Quite fascinating. Makes ya think everyone is just untrustworthy scum.
Oil for Fraud?

Friday, March 26, 2004; Page A22


IT'S WORTH RECALLING the historical circumstances under which the United Nations' "oil for food" program was set up in Iraq, back in 1997. At the time, international concern was focused on the suffering experienced by the Iraqi people as a result of U.N.-mandated economic sanctions. In response, U.N. officials said they would allow the Iraqi government to sell limited supplies of oil -- but only in order to import strictly necessary goods. The oil-for-food program, which was organized, run and monitored by the United Nations, was intended to be a "temporary measure to provide for the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people."



Over time, the oil-for-food program in fact became a surrogate Iraqi trade ministry, as even a cursory look at the list of products Iraq imported under its auspices proves. "Humanitarian needs" -- a phrase that conjures up an image of beans, rice and emergency medicines -- came to include plumbing and sanitation for swimming pools, four-color offset printing machines, cigarette paper and photography lab supplies, according to the United Nations' Web site. Clearly, those managing the program on behalf of the United Nations were not trying to limit imports to rice and beans, which is hardly surprising: On every barrel of oil sold -- about $40 billion worth -- the United Nations earned a 3 percent commission, divided as 0.8 percent going to the weapons inspection program and 2.2 percent to the program's administrative costs. The fundamental problems with the program were public knowledge. Far worse now are the mounting allegations of behind-the-scenes corruption. In recent congressional testimony, the General Accounting Office said it has evidence that the government of Saddam Hussein also profited from the program, through the imposition of "surcharges" on suppliers. Several months ago, an Iraqi newspaper also claimed it had documents proving that oil money had found its way to others. Among them, the newspaper alleged, were French and Russian politicians and parties; a pro-Hussein member of the British Parliament, George Galloway; the PLO; and, most damagingly, Benon Sevan, director of the oil-for-food program. Finally, Cotecna, the company chosen by the United Nations to inspect goods being imported into Iraq, had not only been previously implicated in bribery scandals, it was also the former employer of Kojo Annan, the son of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Mr. Sevan has denied the charges, and Mr. Annan has denied any wrongdoing. Nevertheless, the secretary general, who has openly called for the United Nations to play a larger role in postwar Iraq, had not attempted to investigate the press reports -- allegedly because Security Council members France and Russia were privately blocking him. This week, Mr. Annan has let it be known that he would like to reverse course and launch an "independent" investigation. According to spokesmen, he is scheduled to reveal some of its details today.

Mr. Annan owes it to the Iraqis to make this investigation real and thorough. If the United Nations cannot disprove its critics -- and punish wrongdoers, if any -- it will be harder to trust the organization to manage humanitarian and peacekeeping missions in the future.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25458-2004Mar25.html

I'm amazed that such a vociferous group folks has nothing to say about this. I'll be the first to admit that I'm "trolling" here (although I'm not sure for what).

Anyhow, if this is true (and granted it's a big if) are all governmental institutions corrupt? And if so, is that something that we inevitably have to live with to one degree or another? Or is it the nature of governmental institutions to always be prone to the appearance of impropriety/corruption due to the nature of their function?

What, that the UN is corrupt?

The news is underwhelming.

This is hardly the first time. I cannot imagine anybody being surprised. The only surprise is that the guys got "outed". That almost never happens.

It is so gauche to speak of money.

B

The British MP George Galloway has secured a substantial out of court settlement for libel in this regard, so that's a dead duck.

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'79 280SE
'87 560SEL
'83 280CE
'01 Nissan Micra
'98 VW Passat
'83 911 turbo

Our politicians and FAMOUS!, IMPORTANT PEOPLE!, would love to have your libel laws. Everytime they've tried to force our yellow journalists to some restraint our Supreme Court just strengthens the protection of yellow journalism. Occasionally our movie stars have successfully sued our yellow journalists in your courts. Oh happy, happy days for Hollywood!

B

This is another instance where the US is freer than UK. Corrupt politicians love this law. It's great when they fail in using it, though (e.g. Lord Archer, Jonathan Aitkin MP).

__________________
'79 280SE
'87 560SEL
'83 280CE
'01 Nissan Micra
'98 VW Passat
'83 911 turbo

Add this to the list:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/libya/story/0,14139,1179227,00.html

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1985 300TD 185k+
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1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Ahh, the sinister black hand of oil, oozing silently behind the scenes. I detect the crudely sweet smell of....Haliburton!

Skull and Bones, boys, Skull AND Bones!

Engage foil!

B

I didn't jump up and down and wave my arms because this news about the UN is COMPLETELY unsurprising.

I've maintained all along that many UN members' motives were corrupt, self-serving, short-sighted, and anti-US/anti-capitalist, among other things.

When the UN adopts a policy requiring that member nations have a representative or democratic form of government, I'll consider giving them some respect. As it stands, they are an organization that welcomes tyrants and dictators into its membership, and then actually rewards them with leadership roles! Meanwhile, they want us to obtain "permission" from them before we take actions to defend our interests?.... I don't think so.

Somebody call me when they grow a brain.

Mike

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1979 300 SD
350,000 miles
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1982 300D-gone---sold to a buddy
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1985 300TD
270,000 miles
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1994 E320
not my favorite, but the wife wanted it

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