UNScam Indictments - Who Is David Chalmers?
Via Glenn (who has more), the NY Times tells us about indictments in the UNScam case:
A Texas businessman, as well as a British and a Bulgarian citizen, have been indicted in New York for reportedly paying millions of dollars in secret kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's government in Iraq as part of the United Nations oil-for-food program.
The Texan, David B. Chalmers, a principal of Bay Oil U.S.A. Inc., and an associate of the oil trading company, Ludmil Dionissiev, a Bulgarian and permanent American resident, were arrested this morning at their homes in Houston.
And who is David Chalmers?
Mr. Chalmers made the news last fall - the LA Times ran an Oct. 9 story, with an Oct 18 follow-up, about Americans and American companies named in a CIA report on Oil for Food. He was also subpoenaed by Hyde's committee early this year.
Now, the LA Times first report and follow-up provide grist for right-wing conspiracists (Hmm, shouldn't my hand be up?). Their Oct. 9 lead:
Three U.S. citizens, all of whom campaigned against Iraq sanctions, were among those who received special grants from a scandal-ridden oil program overseen by Saddam Hussein, according to congressional officials and a CIA report released this week.
From the Oct. 18 follow:
At least one of the men attempted to broker a peace deal between the U.S. and Iraq in a last-ditch effort to avoid war. Others waged campaigns to put an end to United Nations (news - web sites) sanctions against Iraq, portraying their efforts as humanitarian gestures to help the Iraqi people.
At the same time, all were donating to U.S. political campaigns. Since 1991, Wyatt and his wife, Lynn, for instance, have given more than $700,000 to federal campaign and political organizations, most to Democrats and most after Wyatt and his firm began to buy oil from Iraq in 1997, according to records maintained by the Campaign Finance Analysis Project.
It is worth noting that Mr. Chalmers was not named in this CIA report. However, his company, Bay Oil, was, and the LA Times tells us that "Chalmers was an ex-business associate of Wyatt's, according to Platts, an oil-industry trade publication."
Now we need to switch sides momentarily. Mr. Chalmers also made the news for his involvement in some oil for arms deals with Saddam back in the 1980s, when Saddam was the good (or at least, less bad) guy in his war with Iran. Fans of Bill Safire will remember his attempts to rouse our interest in illegal efforts by the US to arm Saddam (and let's eagerly note the possible Hillary connection!).
Forbes had coverage last November 15; the Financial Times reprised this in April 2004 (and I got help from Stephen of the AcePilots).
A check of FEC donations showed David Chalmers of TX (and Bay Oil) giving inconsequential amounts - $1,000 to Dems, $300 to Reps. But I am not satisifed that I have cracked the code for PAC and corporate donations - my totals for the Wyatts (Oscar and Lynn) are several hundred thousand short of the $700,000 figure cited by the LA Times.
OK, there are lots of leads to follow - where, for example, is my link to the CIA report from last fall? I welcome some help on this.
UPDATE: The NY Times delivers a David Chalmers profile with an interesting tidbit - Mr. Chalmers left Prescott Bush country (Connecticut) for Texas in 1993. They also mention a Forbes article, which may well be the one to which I linked. However, they overlooked, or buried, the Iraqgate connection - and they call this dirt?