Hunt Denies His Political Ties Aided Kurdish Pact

[sabra]

Source: WSJ

DALLAS -- Hunt Oil Co. Chief Executive Ray Hunt said his ties to the Bush family and the Republican Party didn't help his company cut a deal last month to explore for oil in Iraq's semiautonomous Kurdish region.

The agreement, which gives the closely held Dallas company access to a largely unexplored part of oil-rich Iraq, has been criticized by the Bush administration and Iraqi officials as undermining efforts to strengthen the war-torn country's central government. Some critics also suggested Mr. Hunt was cashing in on his ties to President Bush, while others claimed he was turning his back on the president.

In an interview, the 64-year-old Mr. Hunt says that, contrary to the State Department's assertion, the company received no U.S. government advice before striking a deal. "The State Department must have been misinformed," he said. "We did not consult with anyone in the (U.S. government) prior to signing our agreement."

Mr. Hunt, a longtime friend of the Bush family, gave $75,000 to Republican Party fund-raising committees in the past two years, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. But he said his political ties didn't play a role; the company saw an opening in Kurdistan and jumped on it. "It's another example where we're able to move quickly when opportunity presents itself," said Mr. Hunt, who says Kurdish oil executives turned to Hunt because of its oil-development record in Yemen.

Mr. Hunt added: "The fact is, as a matter of policy, we never have and never will go to the government of the U.S. and ask the government's advice on anything we do from a business point of view."

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119137830380347322.html?mod=hps_us_whats_news

[The Traveler]

1. Sure. After all

why should they ask the government's advice? Business opportunities clearly are so much more important than national security priorities.

:sarcasm:

These fake patriots need to be tarred and feathered ... or otherwise publicly humiliated before being hauled off the jail. Hey, isn't there some constitution-raping executive order authorizing the seizure of all property belonging to anyone who "places the reconstruction of Iraq at risk"???? Seems to me this qualifies.

[annabanana]

2. "We did not consult with "

Puh - leeze!

Like Hunt would have to go through that formality... I'm sure everything was fully understood.

[calimary]

4. Well, there's consulting and there's "consulting."

Maybe, splitting hairs, he did not TECHNICALLY pick up the phone and call somebody in THE State Department on this.

But there's the kibbitzing at the golf course, the cocktail parties, the casual word dropped by a colleague to a friend-of-a-friend, the fun, casual "innocent" little "visits" as bush himself likes to characterize them to paint them as harmless and benign. And it could be all those things based on a foundation he built long ago BASED ENTIRELY on the sweetheart inside "most favored person" treatment he gained from his friendship and longtime ties to the bushes. As a Texan, no less. Yeah, like THAT'S not ever going to be a factor.

[Baby Snooks]

7. On the other hand...

Hunt Oil is not one of the Seven Sisters aka "Big Oil" and the agreement was made outside of the "oil law" that Bush has established as a "benchmark" for the Iraqi "government" which will allow the Seven Sisters to control the Iraqi oil reserves and the agreement may in fact represent a problem for the "oil law" on that basis since it was made "outside" the "law" although of course there is no "law" at this point and the agreement may signal that the "law" may not be necessary. Except to protect the interests of the Seven Sisters. And the Bushes.

There is law and then there is Bush law. The latter you violate at your own risk. Especially if you're a wildcatter in Texas.

The Hunts are one of the few wildcatters left and Oscar Wyatt is a wildcatter and obviously not a friend of the Bushes and Ray Hunt may not be a friend of the Bushes either at this point.

Quite a few friendships in Texas have ended in the oil patch. Including quite a few friendships with the Bushes.

Years ago George HW Bush lost to Lloyd Bentsen in a very contentious race for the US Senate which had become a race between the Seven Sisters and the wildcatters. The wildcatters won. And the Bushes never forgot it. And I doubt the Bushes will forget this either. Because once again a wildcatter won.

[calimary]

9. Most intriguing. Thanks for the background!

And you make a second good point: the fact (and yes, it IS a fact) that "the bushes never forgot." Yep. That is certainly true. NOBODY holds grudges like this bunch does. And, unfortunately, few have maneuvered themselves into such positions of power, privilege, and influence that they can do something about those grudges.

[Virginia Dare]

3. Yep. Just another one of those happy coincidences...carry on..n/t

[Javaman]

5. *cough* *cough* bullshit *cough* *cough* nt

[AX10]

6. Texas Oil Men are of the most trustworthy souls on the planet.

:sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm:

[Baby Snooks]

8. And loyal too..

Oscar Wyatt used to send checks to RNC and DNC. For the same amount.

[Doctor_J]

10. And Cheney claims he got rich without any government money

both are liars.

[Supersedeas]

11. Yea right, the State Dept. admits involvement, but when the political heat rises

suddenly, we have a denial.