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| Europe |
| France implicated in oil-for-food |
| 2006-01-13 |
| French authorities reportedly knew of fraud being committed by government officials involved in the oil-for-food program. The allegation was made by Didier Houssin, a high-level French official connected to the program, during questioning before an investigative magistrate, Le Figaro newspaper reported Thursday. Now, according to the newspaper, Judge Philippe Courroye is trying to find out if the French administration covered up the fraud. A series of investigations in France and in the United States have implicated French politicians and businessmen in a web of kickbacks connected to the oil-for-food program. Established in 1996 by the United Nations, the program allowed Iraq to sell its oil on the world market in exchange for food, medicine and other humanitarian aid. At the time, there was an international embargo against the regime of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. A number of international figures are accused of profiting from the kickbacks, including former French Interior Minister Charles Pasqua. The French justice system is also investigating the alleged involvement in the scandal of two former foreign ministry officials, Jean-Bernard Merimee and Serge Boidevaix. According to Le Figaro, both Houssin and another French official, Dominique Maillard, told judge Courroye they were aware as of 2001 of overcharges made by French companies involved in the oil-for-food program. Both men said they did not raise the alarm, however, because it wasn't their business to question the U.N. program. Both men occupied senior government positions dealing with energy resources at the time. |
| Posted by:too true |
| #7 What will be interesting to watch in countries like France, we already know what will happen in PuttyPutzLand - nothing, is if the people will be outraged, angry, demand a housecleaning, realize the implications (especially regards the propaganda campaign of anti-Americanism, Iraq, etc.), et al. If they "get it" then, perhaps, they will stage a comeback. I've said it before, and received mainly deafening silence in response to the point, the ex-Allies have suffered from exceptionally egregiously moronic leadership. Yeah, they voted 'em in, but people can be fooled - especially if you play to their pre-existing fears. We came terrifyingly close in 2000 and 2004 to making the same mistake. A moment of pause should be, IMHO, in everyone's feedback loop before bashing... So we'll be watching - and I'll be hoping - that they'll realize what BS they've been fed, how corrupt and crass and craven their leadership has been, and take steps to clean it up and come out of the Kool Aid pool. |
| Posted by: .com 2006-01-13 22:08 |
| #6 "Implicated"? Is that European for "up to their ears in it"? |
| Posted by: SteveS 2006-01-13 21:54 |
| #5 No real surprises here. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-01-13 20:46 |
| #4 Samir Vincent.....(drip, drip)....Sevan....(drip, drip)....Russian.....(drip, drip)....Kojo....(drip, drip), Merimee...(drip, drip)....Pasqua...(drip, drip)....Galloway....(drip, drip).....Park....(drip, drip)....Boutros-Ghali....(drip, drip).....Strong....(drip, drip) Think the MSM is missing out on a story? |
| Posted by: Danking70 2006-01-13 17:16 |
| #3 "Mensonges ! Tout se trouve !" |
| Posted by: mojo 2006-01-13 17:11 |
| #2 Now, according to the newspaper, Judge Philippe Courroye is trying to find out if the earth is indeed round, |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-01-13 12:17 |
| #1 Non! |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2006-01-13 12:12 |