Iraqis deploying more lobbyists

[sabra]

Source: USAToday

WASHINGTON — By one benchmark, Iraqis are gaining a better understanding of U.S.-style democracy: The number of lobbyists hired to influence U.S. policy has more than tripled since the war began.

Eighteen lobbyists and firms have registered to represent Iraqi clients in the United States since March 2003, federal records show. That's up from five lobbyists between the 1991 Gulf War and the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime.

The Iraqi clients have paid representatives more than $16.7 million through January — more than 10 times the amount Iraqi opposition groups paid during the 12 years before the invasion. Activities reported include not only Washington lobbying but legal work, advertising and public relations.

...

The Iraqi government has paid more than $10 million to the law firm of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton to help negotiate relief from the more than $140 billion in debt incurred by Saddam's regime.

Once the negotiations are complete, Iraq's total debt should be reduced to about $30 billion, said Lee Buchheit, a partner at the law firm. "Commercial lenders wouldn't advance money to a country that had an unresolved debt of $140 billion," Buchheit said.


Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-06-27-iraq-lobby_N.htm

[Jacobin]

1. Oh man. U.S. Funds going to Iraqi Lobbyists to Bribe the Congress

The Circle is Now Complete.

:puke: