...No, he's a scapegoat (Oliphant Alert)

The Boston Globe ^ | 12/05/04 | Thomas Oliphant

[Embraer2004]

NOW THAT virtually all of official conservatism and the Republican legislative juggernaut have opened up on UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, with President Bush's winking acquiescence, it's time to explore a simple question: Just what is it that the guy has done? The answer is nada. It turns out there is no evidence that he did anything while the notorious and corrupted oil-for-food humanitarian program was operating in Iraq during the 1990s and beyond.

This lack of even a charge comes in the face of Annan's unequivocal denial that he ever had a single thing to do with, or any specific knowledge about, any of the deals made while the mess of a program was operating.

The latest headlines were generated last week by a freshman Republican senator, Norm Coleman from Minnesota, who chairs the principal subcommittee that has been investigating the program for months. Coleman called on Annan to resign.

Oil-for-food was a mess, and Annan made a world-class goof in appointing an apparently corrupt official to run it. Instead of easing the impact of UN sanctions on Iraqi civilians, the program was an opportunity for profiteering both by businesses and by Saddam Hussein.

The problem, as Senator Levin points out, is that the US government as well as the entire Security Council had complicit knowledge of just how dirty the program was. Members worked hard to make sure Iraq did not use earnings for weapons of mass destruction.

However, as Levin also points out, Presidents Clinton and Bush decided against cracking down on allies like Jordan and Turkey that were buying oil illegally from Iraq in violation of the sanctions regime, which makes current attempts to put the mess on Annan's shoulders borderline ludicrous.

[HardStarboard]

>>>However, as Levin also points out, Presidents Clinton and Bush decided against cracking down on allies like Jordan and Turkey that were buying oil illegally from Iraq in violation of the sanctions regime<<<

Oliphant is trying to spin the truth by highlighting Jordan's and Turkey's buying of illicit oil as the major violation, indeed the only one mentioned in his article. These "leaks of oil" were small potatoes in relation to the major schemes.

The major violation schemes involved kickbacks and "credits" to people Saddam wanted to "cultivate". That's where the 21 billions of $'s went and you can bet that Kofi, Kojo and friends benefited nicely.

[Living Free in NH]

Isn't Oliphant that prissy twit who always wears a bow tie?

Yup

[anniegetyourgun]

Welcome to FR.

Even if it were assumed that Kofi knew nothing and had no involvement in this rampant scandal, it must also be assumed that he is a totally incompentent nincompoop, incapable of the job of SecGen. After all, under Oliphant's assumption, all this went on while Mr. Magoo Anan didn't see it.

[onyx]

Aren't you nice AGYG.
Without your post I would not have noticed embraer is new here!

I only look at sign-on dates in the "vanities." LOL!

Welcome To FR, embraer2004.

[Puckster]

"And yet we're somehow to believe Rumsfeld and Bush are responsible for Abu Gharib. And Reagan for Iran-Contra."

What's your problem.........can't they have it every way?

How unfair of you.

[Luddite Patent Counsel]

Love the bow tie, but what's REALLY impressive is that nascent combover. Somebody should direct him to http://www.combover.com "No Rugs, No Drugs, No Plugs!"

[Puckster]

Vanity to match his arrogance?

Who'd of thought.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Oliphant has never met a breed of vermin he didn't want to put on the endangered species list.

[cardinal4]

you have freepmail..

[RippleFire]

bump

[chiller]

For the sake of comity, let's agree Kofi is not the problem. He can stay.

It's the UN that goes.

[matchwood]

Assuming Oliphant only reads left wing publications he ought to at least read the Times of London where he might find out just a little more about Kofi, if he is interested.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-1388672,00.html

[Trepz]

Seems to me that the boston globe has a double set of standards. This was their editorial about the embarrassment of prisoners by the US. GLOBE EDITORIAL Rumsfeld must go May 7, 2004 PRESIDENT BUSH, who chastized Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld Wednesday for mishandling the scandal over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners, said yesterday that Rumsfeld "is an important part of my Cabinet and he'll stay in my Cabinet." Failing to hold Rumsfeld accountable for actions under his command responsibility compounds the grave harm already done to America's reputation in the world. Rumsfeld should accept responsibility for gross mismanagement of the Iraqi occupation and resign. more of globe editorial

[swilhelm73]

NOW THAT virtually all of official conservatism and the Republican legislative juggernaut have opened up on UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, with President Bush's winking acquiescence, it's time to explore a simple question: Just what is it that the guy has done? The answer is nada. It turns out there is no evidence that he did anything while the notorious and corrupted oil-for-food humanitarian program was operating in Iraq during the 1990s and beyond.

Interesting. So, his son was caught red handed on the payroll, along with the man administerting the program while Kofi blocked any investigation into the scandal to the best of his ability and that is...nothing?

If Jenna Bush and Donald Rumsfeld ripped off billions from the US Defense Department while the President and his allies in Congress blocked any investigation that would also be...nothing?

[Haro_546]

[hansel]

"Just what is it that the guy has done? The answer is nada. It turns out there is no evidence that he did anything while the notorious and corrupted oil-for-food humanitarian program was operating in Iraq during the 1990s and beyond. "


Actually, Oliphant is right. But his conclusions are wrong.

Annon did nothing. He did nothing about the Oil-for-Fraud while it was happening. He did nothing about the corruption that plaques the UN. He did nothing about the sexual harassment charges against staffers. He did nothing.

Annon's not a scapecoat. He's a moral coward. A corrupt, lying, elitist windbag.

[boop]

But......Dick Cheney is "responsible" for anything Halliburton does YEARS after he is CEO. Kofi is innocent because he has "denied" the charges. Man I wish I was liberal so I could be so illogical and hypocritical. Just imagine if a republican had overseen the transfer of BILLIONS of dollars to a dictator who then bought WMD used against thousands of innocent people (while starving them) all the while claiming to be buying food, medicine, etc. This would be considered a war crime. But since this is an AntiAmerican socialist. It's completely OK.

[Don W]

By contrast, our conservative bowtied Tucker Carlson is masculine and good looking

The sarcasm in this sentence literally dripped off my monitor.

Good one!

[dennisw]

 

 

 

 

TOM OLIPHANT

[weegee]

Tommy's trying to sell the Brooklyn Bridge again...