LA Times redeems itself, a little bit

The Los Angeles Times redeems a few of its many sins today, with a blockbuster investigative scoop detailing Syria's extensive role in violating sanctions on the supply of arms to Saddam Hussein. The original incriminating documents were uncovered by Christophe Reuter, an investigative journalist working for Stern, the German news magazine, just days after American troops entered Baghdad. For unspecified reasons, Reuter later provided the documents to the LAT, which devoted 3 months to corroborating the documents with interviews around the globe.

It is highly unusual for a reporter of one news organization to supply the makings of a high—impact worldwide scoop to another news organization located in another country. One wonders if Stern's editors were less than receptive to pursuing a story which showed knowing European collaboration in violation of UN sanctions. Among the countries whose manufacturers knowingly supplied forbidden items to Iraq were Poland, Slovenia, Russia, and (of course) North Korea. The items supplied included tank barrels, missile engines, sophisticated communications gear for air defense, surveillance and communications gear for security services, and major components for ballistic missiles.

In a delicious irony, the ballistic missile components, which were to be supplied by North Korea, were never delivered, but the Norks never refunded the $10 million paid in advance by Saddam. According to the LAT, The North Koreans said, 'It's too hot to refund your money." Anyone contemplating constructing an agreement with the North Korean regime would be well—advised to consider this characteristic behavior.

The Syrian company which was the primary vehicle for conducting this forbidden trade was Al Bashair Trading Co., whose owners include close relatives of Syrian president Bashar Assad. The Director General of Al Bashair's large Baghdad office fled to Syria during the American invasion, and remains there living under government protection.

Syria paid for the illegal arms imports through phony contracts with Al Bashair to import sugar, in which vast overpayments were applied to arms instead. Not so incidentally, these phony funds transfers, which amounted to billions of dollars over the years, apparently also found their way to private bank accounts of various officials, from time to time. Iraq also supplied considerable amounts of black market oil to Syria as well, via two pipelines.

Interestingly enough, the United States does not appear overly eager to retaliate to either Syria or the individual companies involved. Syria's hereditary president Assad has been cooperating with the United States on a number of issues of importance regarding Iraq and also Lebanon. While far from a model citizen of the world, Assad has cleaned up his act enough to avoid being the target of American wrath, at least for the time being.

Tempting though it would be to exact swift and horrible vengeance on all the miscreants, allies of former enemies often have their practical utility, particularly when one has incriminating evidence to hold over their heads. As time goes on, and translations are made of other captured documents, we will learn much more about exactly who did what during the period that UN sanctions were supposedly bringing Iraq to its knees.

Posted by Thomas 12 30 03