U.N. Procurement Scandal: Ties to Saddam and Al Qaeda

Fox News ^ | October 21, 2005 | Claudia Rosett and George Russell

[68skylark]

NEW YORK — The scandal engulfing the United Nations Procurement Department () now appears to be bottomless. It also shows signs of growing more sinister, especially where it involves a mysterious private company called IHC Services (), which did big business with the procurement department until it was removed from U.N. rosters in June.

New details of how dark the scandal could prove to be have emerged from the private sale of IHC on June 3, 2005, just as the procurement scandal was about to break. It now appears that while doing business with the U.N., IHC had links both to Saddam Hussein’s old sanctions-busting networks, and to a Liechtenstein-based businessman, Engelbert Schreiber, Jr., known among other things for his ties to a figure designated by the U.N. itself as a financier of Al Qaeda ().

Registered in New York State, with offices in New York City and Milan, IHC has been involved in possibly hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of business with the U.N. since the mid-1990s, serving both as a direct supplier and as a go-between for a wide variety of other contractors. This work has included IHC’s signing or helping to broker contracts for supplies ranging from portable generators to rations for U.N. peacekeeping troops in such trouble spots as West Africa and the Middle East.

IHC came under public scrutiny this summer, after FOX News broke the story on June 20 that IHC had maintained especially close ties with Alexander Yakovlev (), a Russian official in the U.N. procurement department, who while handling an IHC contract with the U.N. had obtained a job for his son with the company, and had also been channeling funds to a secret offshore bank account.

[68skylark]

I appreciate your very thoughtful and civil comments. I think we agree on a great many things. Right now, my disgust with the UN is really boiling over -- especially when I read about UN money, which largely comes from the U.S., making its way to terrorists.

I'm sorry if that has led me to make intemperate comments. Like you say, maybe the Bush administration is doing about all they can at this time, and maybe I should cut them more slack.

[68skylark]

The day is coming....

We'll see. I hope you're right, but I have my doubts.

[EGPWS]

We'll see. I hope you're right, but I have my doubts.

It takes small but sure steps.

To overthrow, cut off, or force the dissolution of the UN in short time would create circumstance more concerning than what we face today.

[okie01]

Leaving the UN to their corruption without influence would only increase the cause for concern for us as a nation.

There comes a point, though, where the UN proves itself unreformable. And, at that point, the world would be better off if we withdrew.

Without the financial support of the U.S., the UN shrivels. And without U.S. involvement, many countries would have to reconsider their own position. Especially, if we took the opportunity to form a separate structure limited solely to those countries which practiced democracy, for example.

In my view, we are fast approaching that point.

[Paul_Denton]

The UN needs to be abolished. They should not be receiving our money or anything from us. And we should take back the land that the UN is built upon.

[Paul_Denton]

And adopt the policy in my tagline...

[Prime Choice]

The 'enemy' has more than enough money to build the new UN building, and call it a world court.

I disagree. If it got any name after the U.S.'s departure, it would be "The League of Nations."

When the U.S. leaves the U.N., it's all over but the shouting.

And FYI: EGPWS's "Bravo Sierra" remark isn't a "point," it was an asinine, knee-jerk epithet.

[EGPWS]

Wouldn't it be nice if we could take it over, and clean it out?

Isn't that the approach that we are taking?

After all, as a first step we don't exactly have "Halfbright" as a representative supporting us via the UN nowadays do we?

As long as the corruption has been going on in the UN, why do you think that NOW it has become news and a thoughtful contemplation?

[EGPWS]

EGPWS's "Bravo Sierra" remark isn't a "point," it was an asinine, knee-jerk epithet.

It was and is a well placed statement with forethought and reason.

[NicknamedBob]

"Prosecuting the WOT takes precedence over the UN, IMNSHO."

All these acronyms give me a headache. I didn't even know there was an agency at the UN called the IMNSHO.

[Osage Orange]

I'm trying to think of a single example of the UN doing something positive recently and I just can't.

Define "recently"....Because I cannot think of anything that they've ever done...that I view very positive.

But hey...that's just me.

[ncountylee]

Define "recently"....

Since Korea.

[Just A Nobody]

LOL - IMNSHO = In My Not So Humble Opinion.

Sorry about the headache. Hope this helps.

[Osage Orange]

Since the Korean War?

hehehe....

[NicknamedBob]

When things seem to be getting serious, I interject humor.
And when things seem to be irretrievably silly, I start analyzing them, interjecting seriousness.

Let's face it -- my timing is really bad.

[T. Buzzard Trueblood]

Ha!
Bump.

[Mo1]

Ummmm .... What did the Democrats in Congress say about the UN at Bolton's Hearing????

Oh yea .. now I remember

They Didn't Want To Reform It!

[Just A Nobody]

"I appreciate your very thoughtful and civil comments."

And I yours.

"Right now, my disgust with the UN is really boiling over -- especially when I read about UN money, which largely comes from the U.S., making its way to terrorists."

I understand and completely agree, however, there are US citizens that are also funding terrorists that are quite literally killing our brave troops. There are so many swamps to drain and the demonRATS, the LameHasBeen media and groups like code pinko and answer are building road blocks at every turn.

Take a look at this.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1431186/posts

[Txsleuth]

Doesn't this kinda put to rest the theory that Saddam had NO connection to Al-Queda?

[Just A Nobody]

Humor is a good thing. It is difficult to project it through the 'puter at times. When I first came here I had a heck of a time trying to figure out all the acronyms. ;*)