what a joke

An inquiry started today into allegations that the AWB – formerly the Australian Wheat Board – paid bribes to Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

And that that money – around $300 million -- allegedly went to prop up his opulent lifestyle, help build him more palaces and pay bonuses to suicide bombers in Israel.

They are obviously serious allegations. There was a damning story in The Australian newspaper today that makes you ask: what the hell has been going on?

Caroline Overington wrote: “Ask any Australian wheat farmer  whether they were surprised to hear that Saddam Hussein was taking  a cut of Australian wheat contracts and they would likely say: “ No, that sounds about right to me.”

And that is obscene. What is also obscene is that the Howard Government has crippled this inquiry from Day One. Government officials will not be questioned. Not be grilled. Government ministers who may have know something will escape scrutiny. Australian diplomats, like Robert Bowker, will escape time in the chair. His version of events about the kickbacks to Saddam Hussein is critical.

The United Nations year-long investigation concluded that Australia was the worst offender in paying slush money to the corrupt dictator. Ambassador Bowker was the man who assured the UN that Australia’s wheat board was NOT  paying kickbacks to Saddam Hussein’s regime. And that was a lie.

We paid him him nearly 300 million dollars. The Iraqis also tried to shake down the Canadians and they had principles  and refused. And lost wheat contracts because of their integrity.

I read these stories and think of Watergate. During those hearings a Senator kept asking: “What did the President know and when did he know it?”

The same applies to the Saddam Hussein slush fund. Who knew? How much did they know? And when did they know it?

It is so important – especially we have military forces in Iraq--  that Prime Minister Howard gives this committee  the right  and the authority to question anybody. Otherwise it is a restricted joke.

Monday, January 16, 2006

©Copyright Derryn Hinch 2006