Bush special envoy embroiled in controversy over Iraq debt

[cal04]

Mr Baker's Carlyle Group is in a consortium secretly proposing to try to collect $27bn (£15bn) on behalf of Kuwait, one of Iraq's biggest creditors, by using high-level political influence. It claims Mr Baker will not benefit personally, but the consortium could make millions in fees, retainers and commission as a result.

Other countries, including Britain, have been urged by Mr Baker to relieve the new Iraq regime of its $200bn debt burden. Iraq owes Britain approximately $1bn. One international lawyer described the consortium's scheme as "influence peddling of the crassest kind".


Kathleen Clark, a law professor at Washington University and a leading expert on government ethics and regulations, said this meant that Mr Baker was in a "classic conflict of interest".

"Baker is on two sides of this transaction: he is supposed to be representing the interests of the US, but he is also a senior counsellor at Carlyle, and Carlyle wants to get paid to help Kuwait recover its debts from Iraq." She added: "Carlyle and the other companies are exploiting Baker's current position to try to land a deal with Kuwait that would undermine the interests of the US government."

more
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1326037,00.html

[Malva Zebrina]

1. I am getting sicker by the minute

this country is in the septic tank.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. The only solution to this is to put baker in jail someplace.

[yardwork]

3. Good idea. How about Iraq?

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Does 'James Baker III" mean ...

... he gets to be on the third level of the pyramid?

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Full version of The Nation story here:

http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20041101&s=klein (8 pages)

[Toby109]

6. James Baker, the consigliere of the BFEE

If he's around, you know it stinks. As soon as I found out that that unctuous fuck had been sent to Florida in 2000, I knew the game would be rigged.

Unlike Tom Hagen, Baker excels in wartime.

[KittyWampus]

7. Well, Baker Is Representing The Saudi Royals Against The 9/11 Widows

[gratuitous]

8. Look up "conflict of interest" in Black's Law Dictionary

And you'll see James Baker's overfed smug phiz looking out at you.

[jsquared]

9. The total arrogance demonstrated by this conflict of interest is a sign

that they really are deluded by their (temporary) power. I am betting that the secrets that will come out on the Carlyle group and their multifaceted corruption after Bush's fall will still shock us. They are just setting themselves up further for a higher fall.

[grasswire]

10. ohhhhhhhhhh

There is no end to their anti-Americanism. Unspeakable monsters.

UNSPEAKABLE!

Can't someone on our side talk about this?

[FormerOstrich]

11. Here is what they said at the time they appointed Baker..

When then asked if Baker's business interests posed a conflict of interest in his task of renegotiating Iraq's debt, Bush described Baker as a "man of high integrity" and of "enormous experience." Scott McClellan, the White House spokesman, said Baker "is fully complying with all laws and rules on the books, and has taken significant steps to avoid even the potential for a conflict of interest."

http://isuisse.ifrance.com/stopcarlyle/pressreviewbaker.htm

Not only does Baker & Botts represent Saudi royalty they represent Haliburton.

No potential for conflict....I think I had some words about it back then.

[colonel odis]

12. can't a local bar association stand up to him?

why's everyone so afraid of this slimy asshole?