meehawl

all that is solid melts into air, all that is holy is profaned

Nudge Nudge Wink Wink

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Documents obtained by CNN reveal the United States knew about, and even condoned, embargo-breaking oil sales by Saddam Hussein’s regime, and did so to shore up alliances with Iraq’s neighbors … Estimates of how much revenue Iraq earned from these tolerated side sales of its oil to Jordan and Turkey, as well as to Syria and Egypt, range from $5.7 billion to $13.6 billion. This illicit revenue far exceeds the estimates of what Saddam pocketed through illegal surcharges on his U.N.-approved oil exports and illegal kickbacks on subsequent Iraqi purchases of food, medicine, and supplies — $1.7 billion to $4.4 billion — during the maligned seven-year U.N. oil-for-food program in Iraq … Rep. Robert Menendez … told CNN the United States was “complicit in undermining” the U.N. sanctions on Iraq. “How is it that you stand on a moral footing to go after the U.N. when they’re responsible for 15 percent maybe of the ill-gotten gains, and we were part and complicit of him getting 85 percent of the money?” Menendez asked.

2 Responses

  1. Anonymous says:
    2005-11-06 at 10:11:12

    I was speaking specifically about Iran and the islamic judiciary that approvates candidates for parliment. Were anyone allowed to run in their elections, it’s pretty clear the more religious would be booted out in large numbers.

  2. Mike Rogers says:
    2005-11-06 at 10:11:12

    I am not sure that bringing people together necessarily reduces conflict. What if it makes it more likely?

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