Saddam Hussein's old chums in Baathist party have been brought back in from the political wilderness. The Iraqi Parliament has passed a bill to allow some former officials from the party to apply for government positions.
This measure, if approved by the presidential council, will allow thousands of low-level Baath Party members barred from office after the 2003 US invasion to be reinstated. The Bush Administration had urged the Iraqi Government to pass such a measure. This is rather ironic, as it was the Bush administration that barred the Baath party officials from holding office in the first place; thus pushing Iraq further to the brink of collapse.
President Bush, who is currently in the Middle East trying to resolve all issues (the Palestinian question, confronting Iran and democratising Pakistan) before he leaves office, said that the vote was "an important step toward reconciliation".
The world shall watch his "progress" with interest.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Revised Death Count
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that over 150,000 civilians have been killed since the United States and Britain invaded Iraq almost five years ago.
The WHO says the figure is an estimate based on interviews with families, they caution that the actual number of civilian deaths could be as high as 223,000.
Violence is now the leading cause of death among adult male Iraqis.
A previous study by Johns Hopkins University stated that 600,000 Iraqi civilians may have been killed in violent incidents between the start of the US/British invasion and July 2006.
The WHO says the figure is an estimate based on interviews with families, they caution that the actual number of civilian deaths could be as high as 223,000.
Violence is now the leading cause of death among adult male Iraqis.
A previous study by Johns Hopkins University stated that 600,000 Iraqi civilians may have been killed in violent incidents between the start of the US/British invasion and July 2006.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
US Diplomats Critical of US Policy
Nearly half of US diplomats, who do not want to serve in Iraq, say a key reason is because they do not support the Bush administration's policies there.
That is according to a survey carried out by the American Foreign Service Association, which represents the rank-and-file diplomatic corps, not political appointees.
The survey asked those who were not willing to go to Iraq why not, and those who were willing to go why.
State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack, said that people who signed up as foreign service officers were expected to support the policies of the US government.
"And if people have a problem with that, they know what they can do."
Fair comment!
That is according to a survey carried out by the American Foreign Service Association, which represents the rank-and-file diplomatic corps, not political appointees.
The survey asked those who were not willing to go to Iraq why not, and those who were willing to go why.
State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack, said that people who signed up as foreign service officers were expected to support the policies of the US government.
"And if people have a problem with that, they know what they can do."
Fair comment!
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Bribes Investigation
Executives from GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly may be interviewed by Britain's Serious Fraud Office as part of its investigation into allegations that British companies paid bribes to Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq.
The inquiry comes in the wake of the 2005 UN report by Paul Volcker, who listed more than 2000 companies worldwide that could have been involved with bribes paid to the former Iraqi regime to secure contracts under the UN program.
The report has found evidence suggesting AstraZeneca had paid $162K in kickbacks to secure $2.9M of contracts. GSK was accused of paying $1M for business worth $11.9M.
The investigation could take years, and is expected to cost £22M.
The inquiry comes in the wake of the 2005 UN report by Paul Volcker, who listed more than 2000 companies worldwide that could have been involved with bribes paid to the former Iraqi regime to secure contracts under the UN program.
The report has found evidence suggesting AstraZeneca had paid $162K in kickbacks to secure $2.9M of contracts. GSK was accused of paying $1M for business worth $11.9M.
The investigation could take years, and is expected to cost £22M.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Saddam's Yacht
Saddam Hussein's yacht, Ocean Breeze, is up for sale.
The yacht is in berth in the port in Nice, and is up for sale for $34M.
Ocean Breeze was built in 1981 by Danish shipbuilder Helsingor Vaerf. The yacht is 82metres long, and was originally named Qadissiyat Saddam. No word on who is the beneficiary of Saddam's universal life insurance policy.
The yacht is in berth in the port in Nice, and is up for sale for $34M.
Ocean Breeze was built in 1981 by Danish shipbuilder Helsingor Vaerf. The yacht is 82metres long, and was originally named Qadissiyat Saddam. No word on who is the beneficiary of Saddam's universal life insurance policy.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Saddam's Vice President Escapes
Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, Saddam Hussein's former vice president, escaped an Iraqi security raid on him in Salaheddin province, north of Baghdad.
Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri escaped an overnight raid last week on his hideout. The raid was conducted as a result of an intelligence report that al-Douri and his aides were holding a meeting in the village.
The Iraq security force did not find al-Douri, but seized documents which describe the links between al-Douri and al-Qaeda as well as other insurgent groups in Iraq.
Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri escaped an overnight raid last week on his hideout. The raid was conducted as a result of an intelligence report that al-Douri and his aides were holding a meeting in the village.
The Iraq security force did not find al-Douri, but seized documents which describe the links between al-Douri and al-Qaeda as well as other insurgent groups in Iraq.
Friday, December 07, 2007
Lousy Bookkeeping
Lousy bookkeeping by US forces has meant that there is a $5.2BN black hole in the accounts of the Iraqi security forces. Equipment and services allegedly supplied, at the cost of $5.2BN, to the Iraqi forces cannot be proven.
The Multinational Security Transition Command in Iraq cannot prove that the money was used for its intended results and not wasted.
That is no way to run a budget or a country.
The Multinational Security Transition Command in Iraq cannot prove that the money was used for its intended results and not wasted.
That is no way to run a budget or a country.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Maliki Asks Bush To Hand Over Chemical Ali
Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has formally asked President Bush to hand over Saddam Hussein's cousin, "Chemical Ali", and two other former officials sentenced to hang for the 1986-88 crackdown against Kurds.
The US is, quite rightly, refusing to hand over the men until the Iraqi leadership agree as whether the executions should be carried out or not. Were the US to give in to the Prime Minister's request, it would provoke a backlash from Sunni Arabs.
Maliki has accused unnamed politicians of interfering in the legal process for personal reasons, and insisted that Sunni politicians had no right under Iraqi law to pardon or ease the sentences of people convicted of crimes against humanity and condemned.
The US is, quite rightly, refusing to hand over the men until the Iraqi leadership agree as whether the executions should be carried out or not. Were the US to give in to the Prime Minister's request, it would provoke a backlash from Sunni Arabs.
Maliki has accused unnamed politicians of interfering in the legal process for personal reasons, and insisted that Sunni politicians had no right under Iraqi law to pardon or ease the sentences of people convicted of crimes against humanity and condemned.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Sentencing Lite
Houston oilman Oscar Wyatt, accused of paying kickbacks to Saddam Hussein under the United Nations' Oil-for-Food programme has been sentenced to 12 months 1 day in a low security jail.
In explaining the sentence, which was six months less than the low end of the sentencing range under federal guidelines, U.S. District Judge Denny Chin cited "amazing letters" from admirers of the 83 year old.
Quote:
"Mr. Wyatt is a most extraordinary man.
He has lived a remarkable life.
There is little doubt in my mind that Mr. Wyatt broke the law."
What a remarkable country America is; where, on the one hand, the death sentence is routinely carried out yet there are times when mercy is also shown.
In explaining the sentence, which was six months less than the low end of the sentencing range under federal guidelines, U.S. District Judge Denny Chin cited "amazing letters" from admirers of the 83 year old.
Quote:
"Mr. Wyatt is a most extraordinary man.
He has lived a remarkable life.
There is little doubt in my mind that Mr. Wyatt broke the law."
What a remarkable country America is; where, on the one hand, the death sentence is routinely carried out yet there are times when mercy is also shown.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Delay in Excecutions Drags On
Iraqi Shiite and Kurdish MPs have condemned the delay in carrying out the executions of "Chemical Ali" and two other convicted former officials of the Saddam Hussein regime.
Ali Hassan al-Majid, Sultan Hashim al-Tai, Saddam's defence minister, and Hussein Rashid al-Tikriti, his armed forces deputy chief of operations, were sentenced to death on June 24.
Kurdish and Shiite deputies called for the executions to be carried out without further delay.
The US military will not hand the condemned men over until the legal row between Iraqi officials over the execution is resolved.
Two members of the presidential council President Jalal Talabani, and Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, have refused to sign the execution orders.
Ali Hassan al-Majid, Sultan Hashim al-Tai, Saddam's defence minister, and Hussein Rashid al-Tikriti, his armed forces deputy chief of operations, were sentenced to death on June 24.
Kurdish and Shiite deputies called for the executions to be carried out without further delay.
The US military will not hand the condemned men over until the legal row between Iraqi officials over the execution is resolved.
Two members of the presidential council President Jalal Talabani, and Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, have refused to sign the execution orders.
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