Sarkozy election campaign was funded by Libya – Gaddafi son

[Hannah Bell]

Muammar Gaddafi's son has claimed that Libya helped finance Nicolas Sarkozy's successful election campaign in 2007, and demanded that the French president return the money to "the Libyan people".

In an interview with the Euronews TV channel, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi said Libya had details of bank transfers and was ready to make them public in a move designed to punish Sarkozy for throwing his weight behind opposition forces.

The regime is furious at Sarkozy's efforts to galvanise international action to impose a "no-fly zone" that would prevent Gaddafi from using air power against rebels based in Benghazi.

Eyebrows were raised when Gaddafi visited Paris in late 2007 and was permitted to pitch his trademark bedouin tent in the gardens of the Hotel Marigny, the 19th-century mansion close to the Elysée Palace, which hosts visiting VIPs. That triggered a storm of adverse comment about the warmth of his reception by Sarkozy on international human rights day.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/16/sarkozy-election-campaign-libya-claim?INTCMP=SRCH

[leveymg]

1. I can guarantee you that Gaddafi has been throwing his money this side of the pond

as well. Lots of it. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act is practically unenforced. Same goes for money kicked back by every other wealthy Mid-Eastern state, kingdom and satrapy.

[Hannah Bell]

2. including israel, i imagine.

[leveymg]

3. That is a state in the Middle East, when I last checked.

And, some of its companies seem to have grown extraordinarily rich over the last decade through breaking up companies, greenmail, and U.S. Government bailouts. Particularly, this Vulture Capital firm (a spin-off from an Israeli bank holding company) and its former chief executive:

[Hannah Bell]

4. just clarifying that corruption is not unique to arabs.

[leveymg]

5. Oh, my G-d, no. Nobody holds a monopoly on that, as hard as many may try.

[CanonRay]

6. Can we get Walker to attack the Koch brothers?

An invasion of their mansion by the Wisconsin National Guard? :evilgrin:

[malaise]

7. Adios Sarkozy

Your Right wingers will love this