NationStates Jolt Archive

US Oil companies offered 5 million$ to each Iraqi MP to pass the Oil law.

(Akhbar Alkhaleej)-- Jan 29th 2008--An Iraqi MP preferred to remain anonymous told the newspaper that highly confidential negotiations took place by representatives from American oil companies, offering $5 million to each MP who votes in favor of the Oil and Gas law.

The amount that could be paid to pass the votes do not exceed $150 million dollars in the case of $5 million to each MP, pointing out that the Oil law requires 138 votes to pass, which the Americans want to guarantee in many ways, including vote-buying, intimidation and threats!

Focusing on the heads of parliamentary blocs and influential figures in the parliament to ensure the votes, the Americans guaranteed the Kurdish votes in advance but they are seeking enough votes to pass and approve the law as soon as possible.

http://www.roadstoiraq.com/2008/01/29/american-oil-companies-offered-five-million-dollars-to-each-iraqi-mp-to-pass-the-oil-law/
interesting, I would have guessed 500'000$ or 1000'000$ but 5 Million$?

WoW...

I think once this article made it to the internet,the Iraq gov (and the US gov) must now launch full investigations. To see if there is something to it.
I am not saying I trust the results of this kind of investigation.

interesting, I would have guessed 500'000$ or 1000'000$ but 5 Million$?

WoW...

I think once this article made it to the internet,the Iraq gov (and the US gov) must now launch full investigations. To see if there is something to it.
I am not saying I trust the results of this kind of investigation.

Well, how else would you like them to spend their "record" profits? They need to do something with them before Hillary starts on her warpath to take them away.

I have to have high suspicions of this claim - it's not that Oil companies wouldn't resort to this if they could get away with it, it's that they're not so enormously stupid to do it.

To not be so paranoid as to think this would get out if offered to all MPs - well it beggars belief.

There's one thing that bothers me about this.

Why, if you're sitting on an oil supply worth more than $150 million, would you accept a $150 million bribe to give it away? And why, if your oil supply is not worth $150 million, wouldn't you just sell it for that price if offered?

It all seems quite silly, really.

Oil company execs doing something shady and potentially illegal to profit? Perish the thought.

Oil company execs doing something shady and potentially illegal to profit? Perish the thought.

One might even say that its as unlikely as an Arab-nationalist newspaper fabricating the story.

There's one thing that bothers me about this.

Why, if you're sitting on an oil supply worth more than $150 million, would you accept a $150 million bribe to give it away? And why, if your oil supply is not worth $150 million, wouldn't you just sell it for that price if offered?

It all seems quite silly, really.:confused:

are you sure they have only 150 million worth of Oil?

$150,000,000 for THIRTY TRILLION DOLLARS worth of oil. What a steal!

Jan 31st 2008

What oil law exactly is this? I don't like your source; they tell us the most negative possible aspect of a story and then tell us nothing else, no details no names no reasons no nothing. This is beyond bias - this is downright falsehood by omission. I mean, don't get me wrong, buying votes is not particularly democratic or good, but what is this gas law anyhow? And why are the oil companies willing to pay such a colossal sum for it? And does this "Iraqi MP wishing to remain anonymous" have something to gain from inciting even worse violence then Iraq already has, or at least more of it? How do we know that this MP wishing to remain anonymous is not Muqtada Al-Sadr himself, who by the way, was, last time I checked, technically an Iraqi MP.

There's one thing that bothers me about this.

Why, if you're sitting on an oil supply worth more than $150 million, would you accept a $150 million bribe to give it away? And why, if your oil supply is not worth $150 million, wouldn't you just sell it for that price if offered?

It all seems quite silly, really.

The Iraqi MPs don't own the oil as individuals

The Iraqi MPs would own the bribes as individuals

They aren't being asked to give their oil supplies away for free

Any other sources?

the source is rather sketchy at best considering Iraq doesn't actually own any oil and gas anymore :p

What oil law exactly is this? this one:

Oil Grab in Iraq

February 22, 2007
Foreign Policy In Focus

While debate rages in the United States about the military in Iraq, an equally important decision is being made inside of Iraq--the future of Iraq’s oil. A new Iraqi law proposes to open the country’s currently nationalized oil system to foreign corporate control. But emblematic of the flawed promotion of “democracy” by the Bush administration, this new law is news to most Iraqi politicians.

A leaked copy of the proposed hydrocarbon law appeared on the Internet last week at the same time that it was introduced to the Iraqi Council of Ministers. The law is expected to go to the Iraqi Council of Representatives within weeks. Yet the Internet version was the first look that most members of Iraq’s parliament had of the new law.

Not every aspect of the law is harmful to Iraq. However, the current language favors the interests of foreign oil corporations over the economic security and development of Iraq. The law’s key negative components harm Iraq’s national sovereignty, financial security, territorial integrity, and democracy.

http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/4020

Any other sources?

This is an OceanDrive thread. Why would you expect even one complete, unbiased source?

This is an OceanDrive thread. Why would you expect even one complete, unbiased source?

Indeed.

Meanwhile, Clinton's getting paid $32 million to help a Canadian Uranium miner make a deal with Kazakhstan's near-dictatorial president, Nursultan A. Nazarbayev.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22926743

Just months after the Kazakh pact was finalized, Mr. Clinton’s charitable foundation received its own windfall: a $31.3 million donation from Mr. Giustra that had remained a secret until he acknowledged it last month. The gift, combined with Mr. Giustra’s more recent and public pledge to give the William J. Clinton Foundation an additional $100 million, secured Mr. Giustra a place in Mr. Clinton’s inner circle, an exclusive club of wealthy entrepreneurs in which friendship with the former president has its privileges.


Watch those glass houses.

Meanwhile, Clinton's getting paid $32 million to help a Canadian Uranium miner make a deal with Kazakhstan's near-dictatorial president, Nursultan A. Nazarbayev.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22926743



Watch those glass houses.

You do realize, I hope, the difference between "Willian Jefferson Clinton" and "the William J. Clinton Charitable Foundation", yes? Because all your link really shows is that Clinton secured 31 million dollars...for charity.

This does not make me hate the man, to be honest.

"You can find proof of my allegations at _________________________"YOU THIEVING SUNAMAB...! :mad:

=P

You do realize, I hope, the difference between "Willian Jefferson Clinton" and "the William J. Clinton Charitable Foundation", yes?

Yes, primarily that the difference is "Less than you imagine."

Yes, primarily that the difference is "Less than you imagine."

Complete the following sentence for me, would you?

"You can find proof of my allegations at _________________________"

Do you have a single shred of proof that a single dime of that money ended up in Clinton's pocket? Any what so ever?

No?

Didn't think so.

YOU THIEVING SUNAMAB...! :mad:

=P

immitation is flattery, after all, and as far as memes go, it's a fairly good one.

Complete the following sentence for me, would you?

"You can find proof of my allegations at _________________________"

Do you have a single shred of proof that a single dime of that money ended up in Clinton's pocket? Any what so ever?

No?

Didn't think so.

You should try reading the rest of the article. Mr. Clinton has begun severing financial ties with Ronald W. Burkle, the supermarket magnate, and Vinod Gupta, the chairman of InfoUSA, to avoid any conflicts of interest. Those two men have harnessed the former president’s clout to expand their businesses while making the Clintons rich through partnership and consulting arrangements.


Then learn a little bit about how people who run charitable organizations can make money off it with "consulting fees" and other accounting tricks. It's common practice. Then brush up on your inductive reasoning skills.

Oh, no, there's nothing in the history of "charitable" organiations that could lead someone to conclude that yet another one might be alittle corrupt... if that someone lives in a cave in the Hindu Kush.

As to why Clinton would support a government his Wife has opposed... well, it must be that famed Democratic altruism.

And of course the fact that both Clinton and Giustra at first denied that their meeting took place doesn't ring any of your alarm bells because...

I don't know, Liberality-induced coma?

Hillary starts on her warpath to take them away.

That sounds likes a great idea.

immitation is flattery, after all, and as far as memes go, it's a fairly good one.I'm just disappointed it's not my accusing Gingerbreadman... :(