Murders and Executions options trading at Saddam futures or stiffs.com
Invasion architect in hot water over conflicts of another kind
March 27 2003
A senior US Democrat has called for an investigation of Richard Perle, an
architect of the war on Iraq, for possible conflicts of interest in his
roles as corporate adviser and Pentagon consultant.
John Conyers, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives judiciary
committee, asked the Pentagon's inspector-general to investigate Mr Perle's
work as a paid adviser to the bankrupt telecommunications company Global
Crossing and his guidance on investment opportunities resulting from the
Iraq war.
"I am aware of several potential conflicts that warrant your immediate
review," Mr Conyers said in a letter to the Defence Department's
inspector-general, Joseph Schmitz.
"The President is confident that all laws will be followed by all people
who are on all commissions," the White House spokesman, Ari Fleischer, said.
Mr Perle chairs the Defence Policy Board, created in 2001 to advise the
Pentagon, but has no official policymaking role and is not paid. He has
played an influential role in developing the Bush Administration's
blueprint for ousting Saddam Hussein.
Critics have questioned Mr Perle's activities when not advising the
Secretary of Defence, Donald Rumsfeld.
Mr Perle signed on to help Global Crossing, a bankrupt operator of an
international fibre-optic network, win US approval to sell a 61.5per cent
stake to Hutchison Whampoa and Singapore Technologies Telemedia.
The plan has run into trouble with the Committee on Foreign Investment in
the US. Including Mr Rumsfeld and other top national security officials,
the panel can block mergers and acquisitions it feels could harm US interests.
Global Crossing began talks to restructure the deal after the committee
raised concerns that its network would be controlled by a company with
strong ties to China.
Hutchison is majority-owned by Hong Kong's richest man, Li Ka-shing.
Mr Perle has said he would be paid $US125,000 ($210,225) for his advice and
another $US600,000 if the Government approved the deal.
http://smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/26/1048653750458.html
