Editorial: UN scandal won't go away

The Australian ^ | April 28, 2004 | Editorial staff

[Eurotwit]

IN the months leading up to the invasion of Iraq, and in the year since, a fashionable argument about toppling Saddam Hussein's regime went something like this: no effort to end the suffering of the Iraqi people would be "legitimised" unless it was led by the UN because, while the UN's motives were humanitarian, those of the US and its allies were blackened by material self-interest. There is now growing evidence that the opposite was the case. Iraqi oil production is at pre-war levels, and generating $20 billion a year in profits that flow direct to the Iraqi people – not the coffers of the coalition of the willing. But in a scandal that has now snaked its way right to the office of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, it appears that it was at the UN, and among Security Council members who opposed the invasion, that Iraq was "all about oil".

The oil-for-food program, which was set up under UN auspices in 1996 to ameliorate the effect of economic sanctions on children, the sick and the poor, is now alleged to have been scammed in three ways. By pretending that Iraqi oil had generated less income for the program than was the case, UN officials skimmed billions of dollars for Saddam and themselves. Meanwhile, contractors received kickbacks for overquoting the price of food, medicine and other humanitarian aid: the difference between the quoted price, and what they were really paid, was split with Saddam's regime and corrupt officials. And finally, hundreds of individuals – including, it is claimed, senior Russian and French diplomats, as well as some prominent anti-war voices in the West – were given preferential oil contracts that they were able to on-sell to oil traders at considerable profit. It is a scandal that dwarfs the general claims of favouritism made about the awarding of Iraqi reconstruction contracts to US Vice-President Dick Cheney's old firm, Halliburton.

There are currently three investigations into oil-for-food, and it is not impossible one of them will claim the scalp of Mr Annan himself – the corruption and incompetence were on his watch, and encompassed some of his senior officials. But whether the motives of those who drove the UN position on Iraq were lilywhite or sullied, that position was wrong. In November, 2002, the Security Council passed Resolution 1441, which ordered Saddam to meet his obligation to the international community by disarming and allowing full weapons inspections. He was allowed to flout the resolution, just as he had done with rulings stretching back a decade. It now seems possible the delay increased the "take" of those profiting illegally from oil-for-food. But it certainly cost lives in Iraq, and permanently dented the relevance of the UN.

[nuconvert]

"UN scandal won't go away"

I sure hope not. The investigation is just getting started.

[Arpege92]

I can't imagine how angry the Iraqi people are going to be at the end of this investigation. Get us out of the UN and the UN out of the U.S.!!!!

[RightWhale]

Teapot Dome took a while to get rolling. Watergate also. Whitewater never got rolling, which probably gave criminals a false sense of security. America doesn't tolerate skimming in positions of trust, so if oil-for-food is investigated properly it could be the end of the UN.

[RonF]

There have been numerous allegations that those who opposed the war in Iraq did so because they were playing ball with Saddam Hussein. Russia and France were long suspected of such, but I don't recall allegations that the UN itself was doing so. But who will pursue this investigation? The U.N. itself?

[RetiredArmy]

I think the UN should move to France. Then Bill Klinton can run it from Paris, his favorite city after Moscow.

[princess leah]

I don't honestly see how we can continue to support this worthless, corrupt organization...they ought to have their plug pulled and their lease cancelled immediately on the building in NYC! Then they can start paying the Iraqi people back all that money they STOLE from them!

[shield]

bmp

[Conservative4Ever]

I hope this scandal rocks the UN to it's foundations. Then will crumble under it's own guilty weight. I always figure the bad guys do themselves in.

Red

[Tacis]

Boy, it will go away in the US!!! Both major scandals, the corrupt UN's Oil-For-Food and Saddam's Oil-Vouchers-For-Friends WILL GO AWAY!!

That is because both, if progressed with even a modicum of effort, will lead to Willie's door, the French, the Russians, certainly some Canadians, and assorted other meally-mouthed, anti_American, liberal scumbags.

The vouchers paid Willie for pardons, were the cause of Foster's murder and expalin a variety of other puzzling Clintonian mysteries (why did Suzie go to jail instead of just lie like the rest of Willie's sewer dwellers?). They will explain Blix and and the former US weapons inspector, the kiddie-diddler, whose name escapes me.

The UN payoffs will lead to an endless line of skimming from UN programs over the years. No other organization has a financial, i.e. revenue/expenses, system so condusive to skimming, kickbacks, payoffs and bribes as the UN. Volker isn't interested.

The UN corruption will go away and you'll be able to tell when a thief like Anan makes a speech where he is righteously indignant about ever even being thought of BY AMERICANS as being a crook.

[Cobra64]

America doesn't tolerate skimming in positions of trust, so if oil-for-food is investigated properly it could be the end of the UN.

Somehow, unfortunately, I don't think this will get the traction it deserves.

[Cobra64]

I don't honestly see how we can continue to support this worthless, corrupt organization...they ought to have their plug pulled and their lease cancelled immediately on the building in NYC! Then they can start paying the Iraqi people back all that money they STOLE from them!

I'd never had anything to do with the UN in the first place!

[litany_of_lies]

Getting the UN and Bill Clinton to France would be an awesome twofer. I would almost be happy to see Slick as Sec-Genl if everything he did originated from France. People would automatically blissfully ignore him AND the UN at the same time.

[forYourChildrenVote4Bush]

And `Hanoi John` Kerry wants to involve the UN if he is elected president, how nice of him to enrich the UN...

Now, keep it up H.J.K. we love you, and your stupidity...

Down with the UN, Down with H.J.K., Down with the democRATS...

[spodefly]

There are currently three investigations into oil-for-food, and it is not impossible one of them will claim the scalp of Mr Annan himself – the corruption and incompetence were on his watch, and encompassed some of his senior officials.

Unlikely. Socialsm mean never having to say you're sorry.

[freeangel]

"it is not impossible one of them will claim the scalp of Mr Annan himself"

Don't think so. He will do anything to hold his position as surely as saddam did.

[nuconvert]

I doubt it, but we can hope..........

[Wolfstar]

Pinging you FYI. Good editorial on the UN scandal from The Australian. The pot is simmering, although the TV broadcast networks still are ignoring the story.

[nuconvert]

"But who will pursue this investigation? The U.N. itself?"

Yup

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I hope at the end of this investigation we are finally able to...