Former US ambassador seduced by multi-billion dollar oil deal
Published: 14 November, 2009, 10:24
Edited: 18 November, 2009, 20:18
A worker is seen at the Tawke oil refinery near the village of Zacho, in the autonomous Iraqi region of Kurdistan (AFP Photo / Ali Al-Saadi)
(11.1Mb) embed videoTAGS: Oil, Scandal, UN, Middle East
A Norwegian financial newspaper claims a former US ambassador and advisor to the Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq stands to profit from the country's vast oil resources.
It accuses former diplomat Peter Galbraith of putting his private interests above politics.
Galbraith played a key role in helping Kurdistan gain semi-autonomy under Iraq's constitution, which gave the Kurdish regional government control over future oil development in the region.
“[Galbraith] was very influential in the negotiations towards a new constitution which gave very decentralized powers to Iraq and a lot of power to Kurdistan in the north, including the Kurds’ control over the resources to a large degree,” James Paul, executive director of Global Policy Forum, told RT.
“He had a tremendous material interest in the policies that he was proposing. The Kurdish government apparently gave him that interest,” added Paul, “The Kurdish authority found [Galbraith’s] loyalty in securing in advance an assurance that he would follow their interests by following his own interest, which is a multi-billion dollar stake in that particular oil field.”
Peter Galbraith (AFP Photo DDP / Joerg Koch / Germany Out)
13.11.2009, 23:00
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I wish I knew if Galbraith's former UN superior in Afghanistan had any connection with the Norwegian paper in question.
I presume you, RT, are refering to the the paper, "Dagens Næringliv" or "E24"... The latter published an article yesterday telling about former US generals and diplomats who now are investing heavily in Iraqi resources, especially in oil fields in Kurdistan. The paper also states that this strengthen the accusations against the invasion for beeing performed in the purpose of getting hold of the oil recources. I actually studies with a Kurd who wants to work in this norwegian oil company (DNO), and he, along with most other kurds, are positive to the "liberation" of their land. Though, that does not justifie this horrible war for oil. Poor Iraq and Afghanistan, getting torn apart by the superpowers in this world because of their oil. Former USSR war in Afhanistan, the US invasion in both Afghanistan and Iraq, russian and american support to the warlords fighting against the other superpower... Not to mention that China actually is of the top countries investing in Iraqi oil:O "and I think to myself, what a wonderful world..."^^