HERE'S THE REAL SCANDAL - Oil-for-Food

New York Post Online ^ | April 13, 2004 | staff

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Even as the elite media and other Bush- bashers fruitlessly scour musty memos for hints of White House culpability in the 9/11 attacks, more incriminating details are coming to light on the multibillion-dollar corruption of the United Nation's Iraq Oil-for-Food program - the biggest scandal in the world body's history. And hardly anybody's paying any attention - a shame, because the U.N. and its backers are pushing for a major role in the administration of post-war Iraq.

[thoughtomator]

I love the NY Post... it never beats around the bush.

[MNJohnnie]

Voting Bush for lack of reasonable alternatives

Voting for Bush due to lack of SANE alternatives.

[thoughtomator]

I'm sure there are sane alternatives out there... but not one that has a snowball's chance in Hell of winning in 2004.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

POLITICS:
Iraq Oil-for-Food Programme Blame Game Heats Up

Thalif Deen


UNITED NATIONS, Apr 12 (IPS) - The U.N. Secretariat, accused of nepotism and corruption in overseeing Iraq's multi-billion-dollar, oil-for-food programme, is expected to name an independent commission this week to investigate the widespread charges of abuse.

Critics say the world body's credibility rests on the outcome of the probe, but other observers argue it is the reputations of the ”big five” of the U.N. Security Council that are at stake since they were responsible for overseeing the programme.

U.N. Associate Spokeswoman Marie Okabe told reporters Monday the delay in naming the panel was caused by Secretary-General Kofi Annan's careful search for ''the highest calibre of persons'' to serve on the commission.

The charges of corruption first surfaced several months ago in a Baghdad newspaper that published the names of businessmen, political leaders, heads of state and even a U.N. official who were apparently privy to kickbacks received by the former government of President Saddam Hussein.

The 'New York Times' and the 'Wall Street Journal', which have relentlessly pursued the story, have singled out U.N. Assistant Secretary-General Benon Sevan for criticism.

Sevan, who was the last U.N. official to head the programme, has denied the accusation in the Iraqi newspaper that he received either ''oil or oil monies from the former Iraqi regime''.

According to the Times, nearly three-quarters of the suppliers of food and medicine to Iraq jacked up their prices to pay the 10 percent kickbacks to Iraqi oil exporters -- while U.N. officials turned a blind eye.

These suppliers included contractors from the Middle East, Europe and, more importantly, from countries that comprise the five permanent (P-5) members of the U.N. Security Council -- the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia.

Economic sanctions were imposed on Iraq immediately after its invasion of Kuwait in August 1990.

But the hardships it caused average Iraqis forced the United Nations to create a programme in 1996 under which oil revenues were used to provide much needed food, medicine and humanitarian supplies to the country.

The programme was monitored and supervised by a committee of the 15-member Security Council known as the United Nations-Iraq Sanctions Committee.

Since the programme was under the supervision of the P-5, some U.N. officials say blame should also fall on the Security Council for failing to prevent or expose the kickbacks, if any.

Others caution that none of the accusations have been proven, to date.

''It can take no one by surprise if a 60-billion-dollar venture has not escaped the scars of inefficiency, misuse and even graft,'' says Hans Von Sponeck of Germany, a former assistant secretary-general and U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Iraq.

Von Sponeck, who managed the distribution of goods under the oil-for-food programme during 1998-2000, said the proposed panel should be able to shed light on the extent to which this was the case, ''if indeed it was''.

Until then, he told IPS, ''responsible journalism should refrain from passing judgment''.

The General Accounting Office (GAO), a watchdog body of the U.S. Congress, has estimated the Hussein regime succeeded in ''skimming'' some 4.4 billion dollars from transactions involving both sales and purchases. An additional 5.7 billion dollars worth of oil was smuggled from Iraq outside the oil-for-food programme, it alleged.

The U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council (IGC) in Baghdad has also announced plans to launch its own investigations into the programme.

''I know there is a lot being dumped on the U.N. Secretariat, which is not fair,'' Annan told reporters last month. ''I am not saying that the Secretariat may not have made some mistakes, but I think there are lots of issues, and the panel that we put together should be able to clarify”.

Annan has said the investigation cannot succeed without the active cooperation, not only of members of the Security Council but of all U.N. member states, particularly those that had business dealings with Iraq.

The secretary-general has also responded to the charge that one of the companies benefiting under the programme had employed his son, Kojo.

Although he admitted that his son worked for the Swiss company, Annan said he had nothing to do with the contracts committee that was responsible for awarding Iraqi contracts.

The Times and the 'Wall Street Journal' have said the ''scandal'' has challenged the ''credibility'' of the United Nations, and made a mockery of its attempts to preach ''good governance'' and ''transparency'' to developing nations.

Speaking before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week, Republican Senator Richard Lugar said the alleged corruption was not solely of Hussein's doings.

''He required members of the United Nations Security Council who were willing to be complicit in his activities, and he required U.N. officials and contractors who were dishonest, inattentive or were willing to make damaging compromises in pursuit of a compassionate mission,'' he said.

''The damage to U.N. credibility from corruption in the oil-for-food programme is harmful to U.S. foreign policy and to efforts aimed at coordinating a stronger global response to terrorism'', Lugar added.

Democratic Sen Joe Biden told the panel he welcomed Annan's decision to call the inquiry. ''It's critically important for the integrity and efficiency of the United Nations that we get to the bottom of the story''.

But Phyllis Bennis of the Institute for Policy Studies, who monitors day-to-day political developments in the world body, told IPS that U.N. ''credibility'' is certainly not at risk.

''It's the members of the Security Council, most significantly the United States and its allies, who were responsible for approving all contracts in the oil-for-food programme,'' she pointed out.

''This is one more in a long series of efforts by Washington to divert responsibility for its own failures to blame the United Nations instead,'' Bennis said.

Von Sponeck said Annan made a wise decision in calling the commission. ''I am sure he will equally wisely select persons of known integrity and political neutrality.''

''We must remember that the oil-for-food programme has been the largest humanitarian programme ever carried out by the United Nations,'' he added.

''Thousands of dedicated international and Iraqi U.N. staff have done their best during the six years of the programme's existence to bring some relief to the Iraqi civilian population living under a dictatorship and economic sanctions.” (END/2004)

http://www.ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=23272

[thoughtomator]

The UN investigators will naturally be completely incompetent. After all, they are appointed by someone who is personally implicated and stands to lose enormously if they find the goods on him. How long a charade they will have to carry on is the only question.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

First 'Freedom Fries,' Now Oil-for-Food Lies: Give France a Break By Jean-David Levitte, Jean-David Levitte is the French ambassador to the United States.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

UN's oil-for-food programme under scrutiny***A Detroit-based businessman of Iraqi origin who financed a film by Scott Ritter, the former chief United Nations weapons inspector, has admitted for the first time being awarded oil allocations during the UN oil-for-food programme.

Shakir Khafaji, who had close contacts with Saddam Hussein's regime, made $400,000 available for Mr Ritter to make In Shifting Sands, a film in which the ex-inspector claimed Iraq had been "defanged" after a decade of UN weapons inspections.

The disclosure is likely to raise further questions about the operation of the oil-for-food programme, which is already the subject of Congressional investigations and a separate high-level UN inquiry.***

[Poodlebrain]

The reason there is no international uproar over this matter is that most nations expect these sorts of practices to occur. They do not want to end such exploitation. They want to get in on it. Right now they think the U.S. is monopolizing the exploitation of Iraq as that is what they would do if given the opportunity.

They have no concept that the U.S. citizens finds such exploitation intolerable and won't tolerate their government sponsoring or allowing such exploitation to flourish under its aegis.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Partisan media coming to defend the UN.

___________________________________________________

UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/8418270.htm?1c
Akron Beacon Journal (subscription), OH - 26 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Tallahassee.com, FL - 35 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
The State, SC - 31 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Pioneer Press, MN - 36 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Macon Telegraph, GA - 36 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Kansas.com, United States - 37 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Grand Forks Herald, ND - 37 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Grand Forks Herald, ND - 37 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Kansas.com, United States - 37 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Kansas City Star (subscription), MO - 37 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Kansas.com, United States - 37 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Monterey County Herald, CA - 38 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Atlanta Journal Constitution, GA - 37 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
philly.com (subscription), PA - 37 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Centre Daily Times, PA - 37 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Myrtle Beach Sun News, SC - 35 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Guardian, UK - 39 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Duluth News Tribune, MN - 37 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
New York Newsday, United States - 39 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Fort Worth Star Telegram (subscription), TX - 37 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...



UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Charlotte Observer (subscription), NC - 37 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Wilkes Barre Times-Leader, PA - 37 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Miami Herald, FL - 37 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription), PA - 37 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL - 40 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Bradenton Herald, FL - 37 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Fort Wayne News Sentinel, IN - 38 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in major missions across the globe
Seattle Post Intelligencer, WA - 38 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Biloxi Sun Herald, MS - 38 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Tallahassee Democrat, FL - 38 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Tallahassee Democrat, FL - 38 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Newsday, NY - 50 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, GA - 40 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Kansas.com, United States - 40 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Tuscaloosa News (subscription), AL - 53 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Monterey County Herald, CA - 48 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, IN - 48 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Kansas City Star (subscription), MO - 48 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
San Luis Obispo Tribune, CA - 48 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...


UN in Major Missions Across the Globe
Times Daily, AL - 53 minutes ago
... At the same time, the UN's credibility has been called into question over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food program which helped feed Iraqis for ...

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!

[MNJohnnie]

Somebody in France must be getting nervous. Seems the UN must of hired a PR firm. Too bad they don't realize that the average American loaths in the UN for it's actions over the last 25 years.

[backhoe]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1096037/posts
-"No Blood for Oil"- Kojo & Kofi: Unbelievable U.N. stories.
various FR links | 03-12-04 | The Heavy Equipment Guy

[spodefly]

BTTT

[Fledermaus]

BTTTTTTTTTT! Amazing Work!

[Orlando]

Just wondering, who's getting the Iraqis OIL money now ?

[herkbird]

A day or two ago when this Oil for Food topic with the U.N. Scandal was discussed. I mentioned that some screaming and raising hell needed to be done about this. You replied with a Bump, which I probably should understand by now, but I'm not 100% sure. Although I must say that you have once again brought this U.N. Oil for Food Scandal to the forefront, and done a great job of screaming to bring and keep attention on it. Thanks for the great work. Please let me know if there's more I can help you with. The U.N. must clean its own house before we can trust turning any more major government operations over to it to run. Thanks for taking the ball and running with this project.

[patj]

Annan told reporters last month. ''I am not saying that the Secretariat may not have made some mistakes, but I think there are lots of issues, and the panel that we put together should be able to clarify”.

Translation: I'll make sure that the people I select will CYA.

And can you believe that fool trying to pin this on the US? Another instance of the Big Lie.

[philman_36]

And that is just the >ahem< "legal" oil.
Palaces and Oil Smuggling
Saddam Hussein pays for these palaces with that part of the Iraqi national wealth that he has managed to keep under his control and out of the UN's mandatory oil-for-food program. Through that program, the UN controls how Iraqi oil revenues are spent and compels the regime to invest Iraq's oil wealth for the benefit of its people. But every day that he remains in power, Saddam lets his favored supporters steal hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil from the Iraqi people to enrich themselves, in direct violation of UN resolutions.

And do check out the nice recon photos available at that site.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Thanks! It's like members of a mob all getting their cut.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

It would be interesting to see where all the money was funneled. The list must be very long.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I don't know how much will be uncovered but it's certain the partisan media won't be out front looking for the truth. As usual, they will remain loyal to the anti-Bush/pro-U.N. crowd.

[philman_36]

And there is a nice little tidbit using the keywords oil for food palaces
There is an old CNN article about a vote on oil-for-food program which contains a very informative quote by Iraqi Ambassador Nizar Hamdoon. Something along the lines of Iraq won't export oil until a distribution plan is approved by Annon himself.
Annon is doing a bang up job of trying to distance himself from the whole thing and deflect attention.
Ain't it a "female dog" to get caught with an arm buried in the cookie jar!

[tkathy]

Kofi Annan's corrupt leadership evidentally has turned the UN, a noble venture, into a disaster. His awful leadership is a prime example of how devastating corrupt governments can be to troubled countries like Palestine and around the world. Honorable government is essential to the success of any country.

[philman_36]

It's like members of a mob all getting their cut.
Isn't it though. Let me know if you need any help finding the second article.
These "mobsters" are pretty inept when they lay out their whole plan for the world to see.

Conspiracy? We ain't got no conspiracy. We don't need no conspiracy.
I don't have to have any stinking conspiracy!

[philman_36]

Kofi Annan's corrupt leadership evidentally has turned the UN, a noble venture, into a disaster.
Not that little nugget gets you an early nomination for "Laugh of the Day"!
The UN a noble venture? BWAHAHAHAHA! You're too funny!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

U.N. Wire: Corruption's Threat to Democracy ***"Corruption is an insidious plague that has a wide range of effects on societies," Secretary General Kofi Annan said in October, welcoming the adoption of the convention against corruption. "It undermines democracy and the rule of law, leads to violations of human rights, distorts markets, erodes the quality of life and allows organized crime, terrorism and other threats to human security to flourish."***

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!

[philman_36]

I hate to laugh at fellow FReepers, but sometimes you just have to go with it.

[laredo44]

Von Sponeck, who managed the distribution of goods under the oil-for-food programme during 1998-2000, said the proposed panel should be able to shed light on the extent to which this was the case, ''if indeed it was''.

Until then, he told IPS, ''responsible journalism should refrain from passing judgment''.

So this guy thinks the role of a free press is to wait till the government investigation of itself is completed and then report the findings? The Germans never really have gotten it, have they.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

So this guy thinks the role of a free press is to wait till the government investigation of itself is completed and then report the findings?

They only wait if it's their ideological buddy who has scandal on his doorstep.

[tkathy]

Unfortunately, I remember when the UN started. It WAS a noble venture then, supposed to be a light in the dark corners of the world.

[mewzilla]

The Iraqi people ought to get themselves the mother-of-all lawfirms and sue the UN.

[mewzilla]

Note that France and Russia were the biggest recipients of Oil-for-Food largesse. As Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) pointed out last week, "The corruption . . . almost certainly contributed to the international division over containing and ultimately ousting Saddam Hussein."

Paging John Kerry...

[philman_36]

Unfortunately, I remember when the UN started. It WAS a noble venture then, supposed to be a light in the dark corners of the world.
No offense, Ma'am, and I hate to tell you this, but you were lied to. If you would, please accept my apologies for my laughter. My Mom taught us to respect our elders. She did, however, teach us not to take everything our elders said as "gospel truth". We all learn as we age.

Charter of the United Nations
WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, AND FOR THESE ENDS to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, HAVE RESOLVED TO COMBINE OUR EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH THESE AIMS Accordingly, our respective Governments, through representatives assembled in the city of San Francisco, who have exhibited their full powers found to be in good and due form, have agreed to the present Charter of the United Nations and do hereby establish an international organization to be known as the United Nations.

The lefties were evident in the opening paragraph! You may be more aware of it now than in that day and time.