ol Jimmy Baker is working a scam - have a look

[donsu]

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

Bush special envoy embroiled in controversy over Iraq debt

Consortium plans to cash in as Baker asks countries to end £200bn burden

Read the documents

President Bush's special envoy, James Baker, who has been trying to persuade the world to forgive Iraq's crushing debts, is simultaneously working for a commercial concern that is trying to recover money from Iraq, according to confidential documents.

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.

-snip-

"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."
-snip-
--------------------------------


but heck, that's how the criminal bloody bushgang does business

[tom_paine]

1. The Customary Corruption of Totalitarian Nations

Like Imperial Amerika...

[noonwitch]

2. I would trust Jim Bakker before I would trust James Baker!

At least the former has served his time.

[flvegan]

3. The Nation has an excellent article on this

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

[MGKrebs]

4. Negotiating with oneself?

Jim Baker: So Jim, can you get Kuwait to forgive that Iraqi debt?
Jim Baker: I don't think so Jim. They aren't paying me to not get anything.
Jim Baker: But your President has asked you to try to relieve this country of this terrible burden.
Jim Baker: I know that Jim, and my client will do everything they can normalize relations with Iraq going forward. But they will need this debt to be paid.
Jim Baker: There must be some middle ground here, Jim. What's it gonna take?
Jim Baker: Well, now that you mention it, my firm has extensive business interests in the area, and would appreciate some consideration in expanding into the Iraqi market.
Jim Baker: Well now you are talking. Let me see what I can put together.
Jim Baker: Great. Let me give you the contact at my firm who would handle that. His name is Jim Baker. Great guy. Perhaps you've met?

[donsu]

5. you got it

typical bushgang business practice

[nefarious]

6. Didn't he threaten the Iraqi foreign minister with nuclear weapons

before Gulf War I?

Wasn't he instrumental in insuring the disputed Florida election would be settled by SCOTUS?

Aren't the Kuwaitiis one of the major players in Carlyle?

Is this character's middle name "Conflict-Of-Interest"?