Volume 1 - Iraq Watch

Regime Financeand ProcurementFigure 13. Oil earnings for each calendar year(13 phases of the UN OFF Program), 1997-2003.• According to Tariq Aziz, Taha Yasin Ramadan al-Jizrawi, and Hikmat Mizban Ibrahim al-Azzawi,the oil voucher program was managed on an ad hocbasis by the Regime officials listed in Figure 14.• The Iraqi Intelligence Service, Ambassadors, andother senior Iraqi officials also commonly madenominations for oil allocations.Oil Voucher ProcessThe MoO normally distributed the secret oil allocationsin six-month cycles, which occurred in synchronizationwith the UN OFF phases (see Figure 15).Senior Iraqi leaders could nominate or recommend anindividual or organization to be added or subtractedfrom the voucher list and an ad hoc allocation committeemet to review and update the allocations (seeAnnex B: Known Oil Voucher Recipients). However,Saddam personally approved and removed all nameson the voucher recipient lists.This voucher program was documented in detail in acomplete listing maintained by Vice President TahaYasin Ramadan al-Jizrawi and the Minister for Oil,Amir Muhammed Rashid Tikriti Al Ubaydi. If achange was requested by telephone by Saddam or anyother top official, either the MoO or SOMO rendereda detailed memo for the record of the conversation. Asenior Iraqi official, ambassador, the IIS, or Saddamhimself would recommend a specific recipient (i.e.company, individual, or organization) and the recommendedamount of the allocation. That recommendationwas then considered by the ad hoc committee andbalanced against the total amount of oil available forexport under the UN program disbursement. Whenformer Vice President Ramadan finalized the recipientlist, it was sent to Al Ubaydi. The official at SOMOin charge of issuing the final allocation vouchers(making the disbursements) stated that Tariq Azizwould give the final list to him. He believed that itwas Aziz that finalized the list upon the direction ofSaddam.29