Flamboyant British MP George Galloway took it to a Senate subcommittee looking into his ties to the UN oil-for-food scandal today.
WASHINGTON (AP) – British lawmaker George Galloway denounced U.S. senators on their home turf Tuesday, denying accusations that he profited from the U.N. oil-for-food program and accusing them of unfairly tarnishing his name.
Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., questioned Galloway’s honesty and told reporters, “If in fact he lied to this committee, there will have to be consequences.”
Galloway’s appearance was an odd spectacle on Capitol Hill: A legislator from a friendly nation, voluntarily testifying under oath, without immunity, at a combative congressional hearing where neither side showed much pretense of diplomatic niceties.
…Coleman’s subcommittee claimed that Galloway funneled allocations through the Mariam Appeal – a fund he established in 1998 to help a 4-year-old Iraqi girl suffering from leukemia – and received allocations worth 20 million barrels from 2000 to 2003. Coleman also alleged that Galloway was linked to kickbacks to Saddam, saying the Iraqi leader received more than $300,000 in surcharges on allocations involving Galloway.
“You have nothing on me, senator, except my name on lists of names from Iraq, many of which have been drawn up after the installation of your puppet government in Baghdad,” he said.This BBC report report on the aftermath of the hearing, however, indicates that it’s possible that Sen. Coleman (R-MN) and Sen. Levin (D-MI) were playing a bit of rope-a-dope with Galloway:
Asked his reaction to the “unusual” manner of the witness, [Coleman] replied: “I was not offended by what he had to say, it was not relevant.
“The theatre, the dramatics – I was not looking at that. I had one goal and it was to make a record.”
…Senator Levin later said he was “deeply troubled” that Mr Galloway had “ducked the question”Scott Burgess live blogs the hearing, and drops this tidbit:
A committee lawyer is running through the evidence of 4 oil allocations made to Galloway, adding that a “senior Iraqi official” had confirmed, just yesterday, that the supporting documentation (some of which specifically names Galloway as an allocation recipient) was genuine. It’s unfortunate that they’re not naming the official – could it be Tariq Aziz?
While I’d like to believe that there will be “consequences” for Galloway, unless Coleman’s committee can unearth a “smoking gun,” he’ll remain a gadfly lefty hero…
Who am I kidding, even if they provide a “smoking gun” he’ll still be a lefty fav. Countdown to “Glass Jaw Jim” Lampley eruption in 3, 2, 1…
Yes, as per what Buddy Revell writes, and another thing, it’s the American taxpayers who are being asked to foot the ridiculously overinflated costs by millions of the U.N. new headquarters, also as to their temporary relocation in Manhattan. Just a fact to keep in mind where the U.N. and their expenditures are concerned.
So, Phil Harris, are you the one and only Galloway supporter in the U.K. who has just happened to find Wizbang? You underestimate your own nationality because a lot of Brits, as you call them/yourself, don’t (at all) allege as you do. Galloway was thrown out of the LIBERAL Party in the U.K., which should tell you something about your mates.
“He either accepted funds from a Saddam Hussein financial network that took U.N. dollars intended for other efforts, or he didn’t.”
Um, S, I’m not sure what hearings you were watching but Galloway specifically said he DID NOT. He answered every charge with an emphatic, direct denial of the accusations and then leveled his own charges that there was no credible evidence against him. I’m not sure where you see any kind of equivocation or ambiguity in his responses. He said clearly that he was innocent and being wrongly accussed. Balls in Coleman’s court …
And just for fun, would either you or Buddy Revell care to share the following comments with the British soldiers currently serving in Iraq or Afghanistan?
Buddey Revell: “I love the idiot british who come here to defend Galloway and question the nerve of our government to question him. Well clowns, as soon as your island government starts paying about half of the UN budget and watches some 20 billion of taxpayer money disappear, maybe you can weigh in.”
S: “Yes, as per what Buddy Revell writes.”
I have many friends from the great US of A and nearly all agree Amrika has stepped over a line which is very dangerous indeed. It is sincerely believed that there are elements in the present adminstration who are more concerned with the welfare of zionist ideals than they are about bread – and -butter issues which governments ought to be dealing with. Google ‘Diebold and Ohio recount’Galloway wasn’t speaking necessarily to the two senators who sat before him, he was speaking to the American public at large.It is clear that they heard, not so clear: ‘is will they listen?’
Actually -s-, it was the Labour Party.
Once again -S-, you demonstrate a complete lack of knowledge, and a disregard for facts.
Galloway was thrown out of the LABOUR party, for his opposition to the war.
Just so you know, Tony Blair is the leader of the LABOUR party in the UK. The Liberals are a different party all together.
The LABOUR party are supposed to be socialists, the CONSERVATIVE party (now little more than a joke over here), are supposed to represent the right wing, and the LIBERALS are supposed to fall somewhere in the middle.
Got that?
Well, Wasington hawks whose feathers were ruffled over the frenzied case for war against Iraq are venting their wounded pride on George Galloway, whose opposition to the US-led invasion gained him a seat in the British Parliament.
Why is Washington spending so much valuable time and energy on who bought oil from Saddam? The man is in prison and his assets have now been frozen by Bush.
The US Senate should concentrate on more pressing domestic issues such as the economy, instead of trying to throw the spotlight off the Administration’s own sunstantial mistakes.
On the subject of UN funding. The USA is currently in arrears on payments to the UN to the tune of one and a half billion dollars. This represents 51% of all money currently owed to the organisation.
I guess the UN will have to wait, as the US national debt heads towards eight trillion dollars, it may take a while to find the money.
The budget for UN administration and buildings is paid ultimately by the UN, not by the USA. So this talk of the USA supporting the UN financially is utterly wrong.
The UN is a DEMOCRATIC organisation, each nation has a vote.
It would appear the US are not as fond of Democracy when the outcome doesn’t suit them.
We Americans are still recovering from George Galloway’s double-barrelled blast at the US Senate and Administration. It was the most refreshing bit of testimony to emanate from those atherosclerotic chambers in a very, very long time.
For the silent majority (the ones who did not vote for Bush), Mr Galloway’s visit provided a brief respite from the depressing day-to-day life in this military-industrial complex that cannot exist without being at war with the rest of the world. Many of us wish we were represented by the likes of George Galloway.
Oh, I see, we give our money to the UN and then they waste it, but since we gave it to the UN, it’s not our business?
Sorry, it is our business and we have every right to question slime like Galloway if we feel that he is complicit in the billions that were wasted.
I remember all your pathetic “the US is killing the children is Iraq” chants in the nineties. Well guess what, it wasn’t the US, it was Sadamm and people like Galloway who helped prop up him and the biggest financial scandal in anyone’s memories.
Also,
The opprobrium heaped on George Galloway, MP for Bethnal Green & Bow, by much of the British media is shameful. However much one might disagree with his views, the man is an elected representative of the people and should be allowed to defend his reputation.
One wonders what the US media and Government’s response would be if our Foreign Affairs Committee were to invite US Vice-President Dick Cheney to explain the role of his old company Halliburton in scooping massive contracts in Iraq.
Sorry Jack, I must have missed the bit where you explained why you had “every right to examine him”.
On what exactly do you base that statement?
Galloway went on his own volition, he did not have too. If he had not wanted to go, there was no way he would have done. I am fairly certain that his presence before the committee could not be demanded or enforced.
Once again an example of some people in the US thinking they are somehow the worlds police. You guys really need to get that idea out of your heads.
I would like you to explain, Jack, why this is “your business”.
Phil,
Most fourth graders have already seen past that tired old rant.
On the subject of money, one vote, one share of the costs, let’s really make the UN a democracy and stop being forced to foot most of the bill for this “democratic” scandle ridden cesspool.
UN+equal=not very equal
And oh yeah, a democracy usually represents something other than itself, when the mafia bosses get together to vote on who to kill next, they are at about the same level as your version of “democracy”.
The mafia is probably less corrupt, though, as they have a much higher level of acountability.
“Sorry, it is our business and we have every right to question slime like Galloway if we feel that he is complicit in the billions that were wasted.”
On that score can we finally figure out what the CPA did with $8 billion that has gone missing, entirely unaccounted for, during its brief existence? Does Congress have any authority there? I mean you know, maybe? Or is leveling charges at a small time British politician over what amounts to pocket change in the grand scheme of pre-and post war corruption that much more important?
Jack, just tell me you care one iota about the missing CPA funds, just tell me it’s on the to do list no matter how close to the bottom and I will start to believe you really care about how US funds are spent.
So Mesablue, by your suggestion the fairest way is for those with the most money to have the greater power.
I guess with the appalling electoral history of the US, I can understand why you might define democracy that way, but by all true definitions, you are wrong.
The laughable thing is, you guys tell the world how great democracy is, and how it creates freedom, yet you have not got the first idea of how to behave in one.
As for what the UN represents, its the worlds view, not the myopic, xenophobic and terrified view of the planet you seem to hold.
The hypocrisy is quite astonishing.
Galloway was sharp, clear and believable.
An whatever you can say, he looked like a man with conviction on a mission to clear his name.
I was scoring and I think he provided enough ammo to do so. Unless the senators can categorically prove his statements wrong its up to them to spin it away.
Today, the 19th, the rebuttal so far is spin not facts. so as of now, Galloway seems to have cleared his name and his cause.
However, the funny thing that has happened to me so far is that his opening salvo about the decline in standards came to be clear to me.
The Senators could not rebut his claims that they have disregarded probing the validity of the so called evidence against him. The nails placed in the coffin were actually the Senators inability to defend their declared positions on missing WMD’s, the lack of Iraqi ties to 9/11 and Al Quaeda plus their strange acceptance of questionable evidence.
Towing the line? Maybe. To me its a case of “The Emperor has no Clothes”.
‘s, the emporer has no clothes!!!
Let me say this loud and clear, a much larger proportaion, and I mean much, much larger proportion, of my tax money goes to the UN than any other citizen of any nation on this earth (other than my fellow scum Americans). So yes, you are damn right I care.
In addition, how many billions of my tax dollars, and the dollars of my parents, went to protecting the disgusting scum of thankless europeans from the Soviets? I love how you pricks criticize everything we do after spending the last 50 years under the umbrella of our protection. Thankless pieces of shit. If we could do it all again, I would hope that a majority of Americans would realize that not a single American life was worth protection you backstabbing revisionist turds.
It pains me to think of the suffering that we went through 60 years ago knowing that people like you would think the way you do now. Without us, you wouldn’t exist, a fact that has been obviously forgotten over the years.
I pray, and I mean pray, that your time comes again and you look across the ocean for ships and planes that will never come.
Good riddance to you and all those who think like you.
Oh, and before I forget to ask, please kindly direct me and the rest of my scum countrymen to where you come up with 8 bil in missing CPA funds.
This ought to be fun.
erm did Mr Galloway not make it clear he has never made a penny out of oil and neither has any one on his behalf, the questions he dodged were trying to get him to condem his friend and he did not want to do that perfectly understandable although may be not a wise thing to do. I say this to all the brain washed americans listen to his whole hearing and not what fox tell you or the other right wing press.
Its amazing you guys in the USA a developed nation with all the facilities in the world and you have lost the ability to think for youself you let your press do that for you. Thats why your the laughing stock of the world with your good v’s evil world view.
Read investigations from journalist from other nations and try to think for yourselfs dont let your pathetic press do the thinking for you
erm did Mr Galloway not make it clear he has never made a penny out of oil and neither has any one on his behalf, the questions he dodged were trying to get him to condem his friend and he did not want to do that perfectly understandable although may be not a wise thing to do. I say this to all the brain washed americans listen to his whole hearing and not what fox tell you or the other right wing press.
Its amazing you guys in the USA a developed nation with all the facilities in the world and you have lost the ability to think for youself you let your press do that for you. Thats why your the laughing stock of the world with your good v’s evil world view.
Read investigations from journalist from other nations and try to think for yourselfs dont let your pathetic press do the thinking for you
well damn, if he said he didn’t do it, it must be true.
No wonder we won the war.
What’s funnier, having your electoral process criticized by people who still have a king and queen, or having your media criticized by people who have nude bimbos in their print paper?
Thank God it’s the same offending country because it sounds like a tie.
Amrika the game is up!
you have lost credibility in the world sphere on a scale that would make the Enron collapse small fry. The usa brand has dived forever and your arrogant denial has sown the seeds for a very unfortunate and black harvest.It is a pity to have squandered such a blessed existence, but that is that. Or as the french might say “c’est ca! “
Jack, you really are an idiot with absolutely no sense of history whatsoever. Sadly you are not alone, there are far too many people like yourself who get their historical facts from hollywood.
If not for the Japanese, at which point was America planning to get involved in preventing the massacre in Europe?
I feel immensely grateful for the sacrifice made by the young men of America, who came to fight on European soil. Their contribution to events was enormous, and they will never be forgotten here.
I also try to remember the 27 million Russians who died, led into a pact my a mad dictator.
The reason we British get a bit defensive about the war, and who won it, is that we stood alone for 2 years. 60,000 civilians died in luftwaffe bombing of London and other cities.
While this was going on, and the ordinary people of Britain were preparing to resist what seemed an inevitable invasion. The politicians here, and in America, were organising something called “Lend Lease”. Under this scheme, we were sent weapons and supplies from the factories of America. These supplies were lent to us, the actual cost to be repaid after the war.
Britain was so financially crippled by WW2, that food rationing in this country lasted for 15 years after the war finished.
Close to half a million of our young men died resisting Hitler. Along with Canadians, Indians, Australians, New Zealanders and people from all over the rapidly decaying empire. Add this to the 13 million Russians killed fighting in the East.
The war was called a world war because the world was fighting a great evil. The American effort was and is, hugely appreciated.
One thing that pisses us of however, is tossers like you claiming you won the war, because thats what Audie Murphy films told you.
Jack dont you understand what he said was he has never made a penny and that is fully backed up by his the audit on Mariam appeal, if the senate had any proof they would have presented all they have is names on lists which as Mr Galloway said were probably drawn up after the installation of the puppet government.
Now you may not believe that but is a fact that there are documents out there simular to what the senate presented which have proven to be faked the ones which were used by the Christian Science Monitor by their own admission were proven to be fake and in London the Daily Mail a very right wing paper purchased documents which it later did not publish because forensics proved they were fake now that is a well known fact although in your fox world you may not be aware of it.
Regarding your comment about us guys having nude bimbos in the print press well at least it aint as bad as having them present the news for idiots like you in idiot size bites.
i tell you one thing it may be embarrassing having a queen but it dont come nowhere near like as embarrassing as having a Presdent like George W Bush. The mother of all idiots
And that senator coleman what a joke he looked shell shocked and all you could see him do was go from one page of the documents to the other looking for anything but finding nothing
Briefly on the subject of nude women in newspapers.
That was started by Rupert Murdoch, the owner of The Sun in this country. He was the first to publish topless pictures in his paper.
He is also the man that owns Fox News.
Anyone in any doubt about the ethical standard Rupert Murdoch applies to his “news” organisations, would do well to remember that.