Scott Ritter, Part 2

[Steve Schacher]

There is new news regarding Scott Ritter. A British newspaper is reporting on documents found in Iraqi government offices. They already reported that British MP Galloway was paid 600,000 USD, and he was an outspoken supporter of Iraq who was opposed to the war. Now they report Iraqis tried to bribe Scott Ritter with gold.

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Iraq's intelligence services bought gold jewellery that they planned to give to the wife and daughter of Scott Ritter, the controversial former weapons inspector, as part of a clandestine project to encourage him to work closely with Saddam Hussein's regime, according to documents discovered by The Telegraph in Baghdad.

According to the documents, which were found in the bombed headquarters of Iraq's intelligence services, the cost of the presents was approved at the highest level in an attempt to develop "strong relations with them [Mr Ritter's family] that affect positively on our relations with him".

The documents say that the gifts should be offered via an intermediary, who was named as

Shakir al-Khafaji

, an Iraqi-American businessman and close associate of Mr Ritter.

The documents, which are signed by the then director-general of Iraqi intelligence, purport to reveal close links between Mr al-Khafaji and Iraqi intelligence, and suggest that the regime was making available substantial funds to offer him. Mr Ritter and Mr al-Khafaji have both made clear that they received no such gifts or funds.

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[Steve Schacher]

More regarding Shakir al-Khafaji, from Iraqi-born American has funded Democrats in the Washington Times.

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An Iraqi-born real estate developer in Michigan with ties to Saddam Hussein has donated several thousand dollars to Democratic candidates since 1996 to gain political support to end sanctions on his homeland.

Shakir al-Khafaji, an American citizen who came to the United States in 1976, has contributed to the campaigns of former U.S. Rep. David Bonior, Rep. John Conyers, Sen. Carl Levin ÔÇö all Michigan Democrats ÔÇö and the Clinton/Gore 1996 Primary Committee.

The 48-year-old, in an interview with The Washington Times, said he is well-acquainted with Saddam loyalists: "I know everybody in the regime, and they respected me a lot, but at the same time, I was not an advocate of that regime at any time."

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