Oversight Committee: Despite Denials, Administration Knew About Bush Donor’s Oil Contracts
Oversight Committee: Despite Denials, Administration Knew About Bush Donor’s Oil Contracts
The Bush administration has repeatedly claimed that it plays no part in contract negotiations between Western oil companies and Iraq. But the New York Times reported last week that the State Department actually had an “integral role” in the awarding of no-bid contracts to develop Iraq’s oil fields.
Today, the administration received another blow to its credibility, as the House Oversight Committee released documents further connecting it to Iraqi oil deals, this time through Dallas-based Hunt Oil. Hunt Oil is owned by Ray L. Hunt, a former Halliburton board member who has donated $35 million to the Bush presidential library.
In September 2007, Hunt Oil signed a contract with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to develop oil fields in the Kurdish region of Iraq. At the time, the State Department criticized the deal, calling it “counterproductive,” and saying that “these contracts have needlessly elevated tensions between the KRG and the national government of Iraq.”
President Bush denied knowledge of the contract, saying that he “knew nothing about the deal” and was “concerned”:
I knew nothing about the deal. I need to know exactly how it happened. To the extent that it does undermine the ability for the government to come up with an oil revenue sharing plan that unifies the country, obviously if it undermines it I’m concerned.
However, the documents released by the Oversight Committee today include ample evidence that officials in the State Department and Commerce Department “knew about Hunt Oil’s interest in the Kurdish region months before the contract was executed”:
- Hunt sent two letters to the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board “making clear his intentions to pursue oil exploration in Kurdistan.”
- Hunt Oil’s general manager informed the Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT) that “Hunt is expecting to sign an exploration contract,” a warning that was sent to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and to the State Department.
- Hunt Oil officials met with the RRT to inquire about U.S. policy towards oil contracts with the KRG, and were told that the “U.S. has no policy, for nor against.”
- In an internal company e-mail, Hunt’s general manager said that there was “no communication” from the State Department that Hunt should not make the deal, despite “ample opportunity to do so.”
This isn’t the first time the Bush administration has helped out the billionaire Hunt. In 2006, a proposed border fence in Texas “abruptly ended” right before Hunt’s property.
In light of these findings regarding Hunt Oil and the administration, the Oversight committee has penned a letter to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice asking for more information about the “U.S. role in the efforts of other oil companies to obtain Iraqi contracts.” “This is a serious matter because of the widespread suspicion in Iraq and other nations that the United States went to war to gain access to Iraqi oil,” the committee wrote.
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I knew nothing about the deal. I need to know exactly how it happened. To the extent that it does undermine the ability for the government to come up with an oil revenue sharing plan that unifies the country, obviously if it undermines it I’m concerned.
Sound familiar? Does anyone still believe this guy?
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:27 pmC’mon trolls, to the barricades, defend your Boy King!
This is getting ridiculously sickening or sickenly ridiculous.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:31 pm“… But the New York Times reported last week that the State Department actually had an “integral role” in the awarding of no-bid contracts to develop Iraq’s oil fields….”
Believe I saw a segment on BBC America TV the other day wherein Katty Kay declared that Condaleeza Rice (of the same State Department) was the ‘author’ of the contracts for Iraq oil deals with the favored oil companies.
Hmm. Wonder how fat her swiss bank account has grown?
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:32 pmHas Dubya ever lied to us? Better yet, has he ever not lied to us? Did he lie about who sponsored the GI Bill yesterday? Did he lie about energy crisis? Did he lie about Iraq WMD? Has Dubya ever felt so strongly about what he says and does that he is willing to place his hand on the Bible and swear under oath? Dubya is a lying SOB and to believe anything he says is only enabling him to lie to you again. It is time to drag this thug and his entire crime family to the city square and tar and feather their sorry asses.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:33 pmYou actually expected something else? All these people know how to do is lie.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:37 pmSorry for the OT, but I’ve been too busy today, and finally I can post:
When some troll says healthcare in the USA is the best in the world, and that Universal Healthcare or “socialized” only brings wait in line for treatment, slap him with this:
http://www.suntimes.com/ news/ nation/ 1033962,hosp070108.article
Video shows woman dying on psych floor in Brooklyn, N.Y.
July 1, 2008Recommend (5)
FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — City hospital officials promised reforms at a Brooklyn psychiatric ward where surveillance footage captured a woman falling from her chair, writhing on the floor and dying as workers watched without helping for more than an hour.
Esmin Green, 49, had been waiting in the emergency room for nearly 24 hours when she toppled from her seat at 5:32 a.m. on June 19, falling face down on the floor.
Beware, watching the video may be very moving…
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:39 pmWe all knew this was an OIL GRAB and ROBBERY OF OUR BANKING SYSTEM!!!!
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:02 pmI love it when a plan comes together–A Team
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:28 pmToday, the administration received another blow to its credibility[…]
And so it goes with the Bush administration.
I am not even sure they have any credibility left that could receive “another blow” at this point.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:24 pmAnd the Idiot in Chief had the audacity/stupidity to send one of his ol’buddies to make a shady deal. Why am I not surprised?
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:31 pmthe only time he did not lie was when he said, “I may have the honor of slicing the pig…”
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:31 pmLooking forward to that pig tonight…
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:31 pmGregor Samsa Says:
Today, the administration received another blow to its credibility[…]
Is it impeachment time yet? Clinton was impeached when he got another blow.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:11 pmWe will be spending YEARS digging up the illegal lies and theft generated under this regime . . . sounding like an African Nation with better educated MBA “leaders” . . .
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:21 pmSO!! Where is the so called evidence that George Bush did anything wrong?????????
So ahead lefties! I’m waiting!
More bullshit!!
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:43 pm.
We’ve learned about blood diamonds…
Yet proceed to fill our vehicles with BLOOD OIL!
.
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:42 amJohn Kerry Says:
SO!! Where is the so called evidence that George Bush did anything wrong?????????
So ahead lefties! I’m waiting!
More bullshit!!
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:43 pm Recommend (0) | Report Abuse
How describe colours to a (willful) blind?
July 3rd, 2008 at 5:46 amYou wait. Oil prices at $150 a barrel will have the MEDIA and the WINGERS out in droves talking about how we HAD to do this to save the AMERICAN ECONOMY.
It was so transparent from the beginning.
July 3rd, 2008 at 7:20 amIm-Peach. Impeach Pelosi for dragging her feet, aiding and abeting this criminal administration. Impeach Cheney, way too obvious. Impeach Bush and end the insanity. Then clean up the Constitution and re-implement it as the law of the land.
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:17 amthe Chimp, “I did not have business relationships with that man…Ray Hunt”
Conoleeza! Paging Condoleeza! You’ve got some more ’splainin to do!
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:23 amDear John Kerry Troll:
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:01 amHere’s your answer:
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/ 2008/ 07/ waxman_says_white_house_knew_a.php
In JK’s world telling bold lies to your countrymen is not doing anything wrong. But would you expect anything else from the sick fck troll?
If there isn’t enough evidence now to despise Bush with all your might, there is no evidence that could come to light that would sway these simpletons.
It’s sickening and disgusting the level that these supposed humans will stoop to to defend their alpha. Bush is their God. Pure. and. simple. They worship the ground he walks on.
Come on JK, get off your knees. Be a man and think for yourself, instead of some cheap, greased up sycophant.
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:40 amAnybody else see the “Sellin of Iraq” documentary detailing the billions in profit KBR/Halliburton, CACI, and several other corporations are making on the war? Now,remember Tricky Dick Chaney’s “one percent rule” for invading Iraq? The one that if he could just prove one percent of their claims of wmd’s, nuclear materials purchasing, chemical weapons, or Saddam’s connection to Al Quida we would invade. We now know without doubt there was not a word of truth in this “intelligence” cited as justification for the war. Now, using that “one percent rule” of Chaney’s, if one percent of the documentary is true, there should be a special place in hell for every one of the political hacks and corporate fatcats who got us into this mess and getting over 4000 American service men and women, and God knows how many innocent Iraqi people, killed for their profits.
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:26 amLearn about the lies….in government…www.zeitgeistmovie.com
Watch , look, learn and do something before it’s to late.
Don’t believe me….watch the movie and then make up your mind. Make sure time code is 2:02min at the bottem right of your screen. Click refresh to get the correct time code.
This movie will change the way you look at life….the media is not allowed to discuss this movie. That says it all!!!!
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:57 am“the administration received another blow to its credibility”
What credibility? Isn’t this just beating a dead horse? Impeach already.
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:37 pm