SHOW TIME
Posted on 11/10/2004 3:58:55 PM PST by Mike Fieschko
Washington, DC - The Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) has scheduled a hearing entitled, “How Saddam Hussein Abused the United Nations Oil-for-Food Program.” The hearing is set for Monday, November 15, 2004, at 12:00 p.m. in Room 342 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. This hearing will be the first of several hearings the Subcommittee intends to hold on this matter.Today, Chairman Coleman and ranking member Senator Carl Levin also sent a letter to Kofi Annan, the Secretary General of the United Nations, reiterating a request for access to UN internal audit reports as well as key personnel knowledgeable about the abuses of the UN OFF program. The Subcommittee also objected to the recent actions of the Independent Inquiry Committee (“IIC”) headed by Paul Volker, that are “affirmatively preventing the Subcommittee” from receiving key documents relevant to its investigation.
The Subcommittee’s first hearing on the Oil-for-Food Program (“OFF Program”) will lay the foundation for future hearings on how the OFF Program was exploited by Saddam Hussein. The Subcommittee is scheduled to hear from Charles A. Duelfer, author of “The Comprehensive Report of the Special Advisor to the DCI on Iraq’s WMD.” Mr. Duelfer will testify as to how Saddam Hussein manipulated the OFF Program to erode United Nations sanctions, generated billions of dollars of illicit funds, and procured conventional weapons.
Also scheduled to testify is Juan Carlos Zarate, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Executive Office for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes at the Department of the Treasury. Mr. Zarate will discuss the extent to which funds illicitly procured under the OFF Program may have been used by Saddam Hussein for illicit purposes, including whether monies pilfered from the OFF Program are being used to fund the Iraqi insurgency or terrorist groups. The Subcommittee will also examine specific transactions in which the former Iraqi regime procured illicit funds and peddled influence by granting vouchers for oil deals, demanding kickbacks on contracts for humanitarian goods, and exacting surcharges on oil sales.
A background press availability with Senator Coleman and the Subcommittee staff will take place at 10:00 a.m. on November 15th in 199 Russell Senate Office Building.
The following witnesses are scheduled to testify at the Monday, November 15th hearing:
CHARLES A. DUELFER Special Advisor to the Director of the Central Intelligence for Strategy Regarding Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction Program Central Intelligence Agency
JUAN CARLOS ZARATE Deputy Assistant Secretary Executive Office for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes U. S. Department of the Treasury
While I'm unable to watch, I'm sure that it isn't just you.
Wouldn't surprise me if senator $ was somehow in on the take himself.
Ron Paul is my congressman and he has been saying for YEARS that it is time to get rid of the UN.
Leiberman slappin snot outta UN in his opening statements.
I'm at work, not hearing C-Span...in fact..you didn't see me here...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.