[Rhodes22-list] reply to Wally's Politics
Steve
rhodes2282 at yahoo.com
Wed May 5 14:37:55 EDT 2004
Slim
California did that to themselves. The electric
companies had been regulated out there, forever.
California voted (the poeple voted) to deregulated the
electric companies. This open the door for abuse but
you have to factor in the these companies had not been
allowed to make a profit in generations.
BTW: Halabutiion contribute to both parties.
Steve
--- Steve Alm <salm at mn.rr.com> wrote:
> Rik,
>
> Sorry, I meant to say at the expense of consumers,
> not taxpayers. I can't
> be held responsible for the things I write before
> noon. 8-)
>
> Consider this example: Right after Bush took
> office, California suffered a
> severe "energy crisis." I really don't know exactly
> what he did or didn't
> do about that but the timing was sure suspicious.
> At the same time of the
> crisis, the energy companies were posting some of
> the biggest profits ever.
> This just pisses me off. Sure, any business should
> go after profit, but the
> energy companies are not just any business. They
> are monopolies that hold
> the consumer hostage. You're right, this is a
> private industry--not
> public--but IMO they have a responsibility to the
> public. People become
> outraged when they're being gouged.
>
> I'm blurring the lines here between the power
> companies and the oil
> companies, but it looks like they operate at the
> same level. I don't have a
> problem with lease holders. I don't even have a
> problem with the middle
> men. And I surely don't have a problem with the
> jobs it creates. It's what
> happens at the top that costs us so much more than
> it should. These fat
> cats broker deals with the politicians to increase
> their profit and in turn
> they donate gigantic sums to the politicians. At
> best, this is
> opportunistic and at worst, it's corruption. I
> can't name off "Bush's
> partners" in the oil business (although it wouldn't
> take much research--just
> check the campaign contributions) but Halliburton is
> a good example of the
> kind of cozy, closed-door deals I'm talking about.
> Halliburton OWNS Bush,
> bought and paid for.
>
> When the government is in bed with industry, and
> motivates the public by
> fear and strips away their civil rights, it's called
> Fascism.
>
> Slim
>
> On 5/5/04 1:02 PM, "Rik Sandberg"
> <sanderico at earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> > At 11:32 AM 5/5/2004, you wrote:
> >> Rik,
> >>
> >> I suppose it doesn't matter who makes the money
> if the project is truly
> >> necessary, but I suspect that it's not. When we
> have capped oil wells
> >> galore, no more is needed now. Drilling in
> Alaska would only be lining the
> >> pockets of special interest groups at the expense
> of taxpayers.
> >
> > I don't see where anybody's pockets are being
> lined by this at the expense
> > of taxpayers. It seems to me that this is a
> legitimate business who makes
> > it's money by selling a product that most of us
> need. It is not their fault
> > that we have gotten ourselves into a position of
> needing their product more
> > than we are comfortable with, but you gotta admit,
> it's a position many of
> > us would like to be in. I don't feel that it is my
> place to decide whether
> > the project is "needed" or not. Obviously,
> somebody has already invested
> > some money in this deal. I would imagine that they
> would like to see some
> > return on that investment. Can't hardly hold that
> against them. If we feel
> > the oil companies are making too much money, we
> can always choose to use
> > less of their product.
> >
> >
> >> Of course the Dems have their special interests
> too, and whenever we see this
> >> happening, left or right, it's time to cry
> "foul!" As far as Texas vs.
> >> North Dakota goes, I'll bet the ranch that any
> drilling in Alaska will be a
> >> no-bid contract for Bush's partners. It's your
> money.
> >
> > I have to ask....Just who are "Bush's partners"??
> I don't think this can
> > really be considered a public job. Why wouldn't or
> shouldn't whoever is the
> > holder of these leases contract with whoever they
> wish for this work?? If I
> > was the lease holder, I wouldn't expect to be told
> by the public who would
> > do this work. I don't expect to be told by the
> public where to get my
> > trucks fixed and I'm sure you don't expect to be
> told where you have to
> > take your amplifier when it shorts out. The only
> thing, it seems to me,
> > that the public has to say about this, is whether
> the drilling should be
> > allowed at all on public land. If the answer is
> no, than it should be no,
> > no matter what. Not no now until we all get
> nervous about the oil supply
> > again, then yes. Once this is decided, then it is
> up to each business
> > entity involved to decide what works best for
> them, just like any other
> > business.
> >
> > Rik
> >
> >
> >> Slim
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On 5/5/04 7:13 AM, "Rik Sandberg"
> <sanderico at earthlink.net> wrote:
> >>
> >>> Slim,
> >>>
> >>> I'm at a bit of a loss here...... What
> difference does it make who
> >> makes money
> >>> on this oil, or where they are from??? I would
> imagine that the oil
> >> leases on
> >>> this ground have probably been owned by whoever
> has them, for a long time.
> >>> So, I doubt that there is really any question
> about WHO will drill for this
> >>> oil, only WHEN they will be allowed to. If you
> or I had been smart
> >> enough to
> >>> take the risk and buy up these leases, then it
> would be you or I that would
> >>> make the money. I wasn't smart enough. I don't
> know what you were thinking
> >>> either. :-) I guess I hope that someone is able
> to make a buck
> >> bringing this
> >>> oil (or any oil) to the surface, cuz when they
> can't they will stop
> >> doing it.
> >>> Then you and me are going to be riding our old
> bicycles.
> >>>
> >>> Are you sure there aren't some Democrats that
> have "oil buddies" too??
> >> Last I
> >>> heard, Al Gore's family was the largest
> stockholder in some oil company,
> >>> Occidental Petroleum(?), if I'm not mistaken.
> Seems there are many here who
> >>> would have liked to see him elected. I'd bet the
> oil companies would
> >> still be
> >>> making a buck or two if he were in office
> instead of Bush. Would that be
> >>> somehow different....or better????
> >>>
> >>> As far as the idle oil wells around the country
> are concerned, you are
> >> right.
> >>> If it costs more to bring the stuff up than one
> can sell it for, why would
> >>> one do it? I'm pretty sure there is nobody
> posting to this list who
> >> does (or
> >>> did) his particular job of work and expects no
> financial reward for his
> >>> efforts.
> >>>
> >>> Rik
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> On Tue, May 04 2004 11:22 pm, Steve Alm wrote:
> >>>> Steve,
> >>>>
> >>>> I traveled a lot throughout the Dakotas and
> Montana and I can attest
> >> to the
> >>>> fact that there are hundreds, maybe thousands
> of oil wells lying idle in
> >>>> that area. There's a great deal of oil in that
> region. Why are they
> >> idle?
> >>>> It's got nothing to do with the dems or the
> environmentalists! It's the
> >>>> economics. It's less expensive to import
> foreign oil than it is to
> >> produce
> >>>> it here in the US. If prices continue to rise,
> there may come a point at
> >>>> which it will become cost-effective to uncap
> the wells in the Dakotas and
> >>>> Montana and elsewhere, but at this point, it's
> wiser to buy it from the
> >>>> middle east.
> >>>>
> >>>> Drilling in Alaska is nothing but redundant at
> this point. We don't need
> >>>> Alaskan oil. We have plenty. The only reason
> Bush wants to drill in
> >>>> Alaska is to benefit his Texas oil buddies that
> put him in
> >> office. Mark my
> >>>> word--if he passes the Alaska drilling bill,
> who do you think will get the
> >>>> contract? A North Dakota company? Yeah,
> right!
> >>>>
> >>>> Slim
> >>>>
> >>>> On 5/3/04 11:00 AM, "Steve"
> <rhodes2282 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> >>>>> Roger - you shouldn' unset poor Wally like
> that. War
> >>>>> is for Oil; Wally is lible to start believing
> that:-)
> >>>>>
> >>>>> For the record, the US is the 3rd largest
> producer of
> >>>>> Oil in the World. Yes, we import a lot of oil
> and
> >>>>> natrual gas but those are the only two. All
> other
> >>>>> energy sources, the US is self reliant.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Also for the record, we don't need the middle
> east
> >>>>> oil. We have the cability to produce our own
> >>>>> stockpiles there in the US. The fact that we
> don't;
> >>>>> just thank your Democrats & Enviormentalist.
> Also, we
> >>>>> can produce enough energy to last 250 years if
> we
> >>>>> swithch over to utilize Coal.
> >>>>> Steve
> >>>>>
> >>>>> --- ed kroposki <ekroposki at charter.net> wrote:
> >>>>>> Wally:
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> For those with no connection to New York
> City, nor
> >>>>>> ever having seen
> >>>>>> the twin towers, it appears easy to forget
> the part
> >>>>>> of the equation that
> >>>>>> deals with terrorist. Many say Iraq had no
> >>>>>> connection. I beg your pardon.
> >>>>>> One terrorist wanted for questioning fled to
> Iraq
> >>>>>> and was given asylum and
> >>>>>> sanctuary by Sadaam.
> >>>>>> Loud voices say no weapons of mass
> destruction were
> >>>>>> found. Just two
> >>>>>> weeks ago in Jordan a plot to use chemical
> weapons
> >>>>>> was stopped in Jordan.
> >>>>>> Analyst determined the weapons came to Jordan
> thru
> >>>>>> Syria. The chemicals
> >>>>>> were determined to have been made in Iraq in
> what
> >>>>>> the news media called a
> >>>>>> fertilizer factory.
> >>>>>> I say it is better to take the fight to
> terrorist
> >>>>>> where they come
> >>>>>> from and not allow them to do their dirty
> tricks in
> >>>>>> America. Maybe you
> >>>>>> think the middle of Tennessee is safe. But
> where is
> >>>>>> Oak Ridge? Are you
> >>>>>> willing to let terrorist get inside and
> control of
> >>>>>> the plant? I imagine
> >>>>>> that they could made a bang there.
> >>>>>> This problem is not only about oil.
> >>>>>> Humpf!
> >>>>>> Ed K
> >>>>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>>>> From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
> >>>>>> [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org]
> On
> >>>>>> Behalf Of Wally Buck
> >>>>>> Sent: Monday, May 03, 2004 7:59 AM
> >>>>>> To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
> >>>>>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] More Politics
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Roger,
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> I would have much more respect for the war
> >>>>>> supporters if they all admited
> >>>>>> that it was about oil. If you listen to folks
> like
> >>>>>> Steve one can see they
> >>>>>> are blinded by party line. To me their
> viewpoint is
> >>>>>> the one that is naive.
> >>>>>> They are buying into all of the other reasons
> like
> >>>>>> freedon, WMD, and so on.
> >>>>>> Your post supports my belief, that oil is
> blood and
> >>>>>> we are the ones
> >>>>>> attacking over it. Some just need to wrap
> their arms
> >>>>>> around that!
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Wally
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> From: "Roger Pihlaja"
> <cen09402 at centurytel.net>
> >>>>>>> Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list"
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] More Politics
> >>>>>>> Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2004 19:20:27 -0400
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Gentlemen,
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> The world population is currently at about
> 6.2
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> billion people & continuing
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> to grow exponentially. Depending upon which
> study
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> you believe, that's
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> about
> >>>>>>> 2X - 3X the size of the population that
> could be
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> supported W/O modern
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> technology. Like it or not, that means
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> transportation, energy systems,
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> infrastructure, & products that run on crude
> oil.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> If the civilized world
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> does not take steps to assure the
> uninterrupted
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> flow of crude oil from the
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Middle East; then, more people are going to
> have to
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> die off than have died
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> in all of the wars and all of the plagues
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> throughout human history
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> combined!
> >>>>>>> Please keep that in mind as you go on & on
> about
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> how there should be no
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> blood for oil. The plain, unvarnished,
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> irrefutable, inescapable truth is
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> that OIL IS BLOOD! Wrap your arms around
> that
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> concept & learn to deal with
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> it. Any other attitude is so naive that it
> must be
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> considered childish.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> For everything else that G.W. Bush has done
> wrong,
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> he clearly understands
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> that basic truth.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Roger Pihlaja
> >>>>>>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
> >>>>>>> From: "Wally Buck" <tnrhodey at hotmail.com>
> >>>>>>> To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >>>>>>> Sent: Friday, April 30, 2004 9:40 AM
> >>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] More Politics
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Steve,
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> I wouldn't call Bush's taking us to war
> over
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> false hoods a "minor
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> lapse".
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Talk about understatement!
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> I agree that the French and Russians were
> on the
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> take. At least when the
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> French and Russian's were on the take no
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Americans were getting killed.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> I
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> have said all along this war is about oil
> and
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Paul's post supports my
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> view
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> point. WMD, human rights, freedom and so on
> all
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> sound good but if there
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> wasn't a drop of oil in the area the US,
> France,
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> and Russia wouldn't
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> give
> >>>>>>> a
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> flip.So now we are at "war " and the US
> controls
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> the oil. I don't see
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>> how
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> this is a big improvement.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Wally
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> From: Steve <rhodes2282 at yahoo.com>
> >>>>>>>>> Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] More Politics
> >>>>>>>>> Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2004 11:25:08 -0700
> (PDT)
> >>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> Very interesting, Paul. You know, I
> figured it
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> was
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> only a matter of time before this came
> out. A
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> country
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> such a French putting monetary issue
> before the
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> safety
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> of the world. We should all get down on
> our
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> knees &
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> thank God that we have our President (and
> a
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> GREAT
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> President at that) & Tony Blair over in
> England
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> that
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> was willing to take a stand for whats
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> right!!!!!!!!!!
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> Where me a flag; I feel like saluting
> it:-)
> >>>>>>>>> Steve
> >>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> --- pdgrand at nospam.wmis.net wrote:
> >>>>>>>>>> Forgive me if you receive this twice. I
> >>>>>>>>>> accidentally left out the subject
> >>>>>>>>>> on the first try. - Paul
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> April 28, 2004 -- ANYONE who pines for
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> genuine
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> international
> >>>>>>>>>> multilateralism would do well to follow
> the
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> bribes
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> now being uncovered in
> >>>>>>>>>> the United Nations' Oil-for- Food
> scandal.
> >>>>>>>>>> Why did France and Russia oppose efforts
> to
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> topple
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Saddam Hussein's regime?
> >>>>>>>>>> And why did they press constantly,
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> throughout the
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> '90s, for an expansion of
> >>>>>>>>>> Iraqi oil sales? Was it their empathy for
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> the
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> starving children of that
> >>>>>>>>>> impoverished nation? Their desire to stop
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> the United
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> States from arrogantly
> >>>>>>>>>> imposing its vision upon the Middle East?
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> It now looks like they it was simply
> because
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> they
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> were on the take. Saddam
> >>>>>>>>>> was their cash cow. If President Bush has
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> suffered
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> some discredit over his
> >>>>>>>>>> apparently false - but not disingenuous -
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> claims of
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Iraqi weapons of mass
> >>>>>>>>>> destruction, the lapse is minor compared
> to
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> the
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> outright personal
> >>>>>>>>>> selfishness and criminality that appears
> to
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> have
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> motivated many of those
> >>>>>>>>>> who opposed his efforts to rid the world
> of
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> one of
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> its worst dictators.
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Throughout the '90s, France and Russia
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> badgered the
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> United States and
> >>>>>>>>>> Britain to increase Iraqi oil production.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> President
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Bill Clinton and Prime
> >>>>>>>>>> Minister Tony Blair fought them at each
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> step, but
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> then reluctantly gave
> >>>>>>>>>> way. First Iraq was allowed to sell
> 500,000
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> barrels
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> daily. Then, on Franco-
> >>>>>>>>>> Russian insistence, it was raised to 1
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> million, then
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> to 2 million and,
> >>>>>>>>>> finally, to 3 million barrels a day.
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Each time, America and Britain - the
> nations
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> now
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> accused of coveting Iraqi
> >>>>>>>>>> oil - resisted the increases in Iraqi
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> production and
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> urged tighter controls
> >>>>>>>>>> over the program. Each time, the French
> and
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> the
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Russians prattled on about
> >>>>>>>>>> the rights of Iraqi sovereignty and the
> need
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> to feed
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> the children.
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Now we know why the French and Russians
> were
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> so
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> insistent. Iraqi government
> >>>>>>>>>> documents (leaked to the Baghdad
> newspaper
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Al Mada)
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> list at least 270
> >>>>>>>>>> individuals and entities who got vouchers
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> allowing
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> them to sell Iraqi oil -
> >>>>>>>>>> and to keep much of the money. These
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> vouchers, and
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> the promise of instant
> >>>>>>>>>> great wealth they carried with them,
> bought
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> vital
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> support in the United
> >>>>>>>>>> Nations to let Saddam stay in power.
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> The list of those receiving these bribes
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> includes
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> France's former French
> >>>>>>>>>> Interior Minister Charles Pasqua (who's a
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> leader of
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Chirac's party) and
> >>>>>>>>>> Patrick Maugein, the head of the French
> Oil
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> firm
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Soco International.
> >>>>>>>>>> France's former U.N. ambassador,
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Jean-Bernard
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Merimee, got vouchers to sell
> >>>>>>>>>> 11 million barrels.
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> In Russia, the payoff chain reached right
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> into the
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> "office of the Russian
> >>>>>>>>>> president." President Vladimir Putin's
> Peace
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> and
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Unity Party also got
> >>>>>>>>>> vouchers, as did the Soviet-era Prime
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Minister
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Nikolai Ryzhkov and the
> >>>>>>>>>> Russian Orthodox Church. Nationalist
> leader
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Vladimir
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Zhirinovsky shared in
> >>>>>>>>>> the largesse.
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Not to be left behind, the Rev. Jean
> Marie
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Benjamin
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> of the Vatican got the
> >>>>>>>>>> rights to sell 4.5 million barrels as
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> recompense for
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> setting up a meeting
> >>>>>>>>>> between Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> and the
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> pope.
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Indeed, the list indicates that Benon
> Sevan,
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> the
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> United Nations official in
> >>>>>>>>>> charge of the Oil-for-Food program.
> received
> >>>>>>>>>> vouchers. He denies the
> >>>>>>>>>> charge, but has decided to retire next
> month
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> anyway.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> At the start of the Oil-for-Food program,
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> America
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> and Britain proposed that
> >>>>>>>>>> the money flow only to accounts entirely
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> controlled
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> by the United Nations.
> >>>>>>>>>> Soon this standard was lowered to include
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> accounts
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> not actually controlled
> >>>>>>>>>> by the United Nations, but only monitored
> by
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> it.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Then-Sen. Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska)
> warned
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> that
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> "oil is fungible" and
> >>>>>>>>>> noted that once Iraq was allowed to pump
> and
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> sell
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> it, Saddam could sell all
> >>>>>>>>>> he wanted outside of officially
> sanctioned
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> channels
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> and nobody could tell
> >>>>>>>>>> which black liquid was legal and which
> not.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> But
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> nobody imagined that there
> >>>>>>>>>> were actual bribes going to specific
> French,
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Russian
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> and U.N. officials as
> >>>>>>>>>> part of the program.
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Now it appears that Secretary-General
> Kofi
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Annan's
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> sanctimonious posturing
> >>>>>>>>>> may have concealed oil bribes which
> reached
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> high up
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> in the ranks of the
> >>>>>>>>>> U.N. organization itself.
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> The defect of international coalitions is
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> that they
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> include the just and
> >>>>>>>>>> the unjust, the bribed and the honest,
> the
> >>>>>>>>>> democratic and the autocratic.
> >>>>>>>>>> And their members cannot be trusted
> equally.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> The
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> group that stood up and
> >>>>>>>>>> backed the invasion of Iraq was nicknamed
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> "the
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Coalition of the Willing."
> >>>>>>>>>> Now it appears it was also "the Coalition
> of
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> the
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Honest."
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> __________________________________________________
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help?
> >>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> www.rhodes22.org/list
> >>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> __________________________________
> >>>>>>>>> Do you Yahoo!?
> >>>>>>>>> Win a $20,000 Career Makeover at Yahoo!
> HotJobs
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> http://hotjobs.sweepstakes.yahoo.com/careermakeover
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> __________________________________________________
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help?
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> www.rhodes22.org/list
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
>
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