Memories, Falteringly Absent, and Keenly Observant
The further inquiry into the Mulroney-Schreiber affair led by Justice Jeffrey Oliphant, is revealing some quite interesting witness statements that run the gamut from painting former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney as completely innocent of any charges of wrong-doing, and alternately, grubbily and greedily guilty of lining his nest. The inquiry's purpose is to reveal when and why the former prime minister was given substantial amounts of cash for services.
Prime ministers do not normally make business deals with arms lobbyists, and Karlheinz Schreiber has testified that some of his meetings with Brian Mulroney took place while he was yet in office as prime minister. The disputed amount of $300,000, according to Mr. Schreiber; $250,000 according to Brian Mulroney has a still-unknown function behind it, and it is that function as well as the time-line that this inquiry seeks to clarify.
It won't do that with any help from Brian Mulroney. Nor can it hope to be enlightened by questioning Mr. Mulroney's former trusted chief of staff, Alfred Doucet, who just does not remember anything, so sorry. Mr. Doucet expresses a positive recovery of memory, matching everything that Mr. Mulroney claims in support of his innocence of any wrong-doing.
According to Mr. Doucet, Mr. Mulroney agreed, after he left high office, to "... develop economic opportunities for our (Schreiber's) companies including travelling abroad to meet with government and private sector leaders to assist in opening new markets for our products and to report regularly to us in this regard." Mulroney's political-social entree to international luminaries to be utilized as a lobbyist for armaments. That occupation would certainly burnish Canada's reputation.
People do have their values. Former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau travelling frantically abroad before stepping down from office, in an attempt to use his contacts and his personal prestige to further the Utopian ideal of worldwide peace. Whereas former Prime Minister Jean Chretien polished his political and business contacts courtesy of official government "trade missions" to China while in office to explore the Chinese market potential once he returned to his lawyerly trade.
Digressions aside, this inquiry was informed repeatedly by a shaken Mr. Doucet that he suffered from a poor memory, unable to recall events that he took part in, unable even to recall documents and letters he had himself signed; no incriminating evidence there, Judge Oliphant. He also could not recall a memo he wrote confirming that Air Canada had taken delivery of Airbus planes.
It's likely the poor man has no recollection of the $90,000 cash encomium he himself received from a grateful Karlheinz Schreiber.
Kim Campbell too, fleetingly Canada's first female prime minister, had no memories of Mr. Mulroney ever discussing Bear Head with her. And then along came someone with a keen memory, to testify before the Oliphant inquiry. Former Mulroney aide Norman Spector, who had plenty to say, and had no hesitation saying it. He was clearly nonplussed informed of evidence that Mr. Schreiber had met with Mr. Mulroney in a half-dozen instances during an 18-month period.
Highly unusual, said Mr. Spector. He was unable to recall "any equivalent" incidences of an industry representative enjoying face time on such a frequent basis with the prime minister. "Frankly, I can't think of anything during my time that comes close to this", referring to his experience as chief of staff between September 1990 and February 1992.
Moreover, Mr. Spector revealed that the prime minister had instructed him to personally handle that particular file; building a facility in Cape Breton to produce light-armoured vehicles designed by Thyssen AG. He was to pursue the file, ensure it was promoted speedily: "I left the meeting with the understanding that this was a project he wanted to get done.
"He was frustrated it was not already done. He thought it was being blocked unduly and it was my job to get it done quickly." Mr. Mulroney is holding tight to his version of events and purposes; that he had permitted himself to be retained during a period of nervous anticipation over slender financial resources, to lobby internationally on behalf of Thyssen.
What a noble calling for a former prime minister. Glad-handing former political peers in government to enthuse them over the opportunity to purchase high-value munitions. Prime Minister turned arms dealer. Anything for a buck or two. To ensure that his family could be kept in style, in the manner to which they had become accustomed, and deserved. He didn't prostitute himself, just pimped his opportunities.
"The thing that is really extraordinary here - and perhaps the witness stand wasn't the place to say it - but here we have an arms dealer meeting with the prime minister on six occasions, at least six occasions", said Mr. Spector. Pure speculation. And then Mr. Schreiber, perceiving that he had received from Mr. Mulroney nothing in return for cash in hand, sued for its return.
Forcing Mr. Mulroney to tardily declare that source of income on his personal tax return. Possession is nine-tenth of the law, as they say, and there was no signed contract, just a gentlemen's agreement. Scratch that.
Prime ministers do not normally make business deals with arms lobbyists, and Karlheinz Schreiber has testified that some of his meetings with Brian Mulroney took place while he was yet in office as prime minister. The disputed amount of $300,000, according to Mr. Schreiber; $250,000 according to Brian Mulroney has a still-unknown function behind it, and it is that function as well as the time-line that this inquiry seeks to clarify.
It won't do that with any help from Brian Mulroney. Nor can it hope to be enlightened by questioning Mr. Mulroney's former trusted chief of staff, Alfred Doucet, who just does not remember anything, so sorry. Mr. Doucet expresses a positive recovery of memory, matching everything that Mr. Mulroney claims in support of his innocence of any wrong-doing.
According to Mr. Doucet, Mr. Mulroney agreed, after he left high office, to "... develop economic opportunities for our (Schreiber's) companies including travelling abroad to meet with government and private sector leaders to assist in opening new markets for our products and to report regularly to us in this regard." Mulroney's political-social entree to international luminaries to be utilized as a lobbyist for armaments. That occupation would certainly burnish Canada's reputation.
People do have their values. Former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau travelling frantically abroad before stepping down from office, in an attempt to use his contacts and his personal prestige to further the Utopian ideal of worldwide peace. Whereas former Prime Minister Jean Chretien polished his political and business contacts courtesy of official government "trade missions" to China while in office to explore the Chinese market potential once he returned to his lawyerly trade.
Digressions aside, this inquiry was informed repeatedly by a shaken Mr. Doucet that he suffered from a poor memory, unable to recall events that he took part in, unable even to recall documents and letters he had himself signed; no incriminating evidence there, Judge Oliphant. He also could not recall a memo he wrote confirming that Air Canada had taken delivery of Airbus planes.
It's likely the poor man has no recollection of the $90,000 cash encomium he himself received from a grateful Karlheinz Schreiber.
Kim Campbell too, fleetingly Canada's first female prime minister, had no memories of Mr. Mulroney ever discussing Bear Head with her. And then along came someone with a keen memory, to testify before the Oliphant inquiry. Former Mulroney aide Norman Spector, who had plenty to say, and had no hesitation saying it. He was clearly nonplussed informed of evidence that Mr. Schreiber had met with Mr. Mulroney in a half-dozen instances during an 18-month period.
Highly unusual, said Mr. Spector. He was unable to recall "any equivalent" incidences of an industry representative enjoying face time on such a frequent basis with the prime minister. "Frankly, I can't think of anything during my time that comes close to this", referring to his experience as chief of staff between September 1990 and February 1992.
Moreover, Mr. Spector revealed that the prime minister had instructed him to personally handle that particular file; building a facility in Cape Breton to produce light-armoured vehicles designed by Thyssen AG. He was to pursue the file, ensure it was promoted speedily: "I left the meeting with the understanding that this was a project he wanted to get done.
"He was frustrated it was not already done. He thought it was being blocked unduly and it was my job to get it done quickly." Mr. Mulroney is holding tight to his version of events and purposes; that he had permitted himself to be retained during a period of nervous anticipation over slender financial resources, to lobby internationally on behalf of Thyssen.
What a noble calling for a former prime minister. Glad-handing former political peers in government to enthuse them over the opportunity to purchase high-value munitions. Prime Minister turned arms dealer. Anything for a buck or two. To ensure that his family could be kept in style, in the manner to which they had become accustomed, and deserved. He didn't prostitute himself, just pimped his opportunities.
"The thing that is really extraordinary here - and perhaps the witness stand wasn't the place to say it - but here we have an arms dealer meeting with the prime minister on six occasions, at least six occasions", said Mr. Spector. Pure speculation. And then Mr. Schreiber, perceiving that he had received from Mr. Mulroney nothing in return for cash in hand, sued for its return.
Forcing Mr. Mulroney to tardily declare that source of income on his personal tax return. Possession is nine-tenth of the law, as they say, and there was no signed contract, just a gentlemen's agreement. Scratch that.
Labels: Life's Like That, Politics of Convenience
posted by Pieface | 6:20 PM
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