Clinton administration can’t look Sudan
in the eye
Leave it to the Clinton administration
to give a public relations coup to one of the most corrupt governments
in the world, Sudan. Last summer the United States destroyed a pharmaceutical
factory in Khartoum, Sudan, claiming the CIA had proof the factory was
being used to produce chemical weapons.
The owner of the planet, Saleh
Idris, sued the United States after it seized his assets under U.S. anti-terrorism
laws. On May 3rd the U.S. Dept. of Treasury responded to the
threat of a lawsuit by Idris and unfroze all of his assets. According
to the Clinton administration, the CIA still maintains it has proof the
pharmaceutical plant was being used to produce chemical weapons but they
can’t show the evidence in court without jeopardizing unspecified U.S.
intelligence sources.
The government isn’t getting
off that easy, though. Idris announced he plans to sue the United States
for $30 million in compensation for the destruction of the factory. Will
the United States pay $30 million to Idris rather than risk compromising
ongoing intelligence operations by actually presenting any evidence to
back up its charges? Stay tuned.