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| Kissinger Watch #14 - 4 | |
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| Letter to President Bush Senior concerning Loans to Irak | |
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| COMMITTEE ON BANKING, FINANACE AND URBAN AFFAIRS, Washington, DC, May 2,1991. Hon. GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States, Washington, DC DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: The House Banking Committee is conducting an investigation into over $4 billion in unreported loans the former employees of the Atlanta branch of Banca Nazionale del Lavoro (BNL) provided to the government of Iraq between 1985 and 1990. The Committee's investigation has uncovered the fact that Henry Kissinger was on the International Advisory Board of BNL during that same time period and that BNL was a client of Kissinger Associates. As you are aware, Mr. Brent Scowcroft and Mr. Lawrence Eagleburger were high ranking officials of Kissinger Associates- Mr. Scowcroft as Vice Chairman and Mr. Eagleburger as President. Kissinger Associates represents many large multinational companies involved in various aspects of international trade, including the arms business. Since these firms sell their wares worldwide, they often are the beneficiaries of U.S. policy towards foreign countries. I am deeply concerned over the potential influence Mr. Kissinger may exert over the decisions and actions of Mr. Scowcroft and Mr. Eagleburger, and am especially troubled by a potential conflict of interest involving Mr. Scowcroft. The NationaI Security Advisor is in a position to strongly influence our national security and foreign policies, including the U.S. export licensing process. These policies often have a direct influence on individual corporations doing business abroad. Until October 4,1990, Mr. Scowcroft owned stock in approximately 40 U.S. corporations. many of which were doing busies in Iraq. Those companies received more than one out of every eight U.S. export licenses for exports to Iraq. Several of the companies were also clients of Kissinger Associates while Mr. Scowcroft was Vice Chairman of that firm.Mr. Scowcroft's stock holding, particularly in corporations that are clients of Kissinger Associates, present the potential for serious conflicts of interest and cause one to question whether or not his decisions as National Security Advisor are completely disassociated from the interests of his former boss and longtime colleague.Mr. Eagleburger, the current Deputy Secretary of State, as well as Mr. Scowcroft, may also be involved in a conflict of interest related to their role in promoting military sales abroad. The Legal Times recently reported that Mr. Eagleburger and Mr. Scowcroft (a lifelong Air Force Officer) are strong advocates of using $1 billion in Export-Import Bank resources to finance the sale of U.S. military articles overseas. The Legal Times also reported that Mr. Eagleburger actually sent a classfied memorandum to all U.S. Embassies urging that U.S. defense firms be given more help selling weapons abroad. Many corporations, including Mr. Eagleburger's past employer, the ITT Corporation, stand to benefit if the U.S. foreign service is forced to take a greater role in selling U.S. military articles abroad. For your information, I have attached a copy of the Legal Times article referring to Mr. Eagleburger's and Mr. Scowcroft's roles in expanding military sales abroad. I am concerned that their attempts to use the foreign service and the Export-Import Bank to assist corporations in financing military sales abroad may have been prejudiced by their past associations.Mr. Scowcroft's and Mr. Eagleburger's actions seem out of step at a time when the U.S. should be leading a worldwide effort to limit arms proliferation. The positions held by these men are of the utmost importance to the national security of the United States. Persons filling such important positions must be independent from past associations which could cloud their judgement. I trust you will consider the issues I have raised in this letter and, if necessary, take appropriate action to ensure that potential conflicts are eliminated. Thank you for your time and consideration. With best wishes. Sincerely, HENRY B. GONZALEZ Chairman | |
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