Australia's main wheat exporter AWB Ltd has stated that a class action has been filed against it, and its United States subsidiary AWB (USA) Ltd, by lawyers acting for Iraqi citizens.
The class action, filed in the Southern District of New York, is being undertaken by victims of crimes perpetrated by the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq from 1996 to 2003, or their surviving immediate family members.
The action, which also names French bank BNP Paribas as a defendant, alleges that the defendants contributed to the injuries and damages sustained by the plaintiffs by giving substantial assistance to the Saddam regime.
AWB was found by an Australian judicial inquiry to have paid kickbacks of $222M to the regime to secure sales.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Failure
Tony Blair's former foreign affairs adviser, Sir David Manning, has claimed that Blair "hoped to avoid" war in Iraq.
Manning then goes on to state, in an interview with the BBC, that "I don't think anybody can see that the immediate post-war situation was anything other than a failure".
The 20/20 vision that hindsight imparts is wondrous to behold!
Manning then goes on to state, in an interview with the BBC, that "I don't think anybody can see that the immediate post-war situation was anything other than a failure".
The 20/20 vision that hindsight imparts is wondrous to behold!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
The Wyatt Trial
Oscar Wyatt, a Texan oil billionaire, is now being tried in the US accused of paying millions of dollars in kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's government.
Wyatt, 83, is pleading not guilty. However, if convicted, he faces 74 years in jail.
Assistant US Attorney Stephen Miller opened for the prosecution by stating:
"When the world imposed sanctions on Iraq, Oscar Wyatt stepped up to help them evade sanctions."
Wyatt's lawyers contend that he "did not pay any surcharge to the Iraqis".
Wyatt faces five charges, including engaging in prohibited financial transactions with Iraq.
Wyatt, 83, is pleading not guilty. However, if convicted, he faces 74 years in jail.
Assistant US Attorney Stephen Miller opened for the prosecution by stating:
"When the world imposed sanctions on Iraq, Oscar Wyatt stepped up to help them evade sanctions."
Wyatt's lawyers contend that he "did not pay any surcharge to the Iraqis".
Wyatt faces five charges, including engaging in prohibited financial transactions with Iraq.
Saturday, September 01, 2007
US Intellectually Bankrupt
The former head of the British army, General Sir Mike Jackson, has described US policy in Iraq as "intellectually bankrupt".
Well said!
Well said!
Friday, August 31, 2007
Audit Report Rejected
Accountancy Age reveal that an audit report that concluded that Iraq met just three of 18 congressionally mandated benchmarks, has been rejected by the US government.
Seemingly the auditors "set the bar too high"!
President Shrub takes the view that if the facts don't fit the story, then clearly the facts are wrong not the story.
Seemingly the auditors "set the bar too high"!
President Shrub takes the view that if the facts don't fit the story, then clearly the facts are wrong not the story.
Tip Off Trial
U.S. District Judge Denny Chin has ruled that prosecutors can introduce evidence (in the form of a diary) in the trial of Oscar Wyatt, a Texas oil tycoon, that shows that Wyatt tipped off Iraq about the impending 2003 US invasion.
Judge Chin also allowed evidence that the defence claims unfairly suggested that payments made by Wyatt to Iraq's state oil marketing organisation were bribes passed on to Saddam Hussein.
Wyatt will stand trial on September 5, at a federal court in Manhattan, accused of paying millions of dollars in kickbacks to Iraq to win oil contracts and corrupting the oil-for-food program.
The judge agreed with prosecutors who said that the diary was needed to show Wyatt's close ties with Iraqi officials.
Quote:
"It shows Mr. Wyatt was trying extremely hard to get additional (oil) allocations," the judge said. "Why was the Iraq government treating Mr. Wyatt so well? Why did he get the first (oil) allocation? ... This is further evidence of that relationship."
Judge Chin also allowed evidence that the defence claims unfairly suggested that payments made by Wyatt to Iraq's state oil marketing organisation were bribes passed on to Saddam Hussein.
Wyatt will stand trial on September 5, at a federal court in Manhattan, accused of paying millions of dollars in kickbacks to Iraq to win oil contracts and corrupting the oil-for-food program.
The judge agreed with prosecutors who said that the diary was needed to show Wyatt's close ties with Iraqi officials.
Quote:
"It shows Mr. Wyatt was trying extremely hard to get additional (oil) allocations," the judge said. "Why was the Iraq government treating Mr. Wyatt so well? Why did he get the first (oil) allocation? ... This is further evidence of that relationship."
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Israel Warned US Not To Invade Iraq
It seems that back in 2001 Israeli officials warned the Bush administration that an invasion of Iraq would destabilise the region, and wanted the US to focus its attention on the "main enemy" Iran.
That at least is the case according to the Asia Times.
The "good" news is that the Israelis now have their wish, President Shrub is now focusing on Iran; despite the fact that Iraq and Afghanistan are seriously out of control.
Mission accomplished!
That at least is the case according to the Asia Times.
The "good" news is that the Israelis now have their wish, President Shrub is now focusing on Iran; despite the fact that Iraq and Afghanistan are seriously out of control.
Mission accomplished!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Saddam's Daughter in Terror Link
A man arrested on Sunday is alleged to be the leader of an Iraqi terror cell which allegedly is being funded by Raghad Hussein, Saddam Hussein's eldest daughter.
US forces apprehended the man in Saddam's hometown of Tikrit, he is now under interrogation about a series of attacks on coalition forces using rocket-propelled grenades and roadside bombs.
Interpol this month issued a worldwide warrant for Raghad Hussein. She is reportedly living in Jordan, under the protection of the royal family. The Iraqi government requested the warrant on charges of inciting terrorism and crimes against life and health.
US forces apprehended the man in Saddam's hometown of Tikrit, he is now under interrogation about a series of attacks on coalition forces using rocket-propelled grenades and roadside bombs.
Interpol this month issued a worldwide warrant for Raghad Hussein. She is reportedly living in Jordan, under the protection of the royal family. The Iraqi government requested the warrant on charges of inciting terrorism and crimes against life and health.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
De Baathification Cancelled
Several years too late, the powers that be in Iraq have finally woken up to the fact that one of the worst mistakes post "regime change" was the "De Baathification" of the country.
Iraq's top political leaders have announced an agreement to release thousands of prisoners, being held without charge (wasn't the invasion meant to do away with such practices?), and to reform a law that has kept thousands of members of Saddam Hussein's political party out of government jobs.
"De-Baathification" was one of the worst thought through (if "thought" was ever applied in this case) "initiatives" that the US imposed upon Iraq post invasion. It resulted in the total meltdown of the political, military, police and civil service infrastructure. The reason being that the Baathists, like it or not, were the ones who held the key positions and knew how to run the country.
It is unlikely that this last minute gesture will be enough to secure the political stability/future of Iraq. Last week a US national intelligence report predicted that "the Iraqi Government will become more precarious over the next six to 12 months"; in other words it will collapse.
What will Shrub do then?
Iraq's top political leaders have announced an agreement to release thousands of prisoners, being held without charge (wasn't the invasion meant to do away with such practices?), and to reform a law that has kept thousands of members of Saddam Hussein's political party out of government jobs.
"De-Baathification" was one of the worst thought through (if "thought" was ever applied in this case) "initiatives" that the US imposed upon Iraq post invasion. It resulted in the total meltdown of the political, military, police and civil service infrastructure. The reason being that the Baathists, like it or not, were the ones who held the key positions and knew how to run the country.
It is unlikely that this last minute gesture will be enough to secure the political stability/future of Iraq. Last week a US national intelligence report predicted that "the Iraqi Government will become more precarious over the next six to 12 months"; in other words it will collapse.
What will Shrub do then?
Friday, August 24, 2007
Thrown From A Helicopter
A mother has accused Saddam Hussein's cousin, Chemical Ali, of throwing her sons out of a helicopter to their deaths during the crushing of a Shia rebellion in Iraq.
The woman was giving testimony in the trial of 15 of Saddam's aides accused of crimes against humanity, during the repression of the 1991 rebellion.
She was speaking from behind a curtain, in order to protect her identity, and accused Ali Hassan al-Majid (aka Chemical Ali) of killing her two sons.
Quote:
"The army detained my two sons, my brother and my niece on March 3, 1991.
Nine days later, my brother and niece were released and they told me that Ali Hasan al-Majid had executed my two sons by throwing them out of a helicopter into the Gulf."
The Shias who took part in the uprising expected the US to back them in the rebellion. However, former US president George Bush instead ordered a halt at the Iraqi border, leaving the rebels to be dealt with by Saddam's Revolutionary Guards.
Around 90 victims and witnesses are expected to testify against the defendants in the current trial.
The woman was giving testimony in the trial of 15 of Saddam's aides accused of crimes against humanity, during the repression of the 1991 rebellion.
She was speaking from behind a curtain, in order to protect her identity, and accused Ali Hassan al-Majid (aka Chemical Ali) of killing her two sons.
Quote:
"The army detained my two sons, my brother and my niece on March 3, 1991.
Nine days later, my brother and niece were released and they told me that Ali Hasan al-Majid had executed my two sons by throwing them out of a helicopter into the Gulf."
The Shias who took part in the uprising expected the US to back them in the rebellion. However, former US president George Bush instead ordered a halt at the Iraqi border, leaving the rebels to be dealt with by Saddam's Revolutionary Guards.
Around 90 victims and witnesses are expected to testify against the defendants in the current trial.
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