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Issue No. 295 | 17 February 2006 |
Please Explain
Interview: Court's in Session Industrial: Whose Choices? Politics: Peter's Principles Environment: TINA or Greener? History: Its Not Just Handshakes and Aprons International: US Locks out Jose' Bove Education: No AWA - No Job Culture: Jesus was a Long-Grass Man Review: Charlie the Serf
Conscience II - RU4 Aussie Jobs? Online Porkies Spark Class Action Captain Cook Discovers WorkChoices STOP PRESS - 262 Day Strike Set To Finish Memo Costa: Remember Your Roots Filipinos Pay for Packed House
The Soapbox The Locker Room Parliament
The Black GST
Labor Council of NSW |
Letters to the Editor AWB Kickbacks to Iraq
In spite of numerous warnings that wheat 'kickbacks' were being paid prior to the Iraqi invasion, Mr Howard says: "I do not disguise for a moment the fact that the Government has sought the involvement of Mr Flugge in post-Saddam Iraq," "It was because our principal concern at that time was to stop American wheat growers from getting our markets." So concerned with U.S. competition (post invasion) did our Government reject repeated claims of corruption prior to the Iraq invasion? Well, no serious investigations were launched into reviewing the allegations, were they? Were the allegations of 'kickbacks' dismissed because ministers believed they were an attempt by U.S. wheat growers to take over our wheat markets prior to the Iraq invasion? Quite possibly. Combine a complete failure by our Government to investigate more thoroughly allegations prior to the invasion with comments relating to post invasion views such as ',It was because our principal concern at that time was to stop American wheat growers from getting our markets' along with constant denials that our Government knew nothing of 'kickbacks prior to the invasion',wears a little thin, in my opinion. Continue to protect our wheat contracts at all costs, seems to have been the Howard Government's stance (pre and post invasion) Among other concerns that seem to run counter to Mr Howard's constant denials of having any knowledge, is the fact that " an AWB document released yesterday by the Cole inquiry into the UN oil-for-food scandal revealed that an AWB manager, Michael Long, boasted he had secured a position for the former head of the Iraqi Grain Board, Yusef Abdul Rahman, "to top post in the Ministry of Trade and ensured his survival through the de-Baathification of upper levels of Iraqi civil service" AND nobody in the Howard Government was aware of the direct and long standing arrangements between AWB executives and the Iraqi government prior to the invasion?...INCREDIBLE BUT TRUE, if we are to believe the PM. Kind regards John McPhilbin
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