Uber Poll is The United Nations' Oil for Food program scandal a real cocern (514 hits)
Category: NewsRating: -0.17 on 12 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Pearnbran Uber <pearnbran.at.yahoo.com> (View user info) at 2004-12-01 17:41:46 EST
Do you care?
Facts are looking bad for the UN.
Recall that documents discovered after the liberation of Iraq revealed that the U.N.'s self-described flagship humanitarian program was wracked with bribery, kickbacks, smuggling, under the table deals and influence peddling.
Among other revelations, evidence uncovered in Baghdad implicated long-time U.N. official Benon Sevan who was responsible for managing the program and reported directly to Secretary General Kofi Annan.
The Oil for Food program was created to provide humanitarian assistance to Iraqi citizens who were suffering under economic sanctions aimed at Saddam Hussein's regime. Under the program, Iraq was allowed to sell a limited amount of oil. The proceeds of these sales were to be used to purchase food and other humanitarian supplies which would be delivered directly to Iraqis.
The U.N. Secretariat was responsible for ensuring that contractors who bought Iraqi oil and sold humanitarian supplies operated within the program's rules and delivered the supplies to Iraqis.
In exchange for this management, the Secretariat received a substantial commission on each sale of oil.
However, the documents show that Saddam was able to thoroughly corrupt the program and use it to line his own pockets, fund purchases of illegal weapons, pay off officials in a variety of nations and organizations and stash hidden cash in banks around the world.
Saddam's booty resulted largely from a kickback scheme involving oil sales under the program. Iraq would sell oil to Oil for Food contractors at below-market prices.
The contractors could then sell the oil for a profit on the open market. Saddam secretly required that the contractors kick back a portion of the profits to him and his cronies.
At the same time, Saddam gave away "vouchers" which allowed recipients to sell Iraqi oil for millions of dollars. The vouchers amounted to bribes and pay-offs in Saddam's efforts to buy friends and build a network of supporters.
Recipients of Saddam's largess allegedly included a former French interior minister, the present Indonesian president, and a number of Russian oil companies, the Russian government, the Russian Orthodox Church and numerous reporters around the world.
( Nearly all of the official Oil for Food cash passed through a single French bank.)
Coverage of the scandal, led by journalist Claudia Rossett, has forced the U.N. to respond. Last month, Secretary Annan named former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker to lead a U.N. investigation into the matter.
Meanwhile, the U.S. General Accounting Office and Congressional committees launched separate inquiries.
On the other hand, is this just more Lies and propaganda from the Bush white house?
User Reviews
Submitted by kai070169 (user info) at 2004-12-02 00:52:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I LIKE OIL AND FOOD A LOT
Submitted by Teephphah (user info) at 2004-12-01 23:20:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Yeah. Kofi is going down. He may take the entire U.N. with him. Although the U.N. may last a LITTLE longer than the League of Nations did after the U.S. said, "fuck it."
Caul - this isn't "diversion." Look at the countries who were balking at going into Iraq. Now look at the coutries who were on the take from the Oil for Food deals.
Hmmmmmm. That's sure peculiar. They're the SAME countries. Wonder what that means.
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2004-12-01 20:22:34 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
I like how americans try to divert the attention from what they're fucking up.
"We killed a hundred thousand civilians...shit...err...blame the french!"
Submitted by strider (user info) at 2004-12-01 18:56:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I care, both Kofi and his son need to be investigated.
And the way the UN is run needs to be seriously revamped.
Submitted by Dead_0hi0_Sky (user info) at 2004-12-01 18:48:32 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
another political post? *gasp* on Uber?
thats like finding a KKK member at a Wu Tang Clan concert. not hard to spot out.
next time, just throw the word "titties" in the title of your post, i promise i'll read it.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2004-12-01 18:42:25 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Does anybody care about this any more, Kenneth Starr Jr.?
I think not...
Submitted by CJRipley (user info) at 2004-12-01 18:39:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2004-12-01 18:37:39 (#)
Ranking: -2
Yeahhhhhhhhhhh....
I'm gonna need you to come in on Saturday....
---------------------------
AAAHHHHHAAAAAAAAAA!
Priceless!
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2004-12-01 18:37:39 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Yeahhhhhhhhhhh....
I'm gonna need you to come in on Saturday....
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2004-12-01 18:34:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Read this? http://edition.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/12/01/annan.coleman/index.html
Try banging a different drum once in a while. Get people interested in what you're saying.
Submitted by acrog (user info) at 2004-12-01 18:23:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I care.
Had this not been going on, the sanctions may have worked better, Saddam wouldn't have been able to support his army(or whoever else) and we never would have invaded. We would not be in this war. We would have just stayed in Afghanistan and most likely would have Bin Laden by now.
So yeah, I care. I care a lot.
Submitted by bargled (user info) at 2004-12-01 17:46:29 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
I stopped at "cocern".
Submitted by Brianthetruthspeaker (user info) at 2004-12-01 17:45:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Yes I do.
And
If the United Nations continues to cover this up and protect Kofi
The United Nations will soon join the ranks ok the League of Nations.
And crumble.