NationStates Jolt Archive

...is what this title would have read about six months ago, had the country been France. :p

http://www.ag.gov.au/agd/www/UNoilforfoodinquiry.nsf
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200604/s1614897.htm
Prime Minister John Howard has been called to give evidence at the oil-for-food scandal inquiry and said in a statement he was "happy" to appear.

At any rate, the Cole Enquiry set up to investigate the dealings of the partly government-owned AWB company (a firm buying all wheat from Aussie farmers and selling it themselves in order to prevent Aussie farmers from undercutting each other).

AWB used a trucking firm called "Alia" from Jordan, which was part-owned by Saddam. The overblown trucking fees went to Saddam's government in exchange for the permit to do business in Iraq. AWB knew that and was happy to pay.

And the indication is that people in the government knew and chose to ignore it.

So this enquiry has been investigating for weeks, and it even summoned two high-level ministers (the vice-PM and the foreign minister). They said that they couldn't recall anything.

And now John Howard himself has been told to get his slimy arse in the stand.

How much attention has this thing got in other countries? Especially the US?

Farmers never got paid for that either :(

-snip-
How much attention has this thing got in other countries? Especially the US?
First I've heard of it (in England).

Prime Minister John Howard has been called to give evidence at the oil-for-food scandal inquiry and said in a statement he was "happy" to appear.
He's probably saying that because he's already got his excuses lined up.

Yes we did. Then we had to invade to try & hush it all up. What a balls-up.

First I've heard of it (in England).


He's probably saying that because he's already got his excuses lined up.

Yes, his excuse is that neither himself, nor any of his ministers knew anything about it, thus they can in no way be held responsible. This is despite numerous diplomatic cables (one of which the foreign minister, Alexander Downer, signed & noted), warnings from the UN & the then US ambassador, all indicating that something was seriously rotten.

Yes, his excuse is that neither himself, nor any of his ministers knew anything about. This is despite numerous diplomatic cables (one of which the foreign minister, Alexander Downer, signed & noted), warnings from the UN & the then US ambassador, all indicating the something was seriously rotten.
Sir Humphrey Appleby would be proud, so much for Ministerial accountability.

Sir Humphrey Appleby would be proud, so much for Ministerial accountability.

Yes, it does have that sort of farcical air to it. After receiving these warnings, the extent of the foreign minister's efforts to uncover the truth, was to ring AWB direct & ask them if they'd been paying bribes. Of course, AWB denied it, and that was as far as he took it.

Yes, his excuse is that neither himself, nor any of his ministers knew anything about it, thus they can in no way be held responsible. This is despite numerous diplomatic cables (one of which the foreign minister, Alexander Downer, signed & noted), warnings from the UN & the then US ambassador, all indicating that something was seriously rotten.
So the political variation on not knowing anything...

So the political variation on not knowing anything...

I think it goes deeper than that. With all the various pieces of information the Australian government received, from a number of different (and quite trusted) sources, it's more like they deliberately looked the other way.

...is what this title would have read about six months ago, had the country been France. :p

The Cole inquiry has been going on for about six months.

By Letters Patent dated 10 November 2005, the Hon TRH Cole AO RFD QC was appointed Commissioner to conduct an inquiry into and report on whether decisions, actions, conduct or payments by Australian companies mentioned in the Final Report (“Manipulation of the Oil-for-Food Programme by the Iraqi Regime”) of the Independent Inquiry Committee into the United Nations Oil-for-Food Programme breached any Federal, State or Territory law.

The Inquiry was instigated following the expressed wish of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Mr Kofi Annan in a statement issued on 27 October 2005 with the release of the Committee’s report (the Volcker Report) that “national authorities will take steps to prevent the recurrence of such practices in the future and that they will take action, where appropriate, against companies falling within their jurisdiction.”

http://www.ag.gov.au/agd/www/UNoilforfoodinquiry.nsf

How much attention has this thing got in other countries? Especially the US?

It's gotten media attention. However, it looks clear that it's sunk in less than I thought.

Farmers never got paid for that either :(

fuck the farmer..he aint no one compared to the powers that be....let him die on the vine...and collect more taxes.....all the yuppies will be happy...no?

REGIME CHANGE PEOPLE. Australia can't be trusted and we need to ensure a stable and democratic regime wi...

...wait.

The Cole inquiry has been going on for about six months.
Oh, I know.

The point was more that I believe this is the first thread on NS General on this topic. Surely if the same had happened in France, it would've gotten more attention. ;)

REGIME CHANGE PEOPLE. Australia can't be trusted and we need to ensure a stable and democratic regime wi...

...wait.

YES! Regime change now. Who do we replace them with though?

Oh, I know.

The point was more that I believe this is the first thread on NS General on this topic. Surely if the same had happened in France, it would've gotten more attention. ;)

Thus the "it's sunk in less than I thought." comment. :)

REGIME CHANGE PEOPLE. Australia can't be trusted and we need to ensure a stable and democratic regime wi...

...wait.

YES! Regime change now. Who do we replace them with though?

Whomever the current Governor-General and the US decide upon a la 1975?

:eek: :::GD&Rs:::

YES! Regime change now. Who do we replace them with though?

*dons beret*

Just call me Comrade K. :p


Whomever the current Governor-General and the US decide upon a la 1975?

:eek: :::GD&Rs:::

Heh, that's probably the most likely outcome. :p

This is nothing, in my home town the Steel company Forgemasters was involved with creating a super cannon for Saddam Hussein, he intended it, apparantly, to launch shells at Isreal. Anyway MI6 got involved but it turned out that military Inteligence was asking them to proceed. Anyway the whole thing boiled over, and now there is a section of it in the Imperial War Museum in Duxford. Fancy that.

*dons beret*

Just call me Comrade K. :p

Wouldn't a homemade DIY suit of armor be more appropriate, Comrade Kelly?

Wouldn't a homemade DIY suit of armor be more appropriate, Comrade Kelly?

lol.

I have an image in my head that *must* be conveyed to photoshop.

Me wearing a washing machine as armour.

:D

lol.

I have an image in my head that *must* be conveyed to photoshop.

Me wearing a washing machine as armour.

:D

You have to do it! :p

lol.

I have an image in my head that *must* be conveyed to photoshop.

Me wearing a washing machine as armour.

:D

:D Yes!

And who, may I ask, sold them those guns?

Could it be our chums over the pond?

http://conscience.notfrisco2.com/archives/Pictures/handshake-thumb.jpg

You have to do it! :p

:D Yes!

Alas, my photoshop skillz are lacking, but i'll see what I can do a bit later on, hey?

:p

Trade minister Mark Vaille - "I delegated that to the Foreign Minister"
Foreign Minister Alexander (I'm a ) Downer - "I delegated that to the UN"
Prime Minister Johnny Coward - "I know nothing ..."

Yes, it does have that sort of farcical air to it.

As Private Secretary Bernard Woolley would say, "the fact that the Prime Minister needed to know was not known at the time that the now known need to know was known, and therefore those of us who needed to advise and inform felt that the information that we needed as to whether or not to inform the highest authority of the known information was not yet known, and therefore there was no authority for the authority to be informed because the need to know was not yet known, or needed."

Ahh, if only Yes, Minister were just comedy, and not also the real thing.

Trade minister Mark Vaille - "I delegated that to the Foreign Minister"
Foreign Minister Alexander (I'm a ) Downer - "I delegated that to the UN"
Prime Minister Johnny Coward - "I know nothing ..."

Just like Children Overboard & the DIMIA enquiry. None of the ministers involved knew anything, had heard anything, had done anything, etc, etc, despite the fact they are directly responsible for their portfolios.

It has been pretty big over here, but we already knew Oz was all BS anyways.

Just like Children Overboard & the DIMIA enquiry. None of the ministers involved knew anything, had heard anything, had done anything, etc, etc, despite the fact they are directly responsible for their portfolios.

I wish we could apply the new IR laws to politicians now.

I wish we could apply the new IR laws to politicians now.

That would be justice. :p

That would be justice. :p

Justice? Or revenge? I hope its revenge. Its what they deserve! If only we had a reasonable replacement.

Pick me for PM.

And my first act would be to have the death penalty reinstated, execute the entire liberal party for treason, then have it abolished.
Then I'd resign and let someone less politically insane take over :cool:

I'm hoping this does bring about a regime change. And I don't mean Costello. Personally, I'd vote Greens. Bob Brown is an absolute gun. If you ever hated school, read the education policy.
I'm from Melbourne by the way.

Sir Humphrey Appleby would be proud, so much for Ministerial accountability.

When Yes, Prime Minister becomes a shining example of principled government in comparison to real life, it is very frightening indeed.

When Yes, Prime Minister becomes a shining example of principled government in comparison to real life, it is very frightening indeed.

That's our government for you. It's about the fourth serious scenario where it has come down to ministerial accountability and each time they've shirked it. If they knew nothing about what was going on, how can they in anyway be accountable for it. :rolleyes:

I'm hoping this does bring about a regime change. And I don't mean Costello. Personally, I'd vote Greens. Bob Brown is an absolute gun. If you ever hated school, read the education policy.
I'm from Melbourne by the way.

I laready vote Greens (local, state & federal), but I don't think they're ever going to attract enough of the voters to be able to form even a minority government.