The Gardai (Irish police) have confirmed that they are continuing investigations into claims that three Irish companies paid illegal kickbacks to Saddam Hussein in 2001.
The companies were named by a UN investigative committee, in a report published in 2005.
The Irish chapter of anti-corruption group, Transparency International, said it welcomed the Gardai investigation. However, it accused the Irish government of not doing enough to enforce or raise awareness of the crime of bribing foreign public officials.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Chemical Ali To Hang in Baghdad
Saddam Hussein's cousin "Chemical Ali", Hassan al-Majid, and two other former regime officials will be hanged in Baghdad and not in Kurdistan if their death sentences for killing Kurds are upheld by an appeals court.
The Iraqi government, not noted for its competence, is concerned that hanging them in Kurdistan would make their executions look like revenge killings.
An appeals court is considering their appeal of sentences handed down last month.
The Iraqi government, not noted for its competence, is concerned that hanging them in Kurdistan would make their executions look like revenge killings.
An appeals court is considering their appeal of sentences handed down last month.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Galloway Suspended
As predicted George Galloway is to be suspended from the Commons for 18 days, after being found guilty of not disclosing his links with Saddam Hussein's regime.
Parliament's anti-sleaze watchdogs found "strong circumstantial evidence" that the United Nations' discredited oil-for-food programme was used by the Iraqi government, with Mr Galloway's connivance, to fund the Mariam Appeal he set up partly to campaign against sanctions imposed on Iraq.
Parliament's anti-sleaze watchdogs found "strong circumstantial evidence" that the United Nations' discredited oil-for-food programme was used by the Iraqi government, with Mr Galloway's connivance, to fund the Mariam Appeal he set up partly to campaign against sanctions imposed on Iraq.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Galloway Faces Suspension
George Galloway, the independent MP and anti-war campaigner, faces suspension from the Commons this week.
The Committee on Standards and Privileges is set to suspend Galloway, a former Labour MP who now sits for the Respect Party, over a charity he is associated with.
Galloway was rebuked last month by a charity watchdog for failing properly to vet donations made to the charity.
The Charity Commission found donations to the Respect MP's Mariam appeal, totalling tens of thousands of pounds, were funded with money linked to the United Nations oil-for-food scandal.
The commission concluded that the money was used for humanitarian causes.
The Committee on Standards and Privileges is set to suspend Galloway, a former Labour MP who now sits for the Respect Party, over a charity he is associated with.
Galloway was rebuked last month by a charity watchdog for failing properly to vet donations made to the charity.
The Charity Commission found donations to the Respect MP's Mariam appeal, totalling tens of thousands of pounds, were funded with money linked to the United Nations oil-for-food scandal.
The commission concluded that the money was used for humanitarian causes.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Draft Oil Law
Iraq's cabinet has approved changes to a draft oil law, and sent it to parliament in an attempt to curb the sectarian violence.
Nuri al-Maliki, Iraq's prime minister, said it was the "most important" law in the country.
"The law was approved unanimously ... it was referred to the parliament which will discuss it tomorrow.
I call on all our partners in the political process and in this national unity government to respect this deal."
However, the Kurds have said that they had neither seen nor approved the final text of the law and might oppose it.
The Kurdistan regional government said it would reject the latest text, if it made "material and substantive changes" to the outline agreed upon during weeks of protracted negotiations.
For the Iraqi people, time is running out.
Nuri al-Maliki, Iraq's prime minister, said it was the "most important" law in the country.
"The law was approved unanimously ... it was referred to the parliament which will discuss it tomorrow.
I call on all our partners in the political process and in this national unity government to respect this deal."
However, the Kurds have said that they had neither seen nor approved the final text of the law and might oppose it.
The Kurdistan regional government said it would reject the latest text, if it made "material and substantive changes" to the outline agreed upon during weeks of protracted negotiations.
For the Iraqi people, time is running out.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
The Libby "Pardon"
President Bush should be aware that no President, or friend of the President, is in the long run above the law.
The decision to "commute" Libby's 30th month sentence, with the likelihood of a future pardon, reflects very badly on this President and his attitude to the law.
The decision to "commute" Libby's 30th month sentence, with the likelihood of a future pardon, reflects very badly on this President and his attitude to the law.
Monday, July 02, 2007
UN Inspection Body Closed
Friday saw the closure of the UN Inspection body that searched without success for non existent Saddam Hussein's WMD.
The US and Iraq have called it an "historic day".
The resolution terminating the mandate of the U.N. bodies responsible for overseeing the dismantling of Saddam's programs to develop nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and long-range missiles was approved by a vote of 14-0 with Russia abstaining.
Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin objected to the council's failure to comply with previous resolutions demanding that the inspectors certify that Iraq has no banned weapons or missiles before terminating their mandate.
"The adoption of this resolution does not give any clear answers to the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq."
The US and Iraq have called it an "historic day".
The resolution terminating the mandate of the U.N. bodies responsible for overseeing the dismantling of Saddam's programs to develop nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and long-range missiles was approved by a vote of 14-0 with Russia abstaining.
Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin objected to the council's failure to comply with previous resolutions demanding that the inspectors certify that Iraq has no banned weapons or missiles before terminating their mandate.
"The adoption of this resolution does not give any clear answers to the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq."
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Saddam - The Series
A four-episode mini-series on Saddam Hussein is in development.
The BBC-HBO collaboration, entitled "Between Two Rivers", will star Yigal Naor as Saddam, together with Shohreh Aghdashloo and Christine Stephen-Daly.
Between Two Rivers is about the dynamics of Saddam's family and his relationships with his close advisers.
Shooting will start this summer in North Africa.
The BBC-HBO collaboration, entitled "Between Two Rivers", will star Yigal Naor as Saddam, together with Shohreh Aghdashloo and Christine Stephen-Daly.
Between Two Rivers is about the dynamics of Saddam's family and his relationships with his close advisers.
Shooting will start this summer in North Africa.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Shocking Ignorance
A new Newsweek poll published this weekend, has exposed a shocking level of ignorance in the minds of the American people as to their knowledge of history and current events.
A staggering 41% of Americans believe that Saddam Hussein had some involvement in 9/11.
When asked:
"Do you think Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq was directly involved in planning, financing, or carrying out the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001?"
41% said yes.
Quite how that level of ignorance can exist in such a wealthy and, allegedly, "well educated" society is truly alarming. It bodes ill for the future.
A staggering 41% of Americans believe that Saddam Hussein had some involvement in 9/11.
When asked:
"Do you think Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq was directly involved in planning, financing, or carrying out the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001?"
41% said yes.
Quite how that level of ignorance can exist in such a wealthy and, allegedly, "well educated" society is truly alarming. It bodes ill for the future.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Chemical Ali Sentenced to Death
Saddam Hussein's cousin known as "Chemical Ali", and two other former regime officials, have been sentenced to death by hanging today for their roles in a 1980's campaign that led to the deaths of 180,000 Kurds.
Ali Hassan al-Majid, Saddam's cousin and the former head of the Baath Party's Northern Bureau Command, stood silently as the judge read the verdict.
The judge, Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa, said that al-Majid was convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes for ordering army and security services to use chemical weapons in a large-scale offensive that killed or maimed thousands.
As he was led out of the court, al-Majid said:
"Thanks be to God."
The death sentence is subject to an appeal confirmation.
Ali Hassan al-Majid, Saddam's cousin and the former head of the Baath Party's Northern Bureau Command, stood silently as the judge read the verdict.
The judge, Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa, said that al-Majid was convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes for ordering army and security services to use chemical weapons in a large-scale offensive that killed or maimed thousands.
As he was led out of the court, al-Majid said:
"Thanks be to God."
The death sentence is subject to an appeal confirmation.
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