Today: Sen. Coleman Suggests Oil for Food Ripoff Led to Iraq War; Katie Offers Weak Defense of Kofi

The Today Show | governsleast governsbest

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Veteran Today Show watchers are well aware that the typical 'fair & balanced' lineup consists of guests exclusively from the liberal side of an issue. On the rare occasions when Republicans are permitted to darken Today's door, they are normally of the John McCain variety. When true-blue conservatives appear, they are almost always balanced by liberals.

It was thus significant that Republican Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman was given free reign to make his case for the resignation of UN Sec. General Kofi Annan, unbalanced by anyone pleading for Kofi to stay.

This surely reflects the fact that it has dawned on Dems that this is a huge and growing scandal, and that there is absolutely no political hay to be made with the American people by being seen as big advocates for and defenders of the UN.

Coleman brilliantly began by turning the MSM's blood lust for corporate villians back against them:

"Paul Volcker will be delivering a report which shows Saddam swindled $20 billion. You wouldn't ask Ken Lay to reform Enron. You can't ask Annan to reform the UN."

"Annan and the UN allowed Saddam to swindle $20 billion through bribes and kickbacks and allowed him to rebuild his military." Coleman stated that he was not directly pointing the finger at Annan (in the sense that he was not claiming that Annan personally took bribes), but at his family and associates.

Katie did her best to ride to Annan's and the UN's defense. "But Senator," she asked, "isn't the key word 'accused.' Annan did appoint Volcker, why not wait till Volcker presents his report?"

Coleman: "We know that $20 billion was swindled on his watch. If we want to get to root of it, Annan should step aside. Saddam was never monitored or held accountable."

Katie then asked: "Are you indirectly blaming Annan and UN for the war in Iraq?"

I fully expected Coleman to back down at that point, but surprisingly, he did not:

"I think there's a clear inference. Saddam strengthened his hand by getting around the embargo. The Security council never would have acted because many were benefitting."

Katie then cited a laughably weak argument on the other side: "3,000 UN staffers have signed a letter saying the accusations are being made without full knowledge of facts."

Gee, so the UN itself thinks it's unfair that the UN is being accused!

Replied Coleman: "No one denies $20 billion rip off went on. The only question is how high the corruption went."

Katie wasn't quite ready to give up the ghost: "Is this politically motivated and payback for Annan having criticized the war in Iraq?"

Coleman: "Absolutely not. Anyone should be outraged that Saddam was able to take $20 billion from oil for food program."

All in all, a devastating indictment of the UN. My only regret is the timing. If this had emerged more fully prior to the election, Kerry's disastrous policy of making the national security of the US more subject to the whims of the UN would have been more fully exposed.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Today Show Oil-for-Corrupt-Politicians ping.

[Peach]

Thanks for your report. This is too big a scandal to be contained.

A freeper mentioned that Carter was also tied to the Oil for Food scandal according to an LA Times article. Does anyone have a link for that?

[normy]

"Is this politically motivated and payback for Annan having criticized the war in Iraq?"

Get ready to hear this argument from your liberal nut job friends and family.

[sgtbono2002]

Kofi Annan has been stonewalling since day one. He has to go. But who will replace him? Another idiot from some Tin Pot country?

[Free_at_last_-2001]

This is going to be good - so many have their hand dirty!

[Jose Roberto]

Finally this is going to explode in Kofi's face and Katie Couric and cronies will not be able to supress it.

[mombonn]

You wouldn't ask Ken Lay to reform Enron. You can't ask Annan to reform the UN."

LOL - that line should be repeated a few thousand times more! It had to give the perky one lots of distress to her colon.

[backhoe]

My 2¢'s about the UN?

Neal Boortz has the right idea- kick them off US soil, plop them down in Haiti, and tell them, "when you get this straightened out, give us a call..."

Moreover:

--Sex abuse charges rock UN in Congo-
-- Interesting this is being posted today. Talk show host Dennis Prager had the Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Doree Gold, on his show today. Mr. Gold has just written a book about the UN called the Tower of Babble(i think this was the title). Some of the things he was saying about the UN were unbelievable.

--TV campaign urging: Kick U.N. out of U.S.-
"I say we just give the entire country of Haiti to the UN."--or move them to Zimbabwe or another country in Africa. Let them see what the really do for the world.

--UN knew of Saddam's oil-for-food thefts: BBC-
The sooner we resign from this corrupt organization and kick them off our soil, the better.

Click this picture & goto "last" for the latest UN scandals:

American Policy Center on-line Declaration of Independence from the U.N.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

You wouldn't ask Ken Lay to reform Enron. You can't ask Annan to reform the UN."

LOL - that line should be repeated a few thousand times more! It had to give the perky one lots of distress to her colon.

I really did think it was brilliant "strategery" on Coleman's part, turning the liberals' own argument back on them.

[Coop]

Norm Coleman's fine, and I wholeheartedly agree with him on this issue, but I wouldn't call him a true-blue conservative.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

You're absolutely right. I should have said something along the lines that he was on to make a conservative point.

[PJ-Comix]

Any word of which Americans might have been on Saddam's bribe list?

[subterfuge]

bump!

[mewzilla]

Thanks for the report! I'd say the tipping pooint has been reached and Katie bar the door! :)

[Coldwater Creek]

And don't give them one more red cent.

[Miss Marple]

Well, although he may not be the most conservative Senator, I have liked this guy ever since I saw him debate Mondale. He gave an eloquent defense of his pro-life position, and he seems to me to be a person of good character.

I am so glad to see him leading the charge on this UN thing!

[moose2004]

The UN should move to Paris or Geneva today, just get out.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Nothing was said or implied about any Americans being on Saddams' 'pad,' to use an old police corruption term. Wouldn't that be just too delicious?!

[Coop]

I should have said something along the lines that he was on to make a conservative point.

Fair enough.