[isthisnickcool]

The "oil-for-food" UN program is the heart of the UN's problem with the war. It's all about money. That's all.

[snopercod]

PULL THE PLUG on the UN!

[fat city]

The resumption of this scam is nothing more than france's attempt to resume their sweet oil deal and get their foot in the reconstruction door.

[NewYorker]

Wow! That explains a lot.

[tiki]

The Un is like any special interest group they convince themselves that their actions stem from their ideals but the truth is...it is all about money. Once they're addicted to the money their cause becomes even more important because it has become their livelihood.

[COUNTrecount]

Fox just reported that Iraq will NOT accept the "Oil for Food" program.

[eggman]

For the first few years the U.N. parked the cash in a French bank, the Banque Nationale de Paris. More recently, it diversified the funds--currently totaling some $13 billion--among a handful of banks. But the U.N. provides no bank statements to the public, does not disclose the names of the banks, and won't even say what countries they're based in. Auditing is an in-house affair, conducted by government employees of a rotating trio of member states, chaired this year by France.

How many millions of dollars are lining the pockets of corrupt UN officials and what cut do the banks and the auditors get of the top to keep it quiet? Iraq has been a source of easy money for the UN, France, Germany, Russia... Look for the corruption to continue if the UN has its hands in the reconstruction of Iraq.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

When Annan's Oil-for-U.N.-Jobs program comes up for renewal in May, let's pull the plug.

Sixty percent of Iraqis get their food from this program.

GWB says that the oil "belongs to the Iraqi people." The sovereign way to back that up is for us to secure and operate the oil system, buy the oil at market prices, and distribute cash royalties directly into checking accounts for each adult Iraqi. Then the money will go, not to poison gas, but to food, housing, electricity, air conditioners, automobiles, and refrigerators as actually needed by the people themselves.

Institute that system and keep it going for a couple of years--then just let the new Iraqi government try to dismantle it! It'll be the "third rail of Iraqi politics" exactly like Social Security has been here.

[PogySailor]

Bump. See also:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/884579/posts?page=1

[ValerieUSA]

The corruption involved in this scam is monumental. It will all be revealed in Iraq's documents. Kofi should be toast.

[Cicero]

The problems is that Bush is reluctant to SEEM illiberal about the UN. He and Powell want to introduce a little UN eyewash, which makes it appear that we are cooperating with them without actually doing so. The problem with that is that the UN is like the proverbial tar baby. Touch it and it sticks to you. I wish he would just bite the bullet and tell Chirac and Kofi to go take a hike.

[Budge]

Bump for more info later.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

Oil for money and your Koffi Chicks for free, I don't want my M-TV.