A Socialist Future Guaranteed for Iraq [U.N.'s Iraqi Oil-for-Food Programme]

Oil-for-Food - U.N. website ^ | April 3, 2003 | U.N. Oil-for-Food Programme

[elenchus]

U.N. Oil-for-Food Programme

Funding: The programme is funded exclusively with proceeds from Iraqi oil exports, authorised by the Security Council. In the initial stages of the programme, Iraq was permitted to sell $2 billion worth of oil every six months, with two-thirds of that amount to be used to meet Iraq’s humanitarian needs. In 1998, the limit on the level of Iraqi oil exports under the programme was raised to $5.26 billion every six months, again with two-thirds of the oil proceeds earmarked to meet the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people. In December 1999, the ceiling on Iraqi oil exports under the programme was removed by the Security Council.

Currently, 72% of Iraqi oil export proceeds fund the humanitarian programme, of which 59% is earmarked for the contracting of supplies and equipment by the Government of Iraq for the 15 central and southern governorates and 13% for the three northern governorates, where the United Nations implements the programme on behalf of the Government of Iraq.

Included in the balance from the total oil revenues are: 25% for the Compensation Fund for war reparation payments; 2.2% for the United Nations administrative and operational costs for the programme; and 0.8% for the weapons inspection programme.

Management: The Office of the Iraq Programme is headed by the Executive Director who is responsible for the overall management and coordination of all United Nations humanitarian activities in Iraq under resolutions 661 (1990) and 986 (1995) and the procedures established by the Security Council and its Committee set up by resolution 661 (1990), as well as the Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations and the Government of Iraq (May 1996).

[elenchus]

The U.N.'s Iraqi Oil-for-Food Programme will guarantee nothing but a socialist future for Iraq. This program was administered by socialist U.N. and Iraqi bureaucrats prior to the Iraq War. The program as planned for postwar Iraq will surely be administered by the very same U.N. and Iraqi bureaucrats prior to the Iraq War.

As we have seen in the aftermath of many of the revolutions which "overthrew" socialist governments, those who were the leaders of the socialist bureaucracies prior to the "revolution" end up as the leaders of the socialist bureaucracies afterwards as well.

The U.N. Oil for Food program put the entire Iraqi populace on the dole, receiving handouts of water, food and medicine; entirely dependent upon the state for sustenance, medical care, and every other fundamental of life.

If the United States wants to promote freedom in Iraq, then the best thing it can do is refuse to permit bureaucrats from the U.N. or from within the formerly socialist Iraq to distribute hand-outs. However desperate Iraqis may be, they will be worse for living in a social welfare state than any suffering they will endure otherwise. America should provide some initial assistance, perhaps use the Oil for Food funding to distribute to the Iraqis as if they were shareholders, and end all social welfare funding. Such U.N. funding only serves to enslave the Iraqi people and confirm them in socialism.

Saddam ran an Islamo-socialist state with the people dependent upon the state for the necessities of life. We do not need another Islamo-socialist state to replace Saddam's.

[Blueflag]

Our administration has repeatedly stated publicly that the oil of Iraq belongs the the people of Iraq.

Screw the UN

Besides, what are they gonna do? Complain?!?

[dasboot]

Let's hope not.

[sticker]

Of course the un will complain, it's a cash cow to them. They will make us listen to the french and germans whine, talk about a war crime.

[RJL]

The Iraqi war is, and always will be regarded as the American & British war.

The Middle East, and the rest of the world will be watching and forming worldwide opinion of America & Britain on post war Iraq.

Post war Iraq is too important to America & Britain and their allies to let the UN, France, or Germany screw it up.

Post war Iraq must be well done by America, Britain and the coalition of the willing. The UN, France and Germany would be only too happy to give us a black eye in any way they can in post war Iraq. They have proven themselves to not be our allies and they do not wish us well.

Let the White house know your opinion.

Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461

[elenchus]

Secretary of State Powell just stated on MSNBC:

"The U.N. must have a central role in administering [postwar] Iraq"

This will guarantee an Islamo-socialist future.

[Blueflag]

But Powell did not say that role would occur immediately. Diplo-speak can be tricky.

[elenchus]

What is the sense of fighting a war to defeat Saddam, if we guarantee an equally hideous future with a new socialist government which will be corrupt and opposed to the U.S. and similarly form alliances with terrorists and acquire new WMD from the same suppliers?

Thanks for suggesting phone calls to the White House. We must all get the word out, to the media and not only to the White House, that the U.N. should be strictly excluded from Iraq--and with them the Russians, French and Germans. None of the funding or supplies should even mention the name of the U.N. or those who betrayed us in supplying weapons and technology to Saddam in the past.

[dark_lord]

Well...letting the UN oil-for-food program resume will accomplish several things.

1st, it will get the UN to shut up.

2nd, it will give a fig leaf to Tony Blair, who has done a great job of bringing the UK into the game but is in danger of being unseated as PM if the UN is completely kicked out.

3rd, it will feed the hungry Iraqis. Somebody has to distribute food to them, and the UN already has the whole infrastructure to do it.

4th, all the other contracts - infrastructure, providing weapons for their rebuilt army, training programs, consumer goods -- can go to American, UK, and Australian companies. Which will be 95% of it.

[Sinner6]

1st, it will get the UN to shut up.

you can never make these people happy. Don't even try. I will agree with you on the other points but the leftists are never satsified and no matter what you do for them it will never be enough.

[heyhey]

bump

[mabelkitty]

Newt was right - we need regime change in the State Department; from Top Down.