oil for food?

mellowyellow · Apr 10, 2003

I have no knowledge of how this program works, but when Kofi Annan (sp) was in such a hurry to declare he wanted to re-start/admin. it, it made me curious

interesting facts.... the UN has had a FREE $720 mill. loan for a while now. (sold the oil, but never delivered the aid) Iraq owes Russia 9 bill? for god knows what. the french own the rights to the largest oil field in Iraq. the US can NOT administer this program without UN security council approval. (never) so, how do you win? keep hearing the Administration talk about a v.fast transition of power. maybe the new Iraq govt. will have the right to sell the black gold to the highest bidder? might cause OPEC a few problems also. peripheral (political) damage beyond the battlefield? my .02, M.Y.

martyscher · Apr 10, 2003

Re: oil for food?

Here's how I understand the program to work. Iraq has a lot of oil, but no food. Russia has a lot of oil, but also has a lot of food (wheat), that it would rather trade for Iraqi oil than to use it's own. Not sure of the other comments. Where did you get these "facts"

Since there is a glut of world oil, Iraq will probably just have to stand in the crude selling line, just like everybody else. As far as the political ramifications of the Iraqi war, we haven't seen nothing yet, IMO. Everybody will want in on post-war Iraq. Marty

KennyKenCan · Apr 10, 2003

Re: oil for food?

Yea, but is everyone entitled? The old Iraqi government owes Russia 9 billion. Frances agreement was with the old Iraqi government. Do these agreements still apply? This whole thing is turning out to be quite a quagmire!

JB · Apr 10, 2003

Re: oil for food?

Makes one less curious about why France and Russia were so against eliminating the regime, doesn't it? Did they (Fr. and Russ.) also supply Iraq with banned technology and materiel? Are they worried about something being found that would embarrass them?

KennyKenCan · Apr 10, 2003

Re: oil for food?

Hey JB, Makes me more curious. If it is true that France and Russia were supplying Iraq illegaly, how do we confront that? This whole Iraq thing has brought up a lot of questions. Who are we suppose to trust for answers, the U.N.? I don't think so, not with their tract record. Yes, I think that they (France and Russia and Syria and Egypt and Jordan and Saudi Arabia and Germany and Belgium and China and N. Korea) are very worried. If this becomes truth, then what?

SCO · Apr 10, 2003

Re: oil for food?

That could be the part that leads to wwIII. I don't really think that, but am glad we are no longer in the dark. I think Putin surprised Bush. It's like we've been playing a card game, and everyone had to show their hands.

KennyKenCan · Apr 10, 2003

Re: oil for food?

Well if its true, how are we going to avoid WWIII?

SCO · Apr 10, 2003

Re: oil for food?

Don't know either, but to say we have a lot of experience w cold wars. Have all wars since WWII been part of the greater cold war that still seems to be going on?

KennyKenCan · Apr 10, 2003

Re: oil for food?

Very good question. Where is the "Shell Answer Man" when we need him? Guess we will have to wear our highwaters while watching the media coverage on this one.

martyscher · Apr 10, 2003

Re: oil for food?

The "food for oil" plan was blessed by the UN. It's been pretty well known that both France and Russia, had both political and economical interests in Iraq, thus did not opt out of the coalition for "moral" reasons. They both mave many problems to deal with at home, inlcuding re-elections. If I remember right, the "Cold war" has been over since the mid 80's and the U.S. won (actually the whole world won). There is no "big war" on the horizon. Everybody just wants a piece of the action in "free Iraq". Marty

KennyKenCan · Apr 10, 2003

Re: oil for food?

I think you are right Marty, that France and Russia have problems at home, but if they are exposed to the world that they had been supplying Iraq with weapons, or anything else, in violation of the many U.N. sanctions, what then? How can they be held credible for anything if they violated U.N. sanctions. They should be allowed to have a hand in post-war Iraq? I don't think so, but I'm only one opinion, and I'm looking to change my opinion, I just don't see how at this moment in time. I really think that things are going to get worst before they get better. Let's just hope that the timeline is very, very short.

SCO · Apr 10, 2003

Re: oil for food?

I don't mean that literally about the cold war. It was over when the ussr broke up, but the head of the ussr, russia, may have some lingering resentment. I've heard (Texas overnight w Charlie Jones) that Russian advisors may have been in Iraq, and that their weaponry( not just ak47 and rpg lower level technology) was responsible for the downed aircraft and Tanks lost. It sounded fishy and speculative to me and I can't verify any of this. In the cold war we enabled the USSR's defeat in Afghanistan.

martyscher · Apr 10, 2003

Re: oil for food?

I think the US will be facing a world view, that now we want to "go after the rest of the evil-doers" and those that support them. Some countries, or regimes, may be shaking in their shoes. It is likely that most sanction violators, will just get a slap on the hands. For what is at stake in free Iraq, both economically and politically, EVERYBODY probably wants in $$$.

SCO · Apr 10, 2003

Re: oil for food?

The next time Bush says "you will disarm or we will disarm you", people will listen.

martyscher · Apr 10, 2003

Re: oil for food?

I hear ya on the cold war SCO

Russia has always been a big arms trader and it could be possible they had advisers on how to use it there. Didn't seem to slow us down much. Hell, they could have been firing U.S. made weapons at us. We could bust the Russians in the chops, or slap their hands, depending on what is appropriate. I get a feeling that many will just sweep it under the rug and move on. Marty

mellowyellow · Apr 11, 2003

Re: oil for food?

also, why is Kofi meeting with the axis this weekend? exactly who keeps the books for this program? if I could skim 1/2 of 1% of that oil $.... that's $4mill. a month by my calculations.

KennyKenCan · Apr 11, 2003

Re: oil for food?

So why doesn't the rest of the world want us to go after the rest of the evil-doers out there? Are they hiding something? Are we hiding something?

mellowyellow · Apr 11, 2003

Re: oil for food?

how do you eat an elephant? one bite at a time...

ob · Apr 11, 2003

Re: oil for food?

My information sources report that the military has already uncovered some weapons that were sold to Iraq by France within a year ago.That's post 911,on my calendar.As JB suggests,that's probably why they were not anxious for the U.S to get into Iraq.Wonder if the Hans Blix perpetual inspection team would have uncovered anything of interest before it was shuffled to a new location.

mellowyellow · Apr 23, 2003

Re: oil for food?

some interesting facts I have learned: Russia got over 7 Billion from this program and France got almost 4 Billion. the UN gets a 2% administration fee (WOW!!!!) they have yet to open the books for examination. something stinks here IMHO! very curious....

oil for food?

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