I’ve just read your article about the AWB scandal. I had an interesting meeting in Dubai back in April 2002.
The meeting was about exploring other options for our vessel chartering
requirements and this man we met with was openly boasting of how he was able to
get around the naval blockade and sanctions on Iraq. It came down to this: passenger ferries were not searched.
What they were doing was using the car spaces on passenger ferries to transport
anything and everything. Of course, Dubai (like Singapore) actively facilitated
the laundering of the funds. He was being so open because my then employer, as I
subsequently discovered, had been a very active smuggler in Africa and other places with
this fellow’s assistance.

Queensland nags swear premier Peter Beattie used the state
government jet to attend the Melbourne Cup – not a good look when he
is breaking an election promise not to raise taxes.