John Howard and his ministers denied any prior knowledge of the $295 million in AWB kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq. We profile the head of the controversial "trucking company" Alia through which the kickbacks were paid. Othman al-Absi reveals that while the Australian Government maintains its mantra of ignorance about any dodgy dealing by AWB, according to Mr Al-Absi, Alia has had a long-term relationship with Australia's trade representative in Jordan.