Political donations, extradition battles and guns

[He3]

Mick Wallace the builder from Wexford said in an RTÉ Radio interview last year that other countries have the military-industrial complex to worry about, while we have the developers' lobby. For a developer to admit that was unusually candid.

Significant chunks of the Lisbon treaty are about military and defence changes, and in particular Lisbon would give treaty status to the European Defence Agency. The promoters claim this Agency will help us to buy cheaper guns. The history of the armaments industry does not suggest that this optimistic view is on solid ground.

The latest in a perpetual series of stories tending to associate that multi-billion euro industry with trouble surfaces in Germany.

Former arms dealer and lobbyist Karlheinz Schreiber, believed to have given a CDU politician one million deutschemarks (€511,000) in cash in a suitcase, arrived in Germany from Canada yesterday after losing a 10-year extradition battle.

Mr Schreiber (75) faces a maximum of 15 years behind bars on charges of bribery, fraud and tax evasion for his role in a donations scandal in the late 1990s that tainted the legacy of former German chancellor Helmut Kohl.

Dr Kohl admitted failing to register correctly during his leadership up to two million deutschemarks in donations from sources he refused to name.

One of these donors is suspected to be Bavarian-born Mr Schreiber who, as well as funnelling money from arms companies to German politicians, is accused of offering bribes to ensure government approval of the sale of armoured cars to Saudi Arabia.

Former arms dealer extradited to Germany on bribery charges - The Irish Times - Tue, Aug 04, 2009

[He3]

The CDU says his arrival in Germany a week before the elections is not a bother.

[He3]

Karlheinz Schreiber was a busy little bunny on both sides of the Atlantic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karlheinz_Schreiber

This from the BBC:

Mr Schreiber, who has both German and Canadian citizenship, was arrested under a German warrant in Canada in 1999. He was released on bail in 2007.

In a separate, Canadian case, he has been testifying at a public inquiry about his financial dealings with that country's former Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney.

Mr Mulroney has acknowledged taking C$225,000 (£125,000) from Mr Schreiber in return for promoting a project for a German company, though he denies Mr Schreiber's claim that the money was exchanged while he was still in office.

BBC NEWS | Americas | German trial for Kohl-era figure

[He3]

Tax Exiles for Lisbon are urgently looking for Herr Schreiber's contact details. All info gratefully received.

[toxic avenger]

The CDU says his arrival in Germany a week before the elections is not a bother.

[toxic avenger]

Useful to contrast the German experience with our own. Zero tolerance versus 'ah sure, twas all so long ago, and don't we have the etticks now?...' Though when FF say 'nothing to worry about' they're right, no-one gives a toss. Hopefully the Germans might prove themselves less civically and morally debased...

[He3]

Useful to contrast the German experience with our own. Zero tolerance versus 'ah sure, twas all so long ago, and don't we have the etticks now?...' Though when FF say 'nothing to worry about' they're right, no-one gives a toss. Hopefully the Germans might prove themselves less civically and morally debased...

The contrast is stark.

[He3]

Did Comical Ali have his own website?

KH has. He also has some neck.

Karlheinz Schreiber

KARLHEINZ SCHREIBER

Open Letter

The Right Hon. Stephen Joseph Harper
Prime Minister

House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Ottawa, May 2, 2009

Subject:
Prime Minister Stephen Harpers personal cover up decisions
concerning the "Political Justice Scandal"
and the "Airbus Affair"

Dear Prime Minister,

[...]

[toxic avenger]

Sounds like a bit of a sociopath to me. Would fit in well here...

[He3]

Sounds like a bit of a sociopath to me. Would fit in well here...

Welcomed with open arms.