More confirmation of Australian ties to the proppy-uppery of dictatorship. Should we not now rename the kangaroo the kanga-won't?
A high-level commission investigating corruption in the United Nations oil-for-food program released a long-awaited report on Monday stating unequivocally that a major Australian wheat company paid more than $224 million in kickbacks and bribes to Saddam Hussein’s government. The commission also found that the company, AWB Ltd., had "deliberately and dishonestly" devised a scheme for the payments — from 1999 until the overthrow of Mr. Hussein in 2003 — to deceive the United Nations. When the United Nations conducted its investigation in 2005, headed by Paul A. Volcker, AWB withheld thousands of pages of documents and its lawyers made statements to Mr. Volcker that were patently false, the commission found.And to think I once thought of going to an Outback steakhouse.
Comments
David - November 28, 2006 9:16 am
Continuing my recent tradition of posting irrelevant but related information, I went to the Outback last night. Food was good (as mostly usual) but it took an hour to drive home on the 401; it's normally a 20 minute drive.
Alan - November 28, 2006 9:46 am
Now, I see that as an implicitly dismissive but related tangent. No issue with that one.<p>What does one eat at the Outback?
David - November 28, 2006 9:54 am
I had a hamburger last night, which is the first (and probably the last) time I've ever done that. It's OK but you can get a better burger most places.
The wife always has the prime rib, which is usually excellent and comes with a salad. She orders the biggest size and shares it out amongst us. If you get an inferiour cut (i.e. overcooked or whatever) don't hesitate to send it back.
Trinity-Anne always has the mac and cheese.
I usually have the "Drover's Platter", which is overcooked chicken breast along side very tasty ribs. Other times I just get the ribs or the prime rib.
They have a thing called the Blooming Onion, which I highly don't recommend unless you have about 6 people and are looking for a heart attack.
The soups are usually very good.
Alan - November 28, 2006 10:07 am
An Australian started - then removed himself - from a very good pub in Charlotteltown...actually "the" very good pub in Charlottetown who served the blooming onion thing I think. <p>Rib is the only thing that truly deserves the word "prime". I once had my name in a draw for a elk rib roast but lost. My favorite shop in Rustico PEI - which, yes, was the shop but still excellent and wonderfully friendly and all - once when I asked for a couple of chickens said they had none but sold me a six rib roast of "Easter Beef" for the same price.
Flea - November 28, 2006 10:13 am
I may have to try one of these Outback places of which you speak. Though I am uncertain if there is one handy from downtown Toronto.
cm - November 28, 2006 10:35 am
Probably too far north for you.
David - November 28, 2006 10:43 am
cm: That one's been closed for about six months! And it was quite close to my house, so disappointment all round. It's now a Milestone's, I think, which is owned by the same holding company. Milestone's has one good thing on the menu (asian chicken drummettes)
The next option is on Dixon Road, very close to the airport. There's also one off the 403 in the west end.
The first deep fried onion I had was in New Orleans; that was worth the trip in itself, though one wonders if the place has dried out yet.
Gordo - November 28, 2006 8:40 pm
Alan, what's your feeling on venison? I was thinking of inviting you bunch over between Christmas and New Year's and we can feast on Bambi. :-)
Alan - November 28, 2006 9:20 pm
I will check as we may have guests...but deer good.
Gordo - November 29, 2006 10:03 am
We're flush with it this year. My little brother hunts and has filled his freezer. He still has a doe tag and given that the bow season goes until the end of December ... Yummm