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May 27, 2003

Corporate Profiteering: From Congo to Iraq

Palast,greg

Greg Palast Discusses the Congo War and Reveals Internal USAID Documents that Outline a Master Plan for Reorganizing the Entire Economy of Iraq

Greg Palast has been called “the greatest investigative reporter of our time” (Tribune Magazine). His book The Best Democracy Money Can Buy exposed the racketeering, swindling and backroom deals that passes for democracy in the new global economy. It became a New York Times bestseller.

Today on Democracy Now!, he talks about internal USAID documents that outline a master plan for reorganizing the entire economy of Iraq. The plans include the elimination of trade protections and the mass privatization of every industry in Iraq, including selling-off the oilfields.

Palast’s book also explores the relationship between the Bush family and a Canadian mining company, the Barrick Corporation.

Palast explains how as president, George Bush Senior changed a century old mining law that allowed Barrick to “swiftly lay claim to the largest gold find in America”. In return, the company named Bush to a senior advisory position after he lost the White House. The company also poured money into the Republican party coffers during the 1997-2000 election cycle, an exceedingly generous gesture for a company based in Canada.

So, what is Barrick? According to Palast- the initial stake came from none other than Adnan Khashoggi- the Saudi arms dealer who arranged the Iran-Contra arms for hostage deal.

One of the companies Barrick owns is Vancouver-based Sutton Resources Ltd. In 1996- Sutton drove out anywhere between 30,000 and 400,000 local miners from the Bulyanhulu mining field in Tanzania. During the process- Sutton’s bulldozers allegedly buried 52 people alive.

Barrick steadfastly denies the allegations.

  • Greg Palast, BBC investigative reporter and author of The Best Democracy Money Can Buy
  • Joan Kuyek, National Coordinator of MiningWatch Canada, which has called for an independent investigation of the Bulyanhulu mining massacre.

Link:

Greg Palast Homepage

MiningWatch Canada

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