Hussein Skimmed Billions from UN Food for Oil Program

New York Times ^ | 2/29/2004 | Susan Sachs

[bukkdems]

Follow the money. Saddam not only manipulated foreign supporters with profitable oil vouchers, he also skimmed off an average of 10% commision on every product delivered to Iraq through the Oil for Food Program. Much of the stuff was unuseable junk. UN inspectors winked.

[bukkdems]

Saddam regularly had dead babie's bodies paraded to display the inequities of UN sanctions.

[Conspiracy Guy]

When I first head of the billions he skimmed, I was totally shocked. He seemed like such a nice despot who cared about women's rights and all.

CG

[marlon]

This is obviously Bush propoganda. Hussein would never do such a thing he loved his people more than life itself. Furthermore, Kofi was in charge and would never allow money to be misappropriated. On a final note no less a great American Senator, Hillary Rodham Clinton told us just last week that women were much better off under Sadaam than they are now.

Evil right wing propoganda I tell you!

[brownsfan]

When I first head of the billions he skimmed, I was totally shocked. He seemed like such a nice despot who cared about women's rights and all.

Yeah, wasn't he all about tough love?

[pabianice]

Gasp!

[anniegetyourgun]

"UN inspectors winked."

Must be tough for the NYTimes to admit this about their favorite charity.

[backhoe]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/898147/posts
Master list FR posted articles on UN Food for Oil program
GailA ^ | 4/22/03 | Various

[budman_2001]

This is *shocking* news. Just simply shocking!

[Jaded]

Is this NEW or is the NYT just SLOW on the uptake? /so

[kabar]

This is a blockbuster story that needs further investigation and disclosure. It shows how corrupt this program was and why countries like France and Russia were fighting to keep Saddam in power. The UN role in all of this needs to be thoroughly investigated and the corrupt officials fired and jailed.

[anniegetyourgun]

Yeah...that'll happen.

[cripplecreek]

Meanwhile back in la la land, democrats are whispering about the newest idiot conspiracy theory about the former Hatian president.

[dfwgator]

I tell you I'm shocked, just shocked.

[hut1hut2]

This merits a

"Let the sanctions work" bump

[richardtavor]

"UN inspectors winked."

UN / Inspectors = Oxy / moron

[Allan]

This story has been followed for months
by Claudia Rossette
of the Wall Street Journal
who reports regularly on the Batchelor (Alexander) Show WABC.

Good to see that the New York Times finally has caught up with the story.

[prophetic]

not really news to me.

I've always known that Kofi Annan was getting his US $300k per month kickback from Uncle Saddam.

[ravingnutter]

This is a blockbuster story that needs further investigation and disclosure.

Some blockbuster... Freepers have known about this corruption for over a year now.

[Mitchell]

Yes, this story has been around for a long time. It's easy to go after Saddam for skimming funds. What about others, in the U.N., Europe, or the U.S.? Presumably there was plenty of corruption to go around.

[doug from upland]

Hans Blix winked. He couldn't find his butt with both hands.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I think that is how Hitlery described it.

CG

[kabar]

Some blockbuster... Freepers have known about this corruption for over a year now.

First of all, you couldn't have know about this corruption for over a year since the documents detailing the scam were only found several months ago post liberation. It is a blockbuster once the elite press like the NYT start covering it. Without such coverage, the story becomes just another "rumor" or "right wing fabrication." I am glad the NYT is covering the story so the Brokaws, Jennings, Rathers, et al start mentioning it as well.

[Allan]

What about others, in the U.N., Europe, or the U.S.?

According to Claudia Rossette
Kofi Annan put himself in charge of the "Oil for Palaces (excuse me...Food)" program.

[Tacis]

Yeah, but are they going to follow the money trail and then urge that Clinton give some of it back or is this another one of the White Water scams that Willie is going to get away with. It is because of the Saddam oil scam money that flowed into the White House that Vince Foster died and Suzie spent 18 months in jail rather than say anything.

[cyncooper]

He seemed like such a nice despot who cared about women's rights and all.

As long as the women "stayed out of his way", as Hillary likes to point out.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Sort of like her. Hillary likes everyone who stays out of her way. Others go mysteriously missing.

CG

[Dolphy]

I am glad the NYT is covering the story so the Brokaws, Jennings, Rathers, et al start mentioning it as well.

Let's see if they give it as much time as Halliburton's alleged wrongdoing or regular efforts to paint the President as an anti-Human Rights, fascist who sexed up the WMD threat. I am not holding my breath. Had the President held off and let the French lead a coalition to depose Saddam, we would be seeing a story a day on Saddam's atrocities.

[Ditto]

UN inspectors winked.

Winked? Hell. Tell the truth. They took bribes just like the bottom-feeding cleptocrats they are.

Only an idiot would allow that corrupt organization to have a say in our foreign policy.

[MD_Willington_1976]

DUH

[alrea]

"UN inspectors winked."

Must be tough for the NYTimes to admit this about their favorite charity.

Must have a new reporter of something.

[cweese]

...i've known about this corruption ever since it started (albeit without documented proof). at the least, i theorized it was happening as did most other people with any common sense. we've known forever saddam was a brutal dictator who was living beyond his means, so why wouldn't he be scamming cash out of the un monies? i do agree with you about why this is a blockbuster story. i just wonder how many idiots (who worship such rags as the nyt), who are hearing about this now, think it's news...

[alrea]

Hillary Rodham Clinton told us just last week that women were much better off under Sadaam

Amazing how much money can be made taking care of citizens.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Hussein Skimmed Billions from UN Food for Oil Program

So did the UN.

[dalebert]

Surprise Surprise!

[kabar]

Had the President held off and let the French lead a coalition to depose Saddam, we would be seeing a story a day on Saddam's atrocities.

Let's see what the coverage is when Saddam is placed on trial. I wish Bush would start the trial this Summer, but I have read that they are talking about the trial beginning in about two years. Hearing the stories of mass murder, torture, rape, etc. would have an impact on our upcoming election, but it won't happen.

[PISANO]

This is a blockbuster story...

Come on, don't be naive, there is no way this minor, insignificant story will get any play by the major news/print media when the CATACLYSMIC news event of the century is in the headlines now. You know......"Aristide was Kidnapped"!!

[kabar]

Agree. I have been following it ever since the WSJ article, but the story has never gained any traction until, hopefully, now. We are talking about mass corruption among the political class of numerous countries and the UN. It gives us a rare glimpse of how international relations are influenced by bribes and payoffs rather than national interests and moral principles. The Brits are investigating it seriously, but I doubt if the French will do anything, and I know the Russians won't.

The US should make all the facts known and let the chips fall where they may, but I think the USG will use the information behind the scenes to influence decisions under the threat of making the facts public.

[kabar]

Come on, don't be naive, there is no way this minor, insignificant story will get any play by the major news/print media when the CATACLYSMIC news event of the century is in the headlines now. You know......"Aristide was Kidnapped"!!

I am not being naive. The NYT is considered to be part of the "major" media. It sets the agenda for the nightly TV news and most of the other domestic papers. Moreover it has an international impact. The question is whether the NYT will make this a one time story or pursue it more vigorously--like the way they got everyone to talk about the boycott of the Masters.

[Arpege92]

"I am glad the NYT is covering the story so the Brokaws, Jennings, Rathers, et al start mentioning it as well."

I'll believe that when I see it with my own eyes and hear it with my own ears. These boys aren't going to mention anything unless it happens to make Bush look bad.

[JasonC]

Millions might be "skimming". Billions counts as "gouging".

[ravingnutter]

First of all, you couldn't have know about this corruption for over a year since the documents detailing the scam were only found several months ago post liberation.

I beg your pardon...

April 23, 2003 - KICKBACKS from Iraq’s oil sales have run into billions of dollars because of loopholes in the United Nations Oil-for-Food system designed to feed the Iraqi people.

Saddam Skimmed the UN: How the Oil-for-Food program financed Saddam's palaces

November 3, 2002 - A complaint filed with the United Nations details how Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's regime set up kickback deals on barrels of oil that he sold and bypassed the strict sanctions imposed on his regime after the gulf war...For years it had been an open secret that Saddam was plundering the Oil for Food program -- netting a huge cash windfall that the CIA believes the Iraqi dictator has used to finance his weapons programs.

Complaint Details Deal Set Up by Saddam's Son to Skim Profits from 'Oil for Food'

March 7, 2001 - Iraqi officials have begun to demand in recent months kickbacks and illegal commissions on contracts for food, medicine and other essential civilian goods bought from foreign companies under a supervised "oil for food" program, diplomats and United Nations officials said today.

U.N. Aides Cite Payoff Racket in Iraqi 'Oil for Food' Plan

[Just mythoughts]

Hillry coming out declaring "women" were better off under Saddam, hopes to do some fundraising with old Saddam's ill gotten gains.

[ravingnutter]

It is a blockbuster once the elite press like the NYT start covering it.

FYI...the NYT reported on this last year:

Oil, Food and a Whole Lot of Questions New York Times - April 18, 2003

Oh, and by the way...this is not the first time the story has been called a "blockbuster":

Feb 2003 - My [wife] caught a report by Fox News Channel's Eric Shawn about the U.N. oil-for-food program. This hasn't been picked up anywhere, but it will come as a blockbuster revelation for anyone wondering why the French, Germans and Russians stood in the way of liberating Iraq.

Kofi Annan's Oil-For-Food Corruption/Oil, Food and a Whole Lot of Questions

[bukkdems]

Kabar, I completely agree with your posts. The "duh" reaction ignores the 180 degree change in NYT's former objective: to derail Bush and the invasion of Iraq on the basis of the UN Security Council's veto.

Sure, we've all known of massive corruption for a long time, but it is a HUGE shift when liberal media report it, and it was the most detailed piece I've come across. Even if the story languishes in the public eye, I believe the Western legal system, including France's, will persue indictments tenaciously.

Unfortunately, Democrats can no longer recall the UN veto because it happened about a year ago. They just know that "Bush Lied".

[mewzilla]

Hussein wasn't the only one skimming...

[kabar]

I agree that the story was out there, but without any real facts or prominence. The Rosett story is the first one I remember, but it lacked specific details. Rosett called for "let's see the books." Everyone figured Saddam was skimming off money, but the global extent of his bribes was not known until fairly recently. As I said, the story needs to be pursued vigorously and the NYT article may provide the impetus to do so.

[kabar]

Thanks for getting the point I was trying to make, however ineptly.