UN Ignored Corruption Findings, Claims Bolton

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 11-6-2005 | Philip Sherwell

[blam]

UN ignored corruption findings, claims Bolton

By Philip Sherwell in New York
(Filed: 06/11/2005)

Senior United Nations officials are ignoring the scathing reports into their handling of the corruption-ridden Iraqi oil-for-food programme, according to John Bolton, the outspoken American ambassador to the UN.

John Bolton: ‘Corruption didn't arise out of thin air’ He accused them of living in a "bubble" as they disregard the damning findings of the Volcker commission established by Kofi Annan, the secretary general. The inquiry criticised the UN and Mr Annan for their failings in running a scheme from which Saddam Hussein skimmed off an estimated $2 billion (£1.2 billion).

At a private dinner attended by the Sunday Telegraph in New York last week, Mr Bolton gave guests a hard-hitting critique of life at the UN.

"In the bubble on First Avenue, Volcker is just ignored. I talk about it, but it's a solitary conversation. Nobody else will be fired unless people are indicted by outside authorities.

"Corruption didn't arise out of thin air, it arose out of the culture of the place. Bribes, mismanagement etc - it would be unacceptable for executives in any normal organisation."

As an example, he cited the fact that UN staff could accept gifts worth up to $10,000 in a year without any requirement to disclose them.

In a rare breakthrough for American pressure for reform, the UN announced last week that it planned to reduce the $10,000 figure to $250 under rule changes proposed by its new under-secretary for management, Christopher Burnham, a former Bush administration official.

Mr Bolton, a prominent critic of the UN, was appointed in August by President George W Bush, who used special powers to overrule Democrats and a rogue Republican who had blocked his Senate confirmation.

They criticised him as a Right-wing ideologue opposed to any American co-operation with the UN and also highlighted his role in pushing the war against Iraq on the basis of disputed intelligence on its weapons programmes.

He once quipped: "If [the UN secretariat building] lost 10 storeys, it wouldn't make a bit of difference."

During a frank and wide-ranging discussion last week, Mr Bolton said of his three months in the job: "Have I enjoyed it? It's exactly what I expected." Asked what he enjoyed most at the UN, he replied: "It's a target-rich environment."

He said the prevailing anti-American sentiment among many delegates helped to explain why the UN failed to seize the opportunities offered by the end of the Cold War.

"Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, the UN has become the focus for a lot of people who have an agenda against the United States. We are having the same debates we thought we were having 20 years ago.

"The UN is seen by many as a chance to counter-balance us."

He cited the Kyoto treaty on climate change, the establishment of an International Criminal Court and targets for overseas aid as "efforts by many countries to get us to agree to things that we'd never support" through the tactic of "collective embarrassment".

But despite his criticisms, Mr Bolton told his audience that he believed parts of the UN - such as the World Health Organisation and the children's agency Unicef - often played a valuable role.

He also argued that sometimes the UN "can be an effective instrument of US foreign policy. There are times when it can serve US interests". He cited events in summer 1990 when the UN voted for war against Saddam to force him out of Kuwait before Congress passed such a resolution.

During a discussion about the values that Winston Churchill and President Franklin D Roosevelt had foreseen for the UN, Mr Bolton said: "It's hard to see the idealism of the founders in the actions of the UN today."

[HangnJudge]

The UN will act on this matter....

[cdawg20]

Bolton 4 President!!!

[Txsleuth]

Dang....way to go Bolton...it is nice to see someone that isn't playing diplomatic games all of the time...

Also, good going, getting the "gift" amount reduced...

Biden and Dodd are gonna hate this....lololol

[dixiechick2000]

"Mr Bolton, a prominent critic of the UN, was appointed in August by President George W Bush, who used special powers to overrule Democrats and a rogue Republican who had blocked his Senate confirmation."

[ClaireSolt]

I love the graphic! Send it to Jimmy Carter,please.

[PositiveCogins]

"Mr Bolton, a prominent critic of the UN, was appointed in August by President George W Bush, who
used special powers to overrule Democrats and a rogue Republican who had blocked his Senate
confirmation."

Don't know if this is one of the few times where Bush actually acted like the president he should have been or weather the appointment of Bolton was made to clear the way for Clinton. Either way this information will fall on the deaf ears of the MSM as usual.

[operation clinton cleanup]

He also argued that sometimes the UN "can be an effective instrument of US foreign policy. There are times when it can serve US interests". He cited events in summer 1990 when the UN voted for war against Saddam to force him out of Kuwait before Congress passed such a resolution.

That was 15 years ago and pre-Kofi/Clinton.

[parisa]

"Mr Bolton said of his three months in the job: "Have I enjoyed it? It's exactly what I expected." Asked what he enjoyed most at the UN, he replied: "It's a target-rich environment."

LOL!

[I_be_tc]

bump for later

[dixiechick2000]

"Send it to Jimmy Carter,please"


LOL!
As a man who is afraid of bunny rabbits,
I don't thing he would "get" it. ;o)

[T. Buzzard Trueblood]

BTTT