WikiLeaks cables: Shell's grip on Nigerian state revealed

[sabra]

Source: Guardian UK

US embassy cables reveal top executive's claims that company 'knows everything' about key decisions in oil-rich Niger Delta

The oil giant Shell claimed it has inserted its staff into all key ministries of the Nigerian government, giving it access to politicians' every move in the oil-rich Niger Delta, according to a leaked US diplomatic cable.

The company's top executive in Nigeria told US diplomats that Shell had seconded employees to every relevant department and so knew "everything that was being done in those ministries". She boasted that the Nigerian government had "forgotten" about the extent of Shell's infiltration and were unaware of how much the company knew about its deliberations.

The cache of secret dispatches from Washington's embassies in Africa also revealed that the Anglo-Dutch oil firm swapped intelligence with the US, in one case providing US diplomats with the names of Nigerian politicians it suspected of supporting militant activity and requesting information from the US on whether the militants had acquired anti-aircraft missiles.

...

The cable concludes with the observation that the oil executive had tended to be guarded in discussion with US officials. "Pickard has repeatedly told us she does not like to talk to USG (US government) officials because the USG is 'leaky'." She may be concerned that...bad news about Shell's Nigerian operations will leak out."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/dec/08/wikileaks-cables-shell-nigeria-spying

[Ruperto31]

1. This is a paradigm of US imperialism.

Shell infiltrates Nigerian government and shares information with US government. One hand washes the other.

[Mark D.]

13. Government

It's good to show the government involvement, as it has been to show world governments, especially the US, and the wrong they've done, especially in war. But the goal should be to show WHO controls those governments. That corporate elite. This is exactly where I want to see the whole leak thing going! Expose the source of the money that bribe the politicians worldwide, especially here, to NOT do the will of the people they are voted into office to work for, not against! Next, get the banks.

Whatever big bank it is they have info on, possibly others. If Julian accomplishes nothing else, it must be to take down these damned globalist, multinational, elite profiteers of the Wall Street casino, the endless wars, the resources like oil, gas, coal and others, often stolen from raped lands of Africa, where the population is beaten down by a government that works for those elite.

There's a lot that can be further revealed on government or diplomacy, and I'd like to see it stop before innocent, and I mean innocent people, get killed or disappeared for it. GET THE BANKERS. Get the globalist corporations selling out America. Get the war-profit pigs. Expose them for who they are. Maybe enough to wake up the Tea Baggers who don't have a clue that the 'gumbermint' they fear is just a mere puppet to them, the 'real owners' George Carlin told us about, brilliantly.

[cutlassmama]

18. I'm sure this information is why he's being held on "no bond". They don't want

the banking and big corp. information released. Seems this is probably just the beginning and the next few days and weeks should be interesting.

[Rincewind]

17. Shell global headquarters

are in the Netherlands, which I am pretty sure are not part of the USA.

[Lars77]

24. Yes, but the corporation actually has contact with US intelligence. nt

[Bragi]

2. The Obama administration needs to address the matter, not attack the whistleblowers /eom

[Ezlivin]

6. That is the FUNNIEST thing I've read all day!

Damn. Where do you get that rich vein of humorous material?

Thanks for the laugh!

:hi:

[Bragi]

19. What do you find funny

Which amuses you most, the idea that the Obama administration would openly acknowledge the takeover of Nigeria by oil companies, or the notion that Obama officials might stop their campaign to suppress leaks that expose this kind repugnant international behaviour by oil companies?

Actually, the question is rhetorical, no response is required.

[DeSwiss]

8. Wha????

[Robbien]

3. Now Julian has got to watch out for BigOil

I believe the man has more guts than just about everyone else on the planet.

Oh, and poor Nigeria. It never really had a chance to take care of its citizens, did it.

[Angry Dragon]

4. we have goldman sucks running the treasury department

we are just showing the world how to have
democratic governments

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. I always knew it!

This is how they do it.

[ArcticFox]

7. Does anyone doubt the same goes for other corporations and other governments?

It is likely that corporations have similarly infiltrated even the United States goverment at many levels.

[Downwinder]

9. You only have to look at the revolving door to know that.

[Arctic Dave]

12. +1

[Nihil]

23. Isn't that the truth though ...? (n/t)

:-(

[Blue_Tires]

10. wow...all the people bleating at how the cables were just 'random gossip'

where are you now??

[Catherina]

21. Working on plan B, quit yawning and now trying to distract people with bullshit. n/t

[DeSwiss]

11. K&R n/t

[bluesmail]

14. Think about it, they're almost 100% here in the Senate and House.

`NWO` They don't care how long it takes as long as it gets done. Along with BigOil and BigMoney and BigBigEverything, they're 95% close to the finish line and it reflects in how they are not even trying to disguise what they're doing. Sheesh, after Kennedy was killed we had LBJ, Nixon, Carter (he got smeared), Reagan Bush Clinton (I got duped by him BigTime) * and now O, whom I have been duped once again. Whew. (This is a scary yet beautiful planet we live on).

[indimuse]

15. KNR! n/t

[me b zola]

16. K&R

[StarsInHerHair]

20. glad it's coming out

more to come, I hope they rip the curtain off completely

[Catherina]

22. Recommended and bookmarked. What bullshit is the NYT reporting today? n/t

[Blasphemer]

25. This is the sort of information that needs to be leaked.... nt