George Galloway Denies Charges of Profiting from UN Oil-for-Food Program

Strategic Insights -

In a fiery and acrimonious appearance before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, George Galloway, a British member of Parliament, vehemently denied charges that he had profited from the United Nations oil-for-food program. Mr. Galloway, known for his aggressive oratory style and skillful debating tactics, charged that the committee had "found me guilty" without giving him the opportunity to defend himself against allegations that he had profited from the program. He further attacked the committee's charges as "utterly preposterous" and "the mother of all smoke screens," maintaining that the real sanctions busters were American companies operating with the connivance of the US government.

Key Takeaways:

  • George Galloway denied charges that he had profited from the United Nations oil-for-food program, calling them "utterly preposterous" and "the mother of all smoke screens."
  • Mr. Galloway claimed that the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations had "found him guilty" without giving him the opportunity to defend himself against allegations that he had profited from the program.
  • He further accused the US government and American companies of being the real sanctions busters under the program.
  • The committee released documents showing that Saddam Hussein's government had granted oil allocations to Russian, French, and other politicians and political entities to build support for his government and get sanctions on Iraq lifted.
  • The Senate panel's bipartisan reports concluded that Russian politicians and political entities received 30 percent of Iraq's special oil allocations.
  • Mr. Galloway's charity, Mariam's Appeal, and several associated companies are listed on records that document allocations worth 20 million barrels of oil from 2000 to 2003.
  • Mr. Galloway refused to answer questions about whether he knew his associate, Fawaz Zureikat, had traded in oil and paid kickbacks to Hussein's government.
  • Mr. Galloway suggested that the documents released by the committee might be forgeries and questioned the authenticity of the people who confirmed their legitimacy.

Statistics:

  • The Senate committee released documents showing that Saddam Hussein's government granted oil allocations to various politicians and political entities.
  • Russian politicians and political entities received 30 percent of Iraq's special oil allocations.
  • Mr. Galloway's charity, Mariam's Appeal, and several associated companies are listed on records that document allocations worth 20 million barrels of oil from 2000 to 2003.

Sources:

  • "George Galloway Denies Charges of Profiting from UN Oil-for-Food Program" by unnamed author, The New York Times
  • "Galloway Denies Oil-for-Food Charges" by Norm Coleman, Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
  • "Iraq Oil-for-Food Program" by Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
  • "The Oil-for-Food Program: A Study of the Program's Transactions" by Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations