UN caves in on inquiry into its Iraq oil-for-food 'scandal'

Daily Telegraph ^ | March 14, 2004 | Charles Laurence in New York, and Inigo Gilmore

[mict42]

This should be the lead story in every newspaper today.

[backhoe]

-"No Blood for Oil"- Kojo & Kofi: Unbelievable U.N. stories--

[Gritty]

Big Deal.

So, they can investigate it until the cows come home. The real score card proof will be:

a. How many give the money back
b. How many get fired
c. How many go to jail
d. How many get fined
e. none of the above

The answer will no doubt be "e".

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

From reading what you just wrote it is safe to assume you are a CPA...

[Wil H]

It would be intersting to know if the likes of Sean Pen have been dabling in Iraqi oil trading, wouldn't it?

Perhaps the word got around Hollywood, "Hey, just show up in Iraqi, off a few words of support, and bingo! you get a voucher to "help" the Iraqi people get fed ..

[BlessedByLiberty]

...the prosecution of anyone proven to have benefited from Saddam's Hussein's corruption...

I saw that segment as well.Heralding three obstacles for Libs/U.N. to sweep under the rug (1) the Iraqi governing council already put the UN on notice two months ago that they wanted answers and an audit (2) upcoming war crimes trials of Saddam's regime (3) We know about it!

Would you not love to see Koffi and UN members who opposed the war charged by the Iraqi people of aiding Saddam's regime?

[Grampa Dave]

When the UN investigates itself for criminal behavior, that is similiar to having the mafia investigate itself for criminal behavior.

[Grampa Dave]

Hold your excitement.

The UN is about to investigate itself re the Oil for Food Scam that made some many UNers rich.

[JasonC]

You are much more charitable than I am. I did not consider is a "great article". Why?

"...were caught up" - the excusatory passive voice
"...potential scandal" - actually it is actual
"...not known if...authentic" - some contract recipients - e.g. French businessmen close to Chirca - have already confessed to getting the money, just saying it wasn't illegal.

The article reports this as though it might all blow over, as though it might all be made up, as though they are just allegations. When there are documents in Iraq and confessions on the other end *proving* it happened.

[foreshadowed at waco]

Speaking of possibly compromised celebrities, does anyone remember that Don Johnson, the actor, was stopped in a car trying to cross a border in Europe with $8 million in cash in the trunk (it was either in 2000 or 2001)...that story disappeared...there was speculation at the time that it had to do with Marc Rich or drugs...would love an update.

[Use It Or Lose It]

does anyone remember that Don Johnson, the actor, was stopped in a car trying to cross a border in Europe with $8 million in cash in the trunk (it was either in 2000 or 2001)...that story disappeared...

Johnson appeared on LKL and was "grilled unmercifully" by the master of all talk shows. End of story.

(/sarcasm)

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

The left is involved in this big time and if we are not careful it will be swept under the rug. <.I>

I became convinced by France, Russia, and Germany's vigorous campaihn against going into Iraq that they were terrified of what might be revealed by scutiny of Iraqi dosuments following the fall of Saddam. I admit that at the time, they were mostly concerned about evidence that would prove their complicity in covertly aiding Saddam's WMD programs, but financial corruption, especially in the OFF program was likely.

I remain convinced that F, R&G's stonewalling gave Saddam time to move WMD stockpiles out of the country and that their trail will eventually be found. I am also convinced that any evidence of that F, R&G's complicity in Saddams WMD programs will be kept from view with the acquiescence of the USA (too hot to handle, let bygones be bygones, new tone, etc.).

I would be both surprised and pleased if the OFF scandall story blows up on them, but it may, because the Iraqis were so abused by the program (spoinled food, outdated medicines, Saddam kickbacks, etc.) and they are really PO'd. I hope heads roll over this outrage. In my dreams, this scandall will take Kofi and teh UN down.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Is Hanz Blix available?

[Shermy]

UN official Benon Sevan Iraq's new governing council has hired the accountants KPMG and the international law firm, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, to investigate claims that large sums of money - which should have been spent on food and medicine for ordinary Iraqis - were diverted through oil "vouchers" to line pockets abroad.

It sounds like damage control, a limited investigation. Everything should be traced and published...especially what banks all the Iraqi's money sit in today...and yesterday.

[JoeFromSidney]

I'm afraid this is just one more scandal that will disappear from the liberal press, just like Bill Clinton's scandals disappeared. After all, if people realized Hussein was using oil money to bribe world leaders, they just might think it was a good idea to get rid of him.

[PhilDragoo]

The History of KPMG

KPMG was formed in 1987 with the merger of Peat Marwick International (PMI) and Klynveld Main Goerdeler (KMG) and their individual member firms. Spanning three centuries, the organization's history can be traced through the names of its principal founding members - whose initials form the name "KPMG."

K stands for Klynveld. Piet Klynveld founded the accounting firm Klynveld Kraayenhof & Co. in Amsterdam in 1917.

P is for Peat. William Barclay Peat founded the accounting firm William Barclay Peat & Co. in London in 1870.

M stands for Marwick. James Marwick founded the accounting firm Marwick, Mitchell & Co. with Roger Mitchell in New York City in 1897.

G is for Goerdeler. Dr. Reinhard Goerdeler was for many years chairman of Deutsche Treuhand-Gesellschaft and later chairman of KPMG. He is credited with laying much of the groundwork for the KMG merger. In 1911, William Barclay Peat & Co. and Marwick Mitchell & Co. joined forces to form what would later be known as Peat Marwick International (PMI), a worldwide network of accounting and consulting firms.

In 1979, Klynveld joined forces with Deutsche Treuhand-Gesellschaft and the international professional services firm McLintock Main Lafrentz to form Klynveld Main Goerdeler (KMG).

In 1987, PMI and KMG and their member firms joined forces. Today, all member firms throughout the world carry the KPMG name exclusively or include it in their national firm names.

An accountant from Peat Marwick audited a bank I worked at in Boston in 1970.

I was more impressed with the auditor from the FDIC who could work the 9-key with either hand at blur speed while conversing intently with you, looking in your eye.

In point of fact President Bush and the coalition forces have done the audit of records found in the taking of Baghdad.

The report is in.

Kofi Annan, you have the right to remain silent.

If you give up that right you go directly to orange jumpsuit Disney World in beautiful Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Then again, the Times' decision to mention the existence the Oil for Food bribe list only an entire month after it was made public in Iraq is even more mysterious

The Left must verify reports on their comrades, where as reports on the Right are breaking news. In other words, the Right is guilty until proven otherwise and the Left is sacrosanct.

[Unicorn]

A mystery indeed.I hope everyone is calling or writing there senators.

[Shermy]

I take back # 34. It looks like the Iraqis hired KPMG.

[dalebert]

It is damage control. How many years were we hearing about it. Nothing will be done.