War & Disaster Profiteering

MARK Vaile will press Iraq to buy Australian wheat even if the nation's monopoly wheat exporter AWB is excluded from the deal.The Deputy Prime Minister, who will lead a mission to Iraq to save hundreds of millions of dollars in lost wheat sales, said yesterday he wanted a "clear indication" Iraq would "consider Australian wheat through another exporter if necessary to go into that tendering process".   Read More

They look like just another rundown Iraqi neighbourhood, but a row of houses in Baghdad's Green Zone are the ultimate proof of the maxim: "location, location, location." Read More

Prosecutors have asked a federal judge to sentence former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham to the maximum 10 years in prison for putting "a 'for sale' sign upon our nation's capital" and taking more than $2.4 million in bribes. Read More

Firm principals, facing another case in Virginia, ordered to appear in Mobile for deposition. Read More

The Defense secretary says he ordered the planting of articles to stop after learning of it, although others have said the effort continues. Read More

Trade Minister Mark Vaile will lead the trip with AWB boss Brendan Stewart, despite news overnight that the Iraqi Grains Board will stick to its decision to suspend trade with AWB. Read More

Hugh B. Tant III, a retired general, testifies in a whistleblower trial against the Rhode Island-based company that an invoice seeking a $3.7-million profit for work in Iraq "appeared to be fraud." Read More

Autralian attempts to secure postwar contracts were part of Operation Hunta, and involved Autralian Wheat Board managers and AWB officials seconded to the occupation government in Iraq. Read More

Australian executives used their positions as government-appointed advisers in Iraq to ensure the post-war survival of one of dictator Saddam Hussein's top trade officials. Read More

Hugh B. Tant III, a retired general, testifies in a whistleblower trial against the Rhode Island-based company that an invoice seeking a $3.7-million profit for work in Iraq "appeared to be fraud." Read More