Kuwaiti parliament OKs profiteering probe (Halliburton)

[Robbien]

KUWAIT CITY -- Kuwaiti lawmakers voted unanimously Monday to hold a parliamentary investigation into charges that a Kuwaiti supplier to a subsidiary of Halliburton overcharged for fuel deliveries to Iraq after the U.S.-led war toppled Saddam Hussein.

The vote, passing without dissent in the 50-member parliament, came shortly after Kuwait's energy minister, Sheik Ahmed Fahd Al Ahmed Al Sabah, told parliament he would support such a probe. "I approve of the investigative panel if it will be a means to uncover the truth for the Kuwaiti people and the Kuwaiti parliament," Sheik Ahmed told parliament. He earlier also had ordered the nation's top prosecutor to investigate the matter.

However, Sheik Ahmed added that contracts involving state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corp. and the Kuwaiti supplier, Altanmia Marketing Co., were proper. The U.S. Army had asked for Altanmia specifically, he said.

If the parliamentary panel or the prosecutor find any wrongdoing, Sheik Ahmed said the law will be applied "even to me." As energy minister, Sheik Ahmed has ultimate responsibility for state-owned KPG. He has not, however, been implicated in any way with the profiteering allegations.

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2004/02/16/kuwaiti_parliament_oks_profiteering_probe/

comment: So, a head of state said the law applies "even to me." That is a philosophy which is beginning to be the exception rather than the norm. Hope they nail Cheney's company to a wall!

[lefty_mcduff]

1. Aaaah. So *that* explains why Faux

has been kicking up a fuss about (pretty lame) French oil tie-ins to Saddam this morning.

Never mind Haliburton - The French! The French!

[central scrutinizer]

2. jaysus, it must be really bad

if the thoroughly corrupt Kuwaiti emirs want to investigate - maybe some of Halliburton's bribe checks bounced.