Saddam's Oil-for-Friends List

A document found at the Iraqi oil ministry details the approved intermediaries who sold Iraqi oil under the UN Oil for Food program. Imagine George Galloway was on the “bribe” list! Not suprising that some of the most outspoken critics of the war were receiving money under the table…

Saddam’s Gifts
Document: Saddam Supporters Received Lucrative Oil Contracts
By Brian Ross

Jan. 29— ABCNEWS has obtained an extraordinary list that contains the names of prominent people around the world who supported Saddam Hussein’s regime and were given oil contracts as a result.

All of the contracts were awarded from late 1997 until the U.S.-led war in March 2003. They were conducted under the aegis of the United Nations’ oil-for-food program, which was designed to allow Iraq to sell oil in exchange for humanitarian goods.
The document was discovered several weeks ago in the files of the Iraqi Oil Ministry in Baghdad.
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/WNT/Investigation/saddam_oil_vouchers_040129.html

How is that any different form US giving aid to countries who supported US led war? I dont see any reason to be alrmed by this list. US had done evrything within their power to starve and famine Iraqis before the war. What else did you expect from Saddam? Just sit back and take it? Especially when there are no WMDs(just like Saddam claimed). Wow it really is extraordinary.

well now we know why russia and france were jumping up and down. Not because of some altruistic reasons, but to continue getting these contracts :)

Kaleem,

You do not find it corrupt to the bone that a British MP was being paid $9mil by a foreign government?

hahaha you do not find it corrupt that a foreign nation and corporations with vested interests give money to more than half the Congress and Presedential candidates of USA??

PA,

Every dime of campaign contributions must be disclosed or you go to jail in the US. All foreign agents must be registered with the State Department. And the contributions for any individual are $2,000 maximum. Big difference.

Sounds like corruption is still the norm for some around here....

The Buying of Senators/Congress members is on the up and up in the U.S. PA.

Famously when Yemen voted against the first Iraq war..the US cut of all its aid money..I believe it was called the most expensive vote the yemenis ever made.

Lets not forget US Bullying for the new UN resolution authorising force...countries were being offered carrots and sticks till the French said theyd veto.