Musical Tribute to Bribes in the US, Israel, Nigeria, Everywhere

Bribes Israeli Style

NPR reports Israeli Police Push For Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Indictment On Corruption Charges.

Israeli police are urging the attorney general to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in two corruption cases involving bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

The recommendation is the result of more than a year of investigations into allegations that Netanyahu improperly accepted expensive gifts including pink champagne and cigars from Israeli Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire James Packer in exchange for favors.

Netanyahu appeared on TV denying the charges. It came across as follows: I took bribes and smoked cigars for the good of the nation.

Bribes Nigerian and Italian Style

The Wall Street Journal takes a peek Inside the Bribery Scandal Sweeping Through the Oil Industry.

A top oil executive walked into the marble lobby of an exclusive Milan hotel on a chilly winter night. His dinner date was a former Nigerian oil minister offering to sell one of Africa’s biggest untapped oil discoveries.

Eight years later, the question of whether the $1.3 billion paid for the license to that prized oil field was mostly a bribe is at the heart of one of the biggest bribery scandals the oil industry has ever seen.

Part of a broader crackdown, the case has reached into the highest levels of the executive ranks of Royal Dutch Shell, the second-largest Western oil company—including wiretaps on its chief executive—and into Eni, Italy’s state-backed oil company.

Bribes US Style

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is in prison after being found guilty of 17 charges including wire fraud, attempted extortion, and conspiracy to solicit bribes.

In the US, politicians have to be pretty damn stupid to get convicted of bribery. Blagojevich represents the cream of the crop.

The case involved sweeping pay to play and influence peddling allegations, including the alleged solicitation of personal benefit in exchange for an appointment to the United States Senate as a replacement for Barack Obama, who had resigned after being elected President of the United States.

Simply put, Blagojevich tried to put a US Senate seat up for sale.

Campaign Donations

Most bribes go unnoticed. It’s just a part of the campaign contribution game. West Virginia provides a nice example.

Play the video. It’s the way the system works.

Musical Tribute

​Bribe, bribe, everywhere a bribe
Dolin’ out the money sure feels fine
Do this, don’t do that, won’t you take my bribe?
Now, hey you, missie, can’t you see?
You’ve got to pay a bribe to give a speech
You can’t watch, no you can’t speak
You ain’t supposed to be here
The bribes say you gotta fork over big bucks to make a deal
Oomh!
Bribe, bribe, everywhere a bribe
Dolin’ out the money sure feels fine
Do this, don’t do that, won’t you take my bribe?
Bribe
Bribe

​Bribe, bribe, everywhere a bribe
Dolin’ out the money sure feels fine
Do this, don’t do that, won’t you take my bribe?

Mike “Mish” Shedlock