PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - John Kerry's #1 Ally

boneheaddoctor · #1 11-19-2004, 09:36 AM

John Kerry's #1 Ally - the U.N.
Posted October 8, 2004
By Michael Ashbury

In theory the United Nations would be the ideal body to control political disputes around the world and stop tyrants before they take military action against their neighbor or even their own people. Unfortunately, in 54 years of existence, the U.N., though offering a forum for discussion, has proven itself impotent to stop tyrannical governments or even intercede in humanitarian disasters.

John Kerry, however believes that any US involvement in world problems should first pass a Global Test; defined as the United Nations. His belief in the UN started with his father who was a Foreign Service Officer assigned to the Bureau of United Nations Affairs. In 1970, when John Kerry first ran for Congress, he told the Harvard Crimson, "I'm an internationalist. I'd like to see our troops dispersed throughout the world only at the directive of the United Nations."

A colossal example of the failure of the United Nations to lead the World is the "Oil for Food Scandal" that currently engulfs the organization. The "Oil for Food Scandal" grew out of the UN agreement at the end of the first Gulf War.

As one of the conditions for a cease-fire Iraq and Saddam Hussein were restricted as to how many barrels of oil they could sell on an annual basis to support the food and medical needs of Iraqi citizens. A noble agreement to protect the Iraqi people.

However members of the United Nations and especially members of the Security Council who were charged with overseeing the actions of the Hussein government circumvented this agreement.

And to get around UN restrictions, Hussein negotiated sweetheart deals with member countries including those on Security Council that allowed them to purchase oil at less than market price and then resell that oil at a profit, pocketing the difference after they kicked back a percentage to Hussein's personal account.

Monies, which Saddam used to build his Palaces and build his enormous stockpile of weapons. The Wall Street Journal (Oct. 6, 2004) reported that even the head of the "Oil for Food" program received rights for 13.3 million barrels of Iraqi oil, pocketing $1.2 million for his efforts. Reports also indicate that even the Secretary General's own son participated in this program.

A report, which appeared in the Iraqi daily Al-Mada, on Jan 29, 2004, lists 270 companies, organizations, and individuals who were awarded allocations (vouchers) of crude oil by Saddam Hussein's regime. The beneficiaries reside in 50 countries: 16 Arab, 17 European, 9 Asian, and the rest from sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America; many on the UN's Security Council. Only a portion of the 270 recipients are listed and identified below. Recipients include heads of state, state companies, political parties, and individuals.

The countries of residence include:

Country Sweetheart Options

(Barrels of oil)

Canada: 1 million barrels
United States: (Not the US Govt.) 10.5 million barrels.
Great Britain: 1 million barrels
France: 69.2 million barrels
Switzerland: 36 million barrels
Italy: 3 million barrels
Spain: 3 million barrels
Yugoslavia: 12.5 million barrels
Romania: 5.5 million barrels.
Hungary: 4.7 million barrels.
Bulgaria: 12 million barrels
Slovakia: 1 million barrels.
Austria: 1 million barrels.
Brazil: 4.5 million barrels
Egypt: 46.6 million barrels
Libya: 1 million barrels.
Sub-Saharan Africa: 9 million barrels
Palestinians: 37.5 million barrels
Oman: 5 million barrels.
Syria: 33 million barrels
Lebanon: 13.5 million barrels
Jordan: 40 million barrels
Qatar: 16 million barrels
India: 1 million barrels.
Indonesia: 2 million barrels
Myanmar: 1 million barrels.
Ukraine: 9 million barrels
Belarus: 3 million barrels
Russia: 658.2 million barrels

From the list you can see why members of the United Nations, and the Security Council in particular , were reluctant remove Saddam Hussein, who was benefiting them personally to the tune of millions of dollars a year.

In addition these same countries were benefiting by contracts for arms and other consumer and industrial goods worth billions of dollars a year. In that regard Saddam also owed many of these countries billions of dollars for goods delivered but never paid for. To destroy his regime meant the loss of billions of dollars, which they were unwilling to do. And, this is the organization that a John Kerry Administration wants to yield the sovereignty of the United States?

Michael Ashbury, a noted researcher and author, is the author of ''Who is the REAL John Kerry?'' (Booksurge.com 2004).

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