway]

4. Thanks for finding this article :) I'll look through the details n/t

[NI4NI]

5. Who believes this?

On the last Thursday in September, Bush said "I knew nothing about the deal" to Peter Wolfe in a press conference.

I quess the hard driving members of the White House press corps must have because I didn't hear any follow-up questions.

[slipslidingaway]

7. Imagine if the WH or Congress had to face questions from

DU members or other forums/blogs :)

[NI4NI]

9. and under oath, there'd be a million "I don't recalls"

and "that information is classified".

but I think Bush would turn into a bigger blithering, blubbering idiot than he already is.....a definite pay for view event!

[spanone]

6. why, you're not inferring this war had anything to do with oil?

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[slipslidingaway]

8. Oil and a few large rivers perhaps?

[superkia]

10. Why is Dennis Kucinich the only candidate speaking up about this?

Why was he also the one that saw there was no evidence for a war and voted no? Why is he the one that is speaking out about repealing the patriot act? Where are the other politicians that want to lead OUR country and what are they saying about these very important items?

I really don't understand why more people don't see that Dennis Kucinich is the one candidate that has been standing up and being the candidate that is for the people, he isn't the sellout to the corporations, he is actually speaking for the people like an elected official is supposed to do?

Why do we continue to be blind to what is happening in front of our faces and continue to elect people who show by their actions that we are not their priority like we are supposed to be?

Once again it looks like we will be voting for a candidate that is NOT standing and speaking for the American people like they are supposed to? Why do we insist on doing this over and over when all have see what has happened to our country. Will we ever wake up or will they be successful in taking our rights before we do, so that we can do nothing but complain...if we are allowed to do that.

Too many people look at elections like its a game, not a choice for our children's future. What happened to voting for the best candidate for US? Not just voting for the one the media pushes or falling for the lesser of the evil bullshit that we seem to play. Look at the issues, who sounds like they are speaking for the American people? If everyone voted for that candidate, that candidate would win and our country would win.