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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: PROLIFE who wrote (528663)	1/24/2004 11:57:51 AM
From: TideGlider	Respond to of 769670

Baghdad tried to bribe Scott Ritter with gold Documents reveal expensive gifts for ex-weapons inspector's family -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: May 4, 2003 6:03 p.m. Eastern © 2003 WorldNetDaily.com Scott Ritter, the former U.N. weapons inspector who was arrested for reportedly seeking sex from teen-age girls he met online, was targeted for bribery with gold by Iraq, reports the London Telegraph. Scott Ritter mug shot (courtesy WNYT-TV) Documents reveal the so-called "Scott Ritter Project" where Iraqi intelligence services bought expensive jewelry intended for Ritter's wife and daughter to encourage him to work closely with Saddam's regime. The papers found in the bombed headquarters of Iraq's intelligence services, indicate the cost of the gifts was approved at the highest level in an attempt to develop "strong relations with them [Ritter's family] that affect positively on our relations with him." The documents say the gifts should be offered through an intermediary, named as Shakir al-Khafaji, an Iraqi-American businessman and close associate of Ritter, states the Telegraph. Signed by the then director-general of Iraqi intelligence, they purport to reveal close links between al-Khafaji and Iraqi intelligence, and suggest the regime was making available substantial funds to offer him. Both Ritter and al-Khafaji have made it clear they never received such gifts or money. "Be careful how you interpret those documents," Ritter told the paper. "I would hate to read that I had taken Iraqi money, which I did not. Perhaps you can find documents relating to the meeting I eventually had with Tariq Aziz, in which I told him I would take no money, and he replied, 'We respect you because you do not have your hand out,'" Ritter said. The "Scott Ritter Project" was reportedly found in a file marked "Hosting in hotels 1997-2000," including details of Iraqi intelligence guests who had traveled to Baghdad. The records were in the same folder as reports of a 1998 visit to Baghdad by an envoy of Osama bin Laden. Dated between July 18 and Sept. 14, 2000, they appear to record a trip to Baghdad made by Ritter, al-Khafaji and a film crew. Their visit took place shortly before Ritter raised £250,000 to make a controversial documentary about Iraq which criticized U.S. policy toward Saddam's regime. The Telegraph says Ritter formed a partnership with al-Khafaji to finance the film entitled "Shifting Sands" which, according to Ritter, "proved" Iraq did not have weapons of mass destruction. In an 2001 interview with the New York Times, Ritter said none of al-Khafaji's funding came from Saddam. Of the £250,000 spent on the film, he said only £26,250 went into his own pocket. While he confirmed he had received money from al-Khafaji, Ritter said he had had his business associate checked by CIA "sources" via a friend who was a reporter, and was reassured. As reported by WorldNetDaily, Ritter confirmed he was arrested in 2001 but refused to give details. He has dramatically reversed his position on Iraq's weapons threat and become an outspoken critic of the U.S., telling WorldNetDaily that President Bush should be impeached for his policy toward Baghdad. New York media coverage indicates Ritter sought to have underage girls watch him have sex with himself in public places. The arrest record was sealed and the case reportedly dismissed, though U.S. prosecutors have since reportedly unsealed the case to see if federal charges are warranted, according to sources.