On a mission: the powerful diplomat who was Howard's man in Washington
Email Print Normal font Large font By Marian Wilkinson
February 1, 2006
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In 2004 the Government was facing an election in the aftermath of its support for the US over the Iraq War. Mr Howard had backed the invasion to remove what he called the dangerous and corrupt regime of Saddam Hussein.
Now several US senators wanted to investigate the relationship of AWB with that regime. The US wheat industry was complaining loudly that AWB had been paying kickbacks.
On Capitol Hill, Senator Coleman was making his name with his investigation into the kickbacks paid to Saddam under the oil-for-food program. Indeed, he had been so successful the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, was forced to set up an investigation under Paul Volcker.
All this was bad news for AWB and the Government in the lead-up to the election. The Senate investigators had been meeting AWB and Australian officials through September and October, threatening to go public with its investigation. AWB was resisting and so was Canberra.
The Government's response was the same as it had been since allegations began began in 1999. It relied on AWB's assurances that everything was above board.
And it sent Mr Thawley to lobby Senator Coleman's committee to drop its inquiries. Whatever was said, it seems Mr Thawley was successful and the committee did not expose AWB or embarrass the Prime Minister.
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http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/on-a-mission-the-powerful-diplomat-who-was-howards-man-inwashington/2006/01/31/1138590504880.html