Diplomats Given Expensive Gifts by Governments
Officials in high places get pretty good salaries, but wait until you cast your eyes through just a small section of the list of gifts they also receive from foreign governments. Gifts that appear to spend their life hidden in ‘Archives Foreign’. After glancing over just some of the 1998 list it reads as if the Archives Foreign are something like Harrods the day before Christmas.
Moamar Qaddafi, Libya, proved to be one of the most generous gift-givers, being particularly grateful for former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s visit to Tripoli last year. According to a newly-released State Department report he handed over gifts to the total value of $212,225, including a diamond ring and a locket with his picture inside.
Officials, by law, are required to hand these gifts over to the U.S. government.
Following is Just a tiny sample of the official gifts that were received with the excuse that ‘non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to both the donor and the U.S. Government’.
Farwa overcoat
Gold dagger
Gold sabre with diamonds and rubies – foreign archives
A navy suede robe with gold trim and mink lining
Gold necklace
Black Mercedes mountain bike
24” gold Collar of State chain
2 Tan leather saddles
49 piece white china set
3 wind chimes and candle holder
Pair of leather boots
Painted leather saddle
Music system with speakers and remote control
Waterford crystal footed bowl
Pen and ink set
Silk Afghani rug
19 x 39 oval lapis tabletop
MTB Hard tail special edition mountain bike
uSqueeze Calf and foot massager
Zen Mp3 player
Taxidermied lion and leopard
Silver tea pot and teaset
Carved statues
Bottle of Kutjevo wine (location – handled pursuant to Secret Service policy)
Gold plated SMG PK Caliber 9mm gun
Gold necklace with emeralds, diamonds and rubies
The list of gifts goes onto included many watches, cufflinks and rings, diamond bracelets and earrings, rugs, robes, statues, pens, vases, scarves, paintings and items of clothing, traditional dress, carved statues, books, handbags, teasets, vases, plates, photos.
Many items were moved to ‘General Services Administration’, showing they are being ‘officially’ used somewhere.
Several members of the White House staff also received similar gifts, which were transferred to ‘General Services Administration’. These included items like swords, carpets, gold and silver tea cups. Children’s books, stuffed toys and children’s shirts. Caviar, cognac and pomegranates and 12 lb of Arabian dates were handled pursuant to US Secret Service policy.
The list does not include accommodation, round trip air tickets etc., provided by host countries.
The list rolls on and on into hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of goods. And the list is only for the Bush administration in 2008!
So what about all the other years and other presidents and governments around the globe, including royalty? The question remains: How massive are the Archives Foreign and are they constantly expanding, or do officials have an ‘auction’ from time to time? Are there buildings tucked away that are full of treasure and larger than several football fields? Who has the control of this uncountable wealth, or do the ‘Archives Foreign’ have revolving doors?
About the Author
Dr Wendy Stenberg-Tendys and her husband are CEO’s of YouMe Support Foundation (http://youmesupport.org) providing high school education grants for children who are without hope. A chance to fulfill their dreams of going to school. Take a few minutes to check it all out at Win A Resort (http://winaresort.com)
Feel free to contact Wendy on admin@youmesupport.org
A WALK AROUND HARRODS, LONDON
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Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of Dresses for 1953 from Mary Evans $29.99 Photo Puzzle, Dresses for 1953. Left from Harrods a geranium red dress in heavy Swiss jersey, brown leather belt, handbag and gloves and green hat. Right day dress of silk and wool boucle worn with a tan melusin beret, gloves, bag and shoes. Chosen by Mary Evans. 10×14 Photo Puzzle with 252 pieces. Packed in black cardboard box of dimensions 5 5/8 x 7 5/8 x 1 1/5. Puzzle image 5×7 affixed to box t… |
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