Corrupt Iraq officials 'fund rebels'

[grandpa]

http://telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jht...7/ixworld.html

Iraq's insurgency is receiving millions of dollars from smuggling oil through a network of supporters working in its oil industry, the government and American officials say.

The director of an oil storage plant near Kirkuk was arrested with several of his employees and charged with helping to orchestrate a mortar attack on the plant last week.

Ali Allawi, the finance minister, issued a statement estimating that 40 to 50 per cent of all oil smuggling profits in the country were going to insurgents.

Although no specific figures were given, industry experts said this would amount to tens of millions of pounds a year to be spent on weapons and financing fighters.

Mr Allawi highlighted the situation at a northern oil refinery near Baiji where insurgents were found to have infiltrated senior management positions and tapped the pipeline for their own use. A group armed with Kalashnikovs and grenades attacked a convoy of 60 tankers last month.

[Scribbler1]

Ah, those freedom loving Iraqis. You just gotta love 'em.

[Compugasm]

So, that clears up the mystery of where they're getting the money? Has the DOJ checked into eBay stores selling "Hello Kitty" t-shirts or fake gucci watches? So it's confirmed the money is coming from oil then. Didn't we know that 50yrs ago?

[RickSp]

Quote by: Scribbler1 Ah, those freedom loving Iraqis. You just gotta love 'em.

Ironically, Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz claimed that Iraqi reconstruction would be self funding with oil money. It appears now that the freely elected officials in the new Iraqi government are diverting oil money to the insurgents to help drive us out. I wonder how that fits into Bush's "Plan for Victory." Isn't Iraqi democracy wonderful?

[Apeman81]

Quote by: RickSp Ironically, Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz claimed that Iraqi reconstruction would be self funding with oil money. It appears now that the freely elected officials in the new Iraqi government are diverting oil money to the insurgents to help drive us out. I wonder how that fits into Bush's "Plan for Victory." Isn't Iraqi democracy wonderful?

It IS better than the alternative.

[RickSp]

Quote by: Apeman81 It IS better than the alternative.

Let's see - 2,260 American dead and counting. Perhaps 20,000 maimed or crippled and counting. 2 trillion dollars sucked out of the US economy. At least 100,000 dead Iraqi civilians. A military quagmire that we have no hope of winning. Iraq slipping into civil war, providing a perfect training ground for terrorists, while Bin Laden runs free. Compare that to a cornered dictator who was no immedaite threat to this country. A better alternative? I don't think so.

[Samildanach]

I am surprised halliburton wasn't funding the rebels. After all its in their interests to keep the war going....

[fushigi]

Quote by: grandpa Iraq's insurgency is receiving millions of dollars from smuggling oil through a network of supporters working in its oil industry, the government and American officials say. The director of an oil storage plant near Kirkuk was arrested with several of his employees and charged with helping to orchestrate a mortar attack on the plant last week.

This doesn't add up. If they're using oil dollars to fund the insurgency, why would they target oil production and storage facilities? Kind of like shooting oneself in the foot, isn't it?

[RickSp]

Quote by: fushigi This doesn't add up. If they're using oil dollars to fund the insurgency, why would they target oil production and storage facilities? Kind of like shooting oneself in the foot, isn't it?

They get funding by sharing in a sliver of the oil production and can also demonstrate the weakness of the occupation by hitting a critical but soft target. It is win-win.

[Rainbow]

Quote by: grandpa http://telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jht...7/ixworld.html Iraq's insurgency is receiving millions of dollars from smuggling oil through a network of supporters working in its oil industry, the government and American officials say. The director of an oil storage plant near Kirkuk was arrested with several of his employees and charged with helping to orchestrate a mortar attack on the plant last week. Ali Allawi, the finance minister, issued a statement estimating that 40 to 50 per cent of all oil smuggling profits in the country were going to insurgents. Although no specific figures were given, industry experts said this would amount to tens of millions of pounds a year to be spent on weapons and financing fighters. Mr Allawi highlighted the situation at a northern oil refinery near Baiji where insurgents were found to have infiltrated senior management positions and tapped the pipeline for their own use. A group armed with Kalashnikovs and grenades attacked a convoy of 60 tankers last month.

Is corruption something unknown to Mankind ?
Really ? :-)))
Unfortunatelly, it plays a vital role, especially when fundaments for a state are (about) to be established. Look at post-communist states, guys. Corruption soars within these countries.
Is Iraq the exception (to that "rule") ?
No :-)))

Ali Allawi, the finance minister, issued a statement estimating that 40 to 50 per cent of all oil smuggling profits in the country were going to insurgents. Although no specific figures were given, industry experts said this would amount to tens of millions of pounds a year to be spent on weapons and financing fighters.

Tens of millions of pounds ?
Then, after 3 years they have "aqcuired" appx. 100 millions of punds.
That is peanuts in comparison to a Hindu, "truly-self-made" :-))) steel-industry billionaire (today). His profits "unexpectedly" jumped from some tens of millions (last year) to some billions (this year). Wall Street investors can only dream about it. Not so many people complain about corruption in India, though, but some guys complain about some tens of millions of punds.
Kids :-)

I bet some of those so-called "insurgents" have already invested some of those off-oil profits, in their families' "future" :-))) , regardless of the Iraqi's political fundaments. They just simply took care of their own future, themselves.
That is Life - C'est la Vie, guys.

What about corruption in U.S., or any other country, guys ?
Any news on "Halli-Dick-Burton" ?
Patriotism, Freedom, Morality, Ethics, Independence, ect. that is one side of coin.
The other side : Coin (itself) :-)

[fushigi]

Quote by: RickSp They get funding by sharing in a sliver of the oil production and can also demonstrate the weakness of the occupation by hitting a critical but soft target. It is win-win.

I'll go with you on that. Or perhaps they're using mafia-style tactics to remove competition (either U.S. reconstruction ops or one of the other 50-60% of illegal oil smuggling operators).

[RickSp]

Quote by: fushigi I'll go with you on that. Or perhaps they're using mafia-style tactics to remove competition (either U.S. reconstruction ops or one of the other 50-60% of illegal oil smuggling operators).

An equally plausible possiblility.

[fushigi]

Quote by: Rainbow Is corruption something unknown to Mankind ? Really ? :-))) ...

Was there a point in there somewhere?

[Rainbow]

Quote by: fushigi Was there a point in there somewhere?

Do you mean it indicates something dramaticaly opposite ? :-)

[fushigi]

I mean either you're operating on a plane of existence too obscure for me to comprehend, or your post meant absolutely no sense whatsoever.