OIL Company Bribes in Khazakstan

“The war against Afghanistan is really about putting in place a government favorable to the United States. When this government is in place then and only then can Big Oil build an oil pipeline across Afghanistan and exploit the vast oil reserves of Central Asia. I offer as evidence the following article. It was written in August of 2000, before the presidential elections.

Enjoy and discuss!

SWISS INVESTIGATION INTO BUSH/CHENEY INVOLVEMENT IN OIL COMPANY BRIBES TO KAZAKHSTAN
The GOP presidential ticket may be fending off questions from reporters concerning a Swiss investigation linking George W. Bush and Dick Cheny to big oil's bribes and pay-offs to foreign interests.

by Martin Mann, August 14, 2000

Gov. George W. Bush and Richard Cheny, the Republican presidential and vice presidential candidates, known in Washington as the "oil ticket" for their intimate connections to the petroleum industry, may face worse corruption scandals in coming months than the lewd, mendacious and cash-hungry Clinton administration ever did. The Spotlight has learned from European and U.S. investigative sources.

As Cheney, a millionaire petroleum executive who served as defense secretary in the administration of George Bus, the candidate's father, rose to accept the vice-presidential nomination from the cheering Republican convention in Philadelphia, Swiss prosecutors quietly moved to impound over $130 million in allegedly laundered funds depositied in Swiss banks.

According to preliminary findings of the Swiss inquiry, the frozen funds represent under-the-table payoffs slipped to the top government officials of Kazakhstan by giant U.S. petroleurm companies seeking favored access to that oil-rich country, a former Soviet province that attained independence after the collapse of communism.

Adised by Swiss authorities that the suspect acounts -- more than $85 million found hidden in private numbered accounts controlled by Kazakh President Nursultan A. Nazarbayev in a single Geneva bank, Banque Pictet -- may violate the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, federal authorities in New York launched an investigation of their own.

The U.S. probe quickly focused on James H. Giffen, head of the Mercator Corporation, known as an influential American financial advisor to Nazarbayev.

Last month, the Justice Department sent Swiss chief prosecutor Daniel Devaud a confidential memorandum naming Giffen and his public-relations company as targets of a formal federal criminal investigation.

According to this memorandum, the Giffen probe was triggered by the findings of FBI agents in New York indicating that the millions impounded at Banque Pictet and other Swiss money-centers represented illegal payoffs to Kazakh officials by three major U.S. oil companies: Exxon Mobil, BP Amoco, and Phillips Petroleum.

Giffen's alleged role was that of the go-between who secretly transferred these huge bribes from the U.S. oil corporations along circuitous international money-laundering routes to Kazakhstan's president and his top aides.

Spokespersons for Exxon Mobil, BP Amoco and Phillips Petreleum have denied any wrongdoing. Mark J. MacDougal, a Washington lawyer for Giffen also denied the charges.

But the Swiss-American inquiry is continuing. If it turns up solid evidence of bribery by U.S. oil interests -- sources close to the case call it "the most likely outcome" -- the next time-bomb of a question will be: How many other petroleum potentates are soiled by this sordid affair?

Until he was offered -- and accepted -- the Republican vice-presidential nomination this month, Cheny served as president of the Halliburton Corporation, the world's largest oil-service, exploration and engineering outfit.

A number of Halliburton's field operations have been linked to Exxon Mobil's and BP Amoco's overseas ventures in recent years. Investigators are poised to explore whether these links involved any operations in corruption-riddled Kazakhstan.

Washington is buzzing with excited rumors that some major Bush campaign contributors -- long time coronies of the presidential candidate -- will face not just stinging embarrassemtn but criminal indictment when these cases hit the headlines, especially if the Republicans fail to gain the White House this fall.”

“BOL!
o-:3”

“Not surprising. I've been forever saying Republicans were corrupt SOBs. By the way where has that coward Cheney been hiding for over a month. You wonder why terrorists kill innocent citzens? It's because our cowardly leadership is afraid to put
itself forward and stand up for its foreign policies.”

“Sounds like business as usual, any business that is. Not just the oil business.

And, Halliburton is NOT an exploration 'outfit'.”

“I'm no fan of Bush or Cheney, but I don't read anything in this (aside from coy innuendo) that ties either of them to the Kazakhstan bribery scandal (which, btw, was reported in a much less inflammatory fashion in the New Yorker).”

“Spock this isn't a Democrat vs. Republican thing. The federal government of this land is controlled by rich men of both parties. Both parties are morally and philosophically bankrupt. If the American people ever come to grips with this truth, maybe we can begin to redirect the country back into the light. Right now IMO, we've gone over to the "dark side of the force".”

“I agree tehipite. I just wanted to point out that Big Oil is very active in that part of the world and probably not above dishonest behavior to get what they want.”

“I know that SH. Just wanted to stir up some republicans who would take the bait. ;-)”

“What a farce!

BTW - that slut Hillary got booed by a bunch of NYC policemen and firemen, sucks for her.”

“Name a country where some big multi-national company hasn't placed bribes so it can exploit something. Try and do business is South America without placing a bribe.”

“Corruption has existed in most parts of the world and has throughout history. It's ingrained in many cultures and is the norm in most third world countries. It happens here, but not nearly as much as elsewhere. I would be surprised if most western Europe countries courting lucrative contracts globally would be above this type of behavior. We did not invent this and we certainly are not the super villain some would like to have us believe we are.”

“Most other countries aren't the only remaining superpower that is using its military to promote the goals of corrupt multi-national corporations either.”

“SH, I would be a little more careful about passing out morality labels. I was stunned at the grass roots support that Clinton got after his reprehensible behavior.

A large percentage of our Nation is morally bankrupt and it is not limited to the rich and powerful.”

“bacpac I have no qualms about "passing out moral labels" as you call them. You, me, and all the other amoral people in this country need to wake up,look around, and begin to think, really think about what is happening to this country. The "Gimme" attitude is going to be our downfall. Our children are going to suffer terribly for our selfish behavior.”

“And yet again, I must pose the question: What are you doing about it SH? You have uncovered an injustice that you obviously believe to be true. How will you act on it? Did you write the President? Your congressman? Senator? Have you done ANYTHING? Obviously you have done every single thing possible to correct this situation and seek justice because you are down to cutting and pasting on a backpacking web site. You have obviously covered all the bases and done everything you can within your power. Either that or it?s more armchair politics.”

“One must acknowledge that there is a problem before thay can act upon it. Bringing other people's attention to the issue, is a good start.”

“?The "Gimme" attitude is going to be our downfall. Our children are going to suffer terribly for our selfish behavior.?

This is very easy to correct. If we recognize the problem should we not lead by example? Tell ya what, go home, sell you car and buy a cheaper one, get rid of all that ?gimmie? stuff you have in your house (start with your PC), find a good charity to donate all the extra money to, quit the good full time job so you can work part time and spend more time with the family and volunteering with a good organization. Get ya nice minimalist lifestyle set up and impact the world you occupy and then, THEN come back and complain all you like.


"One must acknowledge that there is a problem before thay can act upon it."

My point exactly. SH has acknwledged the problem. I'm just interested in what he's doing about it besides cutting and pasting to a backpacking web site about. The moral high road has a lovely view until you realize you actually have to WALK the thing to get any where on it.”

“You're thinking to big. Smaller steps can be just as morally gratifying.

Here's a few examples,

Leave the car at home and carpool or take mass transit.

Volunteer some time for some charity or support group/association.

There's no sin in making money - look at investing in ethical mutual funds.

Shop smart. Make an effort not to buy products from companies who have a record of environmental abuse and exploitation.

Donate money to a charity.

Raise your kids to grow up to people with high moral standards and values.”

“I am doing something Nigal. Do you think re-educating the "dunderheads" here at TT is easy?”

“Funny. I'll still don't get it.”

“Funny. I still don't get it.

duh!”

“LOL!”

“bacpac, if it's any comfort the 'morally bankrupt' thing cuts both ways. I was stunned when Reagan and Bush Sr. got a free ride on their reprehensible behavior. Personally, I think subverting constitutional government is a lot more reprehensible than having illicit sex...but then it's all a matter of perspective, isn't it?”

“What are you babbling about now, tehipite?”

“tehipite, Don't get started on another diatribe like you did on the WTC thread. Your pattern of making wild claims and then slinking away when those claims are proven false is really annoying.”

“ROFLMAO! Thanks, bacpac, for the biggest laugh all morning.

At least I assume you're joking...only a lying snake would make that claim seriously. ;-)”

“there is no country called khazakstan”

“Well mb, usually it is spelled "Kazakhstan."”

“So he was right.”

“Tehipite,
I love how you guys think the whole Clinton scandal was about him bopping Monica.

Billy Jeff was the defendant in a civil case for sexual harrassment and then committed perjury in front of a federal grand jury. This is a known fact since he has been disbarred and had to pay some stiff fines.

SH,
I'm glad to know that we're in Afghanistan just to get an oil pipeline built. I guess you don't think 6,000 dead men, women and children is a good enough reason? Seems like there could have been an easier way.”

“Good thing Bill Casey didn't live long enough to testify, eh?”

“Hardy Har Har, tehipite. Then why did you not challenge the credibility of my most recent post on the WCT thread? Because you knew I was right.

During the last election you were proven incorrect time an time again. You were forced to eat your words so often you apparently aquired quite a taste for them. Your final boast about GWB stealing the election and Gore winning once 'ALL' the votes were counted didn't pan out either. Too bad, so sad.”

“Didn't Rehnquist, Scalia et al stop the count before it could be completed? I wonder what would have happened if they had simply recounted the entire state.”

“Yep!”

“Tilt, the obvious answer is no.”

“Uh... yes they did. Where were you?”

“Ok, let's rehash the old trash.

GWB wasn't elected, he just won a court ruling. That was a sad day for America and democracy. He probably would have been elected (albiet by a tiny margin) if a full recount in Florida was done properly. The sleezy and sloppy way things were handled in Florida indicated to me that certain people were determined to make GW president.

On the other side of the equation, when the writing was on the wall, Gore didn't have the good grace to concede defeat.

This win by any means and at any cost mentality by both sides made me lose total respect for both of the candidates and the process as a whole.”

“All the votes were counted in Florida in accordance to their election laws. The Supreme court only stopped the illegal recount. There was and is no precident for recounting the entire State of Florida. It was not legal to do so.

Since the election the ballots were recounted by independent news organizations. Gore lost, again.”

“tehipite, your comments are further evidence that Clinton supporters will say anything to defend Bill Clinton. Defaming honorable men to defend Clinton is disgusting.”

“Damn....my dyslexic typing "skills" get me again. No militiaboy there is no Khazakstan.
I'll try to do better.

Nevertheless, whether there were 6 dead in the next embassy/ship bombing or 6000, whether anthrax was mailed or not, whether the Taiban handed over bin Laden or didn't, the men who really run this land were looking for an excuse to go into Afghanistan. Just like we'll be looking for an excuse to go back into Iraq as soon as we finish "liberating" the Afghani people.”

“I can see the billboards on the roads leading into Kabul now......

"Praise Allah. Finally, the Paradise Mohammed Promised Us is Here! Women without veils and a McDonalds on every street corner!"

And down at the bottom in small print

This message brought to you by the kind folks of UNICEF, the United States State Dept, and a consortium of local businesses including UniCal, British Petroleum - Amoco, Exxon-Mobil, and Phillips Petroleum.”

“That is the crux of the argument, BP. Were they counted properly in the first place? I really don't know. I hope you base your opinion on something more than party affiliation. It's a shame that the United States Supreme Court split down party lines the way it did.

I tend to agree with the Gear Slut on this one. Neither of the major parties acquitted itself well.

It seemed to be another instance of the letter of the law v. the spirit of the law. So often, they appear to be in conflict.

I saw a lady from a certain State Supreme Court stand behind the letter of the law to the point where a convicted felon was about to lose his life (documents were filed two days late). Nevermind that he deserved a new trial, it was just 'too bad,' she said. I believe the governor had to step in, finally. Those people would have fried him.

By the same token, I would hope that the will of the voters would be given more weight, but of course party operatives went into the fray as they always do, looking for any small chink to gain legal leverage: thereby damageing what little positive regard remained for the system.

Nevermind El Salvador; send Carter to Florida in 2003.

But, I digress. Back to the war.”

“You all should read "The Death of Common Sense". The premise of the book is that, starting with the civil rights laws of the 60's, the country has become so inundated with laws, rules and regulations that governemt officials can't make any decisions based on common sense. There is a rule and a law for everything.

I found it very interesting that during the recount fiasco, the liberals, who have passed and utilize the overabundance of laws to protect minorities, did an about face. They didn't want to follow the existing laws, they just wanted to mold them to get their way. Because of their actions and rhetoric, I have 0 respect for the Democratic Party and its' leadership.

Gore lost, and the majority of the country is happy he did today, given our current situation.”

“Hey...if you guys want to aregue about who won the last election start your own thread.
I started this thread to push my version of the truth about Afghanistan ........ ah ........ I mean ... the facts about our current situation in Afghanistan.”

“argue*”

“BaSO4, I'm very familiar with the mantra: "it isn't the sex, it's the lying." Problem is, the lying was about the sex. I don't think it was Clinton's finest hour, but I certainly don't think it was worthy of impeachment or criminal prosecution.

But I wasn't looking to rehash the impeachment fiasco. My point was that no side has a monopoly on moral outrage. bacpac's whole approach is encapsulated in his dismissal of all who disagree with him as 'morally bankrupt'. For my part, I don't think that's a particularly sound or useful approach.”

“bacpac, I didn't respond because all you 'proved' was that jmitch had made a minor factual error that had no bearing on the point he was making.

Nor, for that matter, was I 'proven incorrect' on the Florida matter--except in the sense that in your mind, anyone who disagrees with you is by definition incorrect. That must be a very nice belief, but those of us who are capable of distinguishing matters of fact from matters of interpretation are actually better debaters.

Now, the factual misrepresentations in your posts above are so numerous that I don't have time to address them all; but I will clarify one point that a lot of people have been confused about (because of an extremely misleading story in the Miami Herald). The Herald recount was designed to replicate the statewide recount ordered by the FSC; as such, it considered only the undervote and excluded Palm Beach, Broward, Volusia, and Miami-Dade counties. The seemingly counterintuitive result was that Bush won under a looser standard, and Gore won under a stricter standard. What that really means, though, is that Bush won if you count predominantly Republican counties using a loose standard, and Democratic counties using a strict standard (because PBC was counted using an extremely strict standard). If you look at the Herald's own numbers, you'll see that if any standard had been applied consistently to all counties, Gore would have won.

There is another independent media recount that has been put on hold for the duration of the current crisis. That recount will include the overvote as well as the undervote.”

“Gear Slut, I don't buy the notion that both parties were trying to 'win by any means'. The fact is, Gore offered to meet with Bush and work out an approach to which both parties could agree. Bush refused. Wouldn't that have been a better way to handle it?”

“I really think that Nero set the fire himself as an excuse to persecute the Christians. That guy was a real prick!”

“Would you rather have us drill in precious ANWR or Afganistan?

I don't believe this is about oil but about Liberty and western idealism and our belief that democracy is good for all the people of the world. And once all is said and done if the Afgan's were smart they would take any offer the big oil companies and countries give them that would benefit their neglected nation. It is only a matter of time before western ideals infest the population over their. People can only suffer for so long and eventually they break and revolt. There in lies a problem, they can't revolt because their government as suppressed their every actions. The Talibans are governing mind, body and soul.

I think it is matter of weeks before the Northern Alliance and Allied froces gain control of Kabul and other major cities. The Taliban will loose control of the government but will still be a opposing political and terrorist force in the area.

We should be dropping #1 combo's from Micky D's and nudie mag's from the air while we pipe Brittany Spears latest release thru the hills via loudspeakers.”