Posted on 11/16/2004 5:39:34 AM PST by OESY
The U.N.'s Oil for Food scandal continues to effloresce, with the latest news that Saddam Hussein skimmed an astounding $21.3 billion from assorted kickbacks, surcharges and oil smuggling. That's more than double the previous estimates, according to a probe by the Senate Committee on Government Affairs that opened hearings on Oil for Food yesterday.
Congressional diggers have found that much more oil was smuggled out of Iraq from 1991 to 2003 than previously thought. They also report that Saddam pocketed some $2.1 billion more than anyone thought by buying imported goods at inflated prices. Saddam's Iraq signed deals to import rotting food and other damaged goods as if they were top quality; the vendors then kicked back much of the difference to the Iraqi government.
Oil for Food was designed to help feed poor Iraqis who were suffering under international sanctions. Instead, Saddam was able to exploit the program and sanctions generally to finance his regime and maintain power. Remarkably, Democratic Senator Carl Levin still seems to think that sanctions were a success -- or at least he said so at yesterday's hearings. That's precisely the kind of self-delusion that Saddam was able to exploit at the U.N.
"This is like an onion," said Chairman Norm Coleman (R., Minnesota) yesterday. "We just keep uncovering more layers and more layers." So keep peeling.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
I like Norm Coleman. I trust him as much as anybody.
I find it more than interesting that this scam had it's beginning at exactly the same time the Clinton administration started...........
Impeach Kofi Annan
Carl Levin is yesterday's gas.
That this third world thug Annan refuses to turn over documents about the Oil for food to the U.S.A., is truly unthinkable.
Someone should instruct this flea of a man where his salary comes from just before he is fired.
The U.S. should get rid of the U.N. and tear down their rat infected building (no offense to 4 legged rats).
I find it interesting that Bill Clinton wants to be the secretary general of the UN.
Biggest heist in history....compliments of our friends in France, Germany, Russia, China, and of course the wonderful people at the United Nations. /sarcasm off
Go Norm !
Anybody else get the feeling the gloves are coming off post Nov 2?
1. Oil for Food finally getting some attention. The biggest scam in history seemed to pretty unimportant before the election, for some reason.
2. No more Mr. Nice Guy in Iraq. Fallujah, etc.
3. Shakeup at the CIA. Cleaning out the transnational progressives, who have no place in a national intelligence organization, and who should have been fired ages ago.
4. "Moderate" Colin Powell leaving, with the replacement being the considerably more hawkish Condi Rice.
5. Frist says no more filibusters - in crude terms, "Screw you, Democrats, we're going to get the Supreme Court we want whether you like it or not.
I'm sure there are other incidents, but those five came to mind immediately.
I think Bush figures (correctly) that he has a time period in which people are just not paying attention to politics due to fatigue. It's the right time to push hard to get what he wants. By early next year, the vultures will be back and people will have recovered from the election and be paying attention again.
BTTT
Absolutely...we are seeing some welcome and overdue shakeups post-11/2. I hope Bush continues to use this political window he has. (Has anyone noticed, the DJIA is up like 600 POINTS since election day? Somebody's feeling confident in the future...)
I also notice possible stirrings in Europe on other FR threads:
1. The Dutch are taking a hard look at their Muslim "guests" and the multiculturalism BS.
2.Germany getting twitchy over same.
3.Spain not happy with the runaway Socialists they voted in.
So far it's "just talk"...but compare this with the tone we had from Europe 6 months ago.
To quote Arte Johnson: "Verrrrrry Interesting".
i guess the fringe benefits are prety good.
good observation. i was thinking the same thing. there is definitely a "new tone" today in washington.
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.