Baker sought to cover-up illegal trade with Saddam's Iraq, Israeli charges

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.insightmag.com/Media/MediaManager/Baker_5.htm

Former Secretary of State James Baker was involved in a cover-up of illegal trading by his law firm with the regime of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, according to a former contractor who did work for Mr. Baker’s firm.

Mr. Baker used non-Americans to help acquire funds from Iraq in violation of the United Nations embargo and U.S. law, the former contractor said.

Nir Gouaz, an Israeli security veteran, said that in 1999 Mr. Baker's leading deputy at the law firm of Baker Botts ordered him to destroy all documents that detailed how he obtained from Iraq more than $250 million for a client.

Mr. Baker's firm has denied Mr. Gouaz's account.

But the Israeli said he has documents that could destroy Mr. Baker's reputation. He said he has been angered by Mr. Baker's attempt to press the Bush administration to impose an anti-Israeli policy in an attempt to win Arab cooperation to help stabilize Iraq. Mr. Baker, appointed by President Bush in 2003 as his envoy to recover debts from Iraq, has also co-chaired the Iraq Study Group, which on Dec. 6 issued 79 recommendations on U.S. policy in Iraq.

[originalpckelly]

1. Interesting how this comes out of the woodwork when he advocates returning the Golan Heights...

to Syria. He's not advocating against the existence of Israel, just against Israel's occupation of territory which the United Nations has consistently maintained should be returned to the Syrians.

[msmcghee]

3. That's why they call it hardball. n/t

[Old and In the Way]

2. Same as Cheney when he was in charge of Haliburton.

Dresser Industries was trading with Iraq during the embargo. But why would Cheney care? Trading with the enemy was A-OK when it suited him in the 90s. Too bad the corporate media doesn't investigate this little story.

[peacetalksforall]

4. That's what we've been talking about - they constantly have

simultaneous juggling acts going on - cover-ups, secrets, strategies, plans, agendas, public relations campaigns, and most of all the lies that let them get away with it all.

These guys probably earn every penny of the money they steal and connive out of others.

It's quite strenous to keep that many bundles of cash, trades, secrets, handshakes, lies up in the air and out of our sight and out of our hearing.

Congress helps out a lot and the right wing corporate media helps out 24/7 plus.

[seemslikeadream]

5. stay safe Mr. Gouaz

"A month or two after 9/11, I got a phone call from the office of James Baker and they told me 'Remember the deal we did?' I said 'Of course,'" Mr. Gouaz recalled. "He asked 'Do you have any documents from this deal?' I said I don't remember. He said 'If you do, destroy them.'"

[acmavm]

6. Are we supposed to be surprised? Baker is dirty just like the

rest of the BFEE.

Israel's just pissed because he won't play their game and they think they're ratting on him. Anyone who's been watching Baker over the years would NEVER put anything past that snake.