Annan Lays Out Plans, Lashes Out at Media

Associated Press ^ | Dec 22, | EDITH M. LEDERER

[george76]

UNITED NATIONS - Secretary-General Kofi Annan lashed out at the media after a year of unrelenting attacks on the United Nations and criticism of his management of the $64 billion oil-for-food program in Iraq, calling one critic "an overgrown schoolboy."

He criticized reporters Wednesday for what he said was unfair coverage of his role in the oil-for-food program and insisted reporters missed the big story.

That, he said, was the more than 2,200 companies and invididuals from some 40 countries that paid kickbacks or illegal surcharges to Saddam Hussein's government to get contracts.

An 18-month investigation led by former U.S. Federal Reserve Chief Paul Volcker cleared Annan of influencing an oil-for-food contract that went to a company which employed his son, Kojo, but was strongly critical of his management of the program.

At Annan's year-end news conference, he honed in on one of his most persistent critics, James Bone of The Times of London, who for months has raised questions at the daily U.N. briefing about the secretary-general and his son's knowledge and possible involvement in the oil-for-food scandal.

Bone mentioned a Mercedes-Benz which Kojo imported into Ghana using his father's diplomatic immunity to avoid taxes and customs duty...

Bone walked out and said later: "The Volcker report raises many serious questions about the integrity of the U.N., and it's important that public officials paid with taxpayer money answer these questions fully and without accusing the press."

U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said Wednesday the search for a successor to Annan will be a top priority next year and Washington is looking for "a superior administrative officer."

[ncountylee]

The largest scam in history and Kofi wants no criticism?

[Democracy In Iraq]

[Puppage]

and criticism of his management of the $64 billion oil-for-food program in Iraq

Management? How about HIS THEFT

[TCats]

"That, he said, was the more than 2,200 companies and invididuals from some 40 countries that paid kickbacks or illegal surcharges to Saddam Hussein's government to get contracts."

Pretty lame defense if you ask me. Koffi, who, along with his A$$hole son, undoubtedly took his share of the graft and now he cries that the spotlight is on him and really should be everywhere else. Koffi, resign now and save us all the angst.

[Libertarian444]

Secretary-General Kofi Annan lashed out at the media after a year of unrelenting attacks on the United Nations..

From who???? Certainly not ABC / NBC / CBS / CNN / MSNBC / PBS / NPR / BBC / AP...

[BeAllYouCanBe]

Annan had advice for the next secretary-general. ...They need a sense of humor, and they should laugh inside and outside, and at themselves."

First thing this idiot has ever said that made sense to me. Kookie Annan is a joke and I do laugh at him all the time.

[BeAllYouCanBe]

after a year of unrelenting attacks on the United Nations

This refers to the Bolton nomination by Bush. We needed to have a socialist/democrat represent the US.

[samadams2000]

That little pygmie cracks me up....

[MarineBrat]

...Annan lashed out...

...calling one critic "an overgrown schoolboy."...

...unfair coverage of his role...

[dhs12345]

It is somehow Bush's fault. Has to be.

Lets see...

We probably wouldn't have found out about the corruption if the US hadn't gone to war with Iraq. Bush is responsible for the Iraq War.

There you are: it is Bush's fault.

Actually, this is/was a good reason for going to War in Iraq. It is obvious now that the U.N. allowed this kind of corruption to happen and had no desire to hold Saddam to the 17 resolutions that they had passed.

[colorado tanker]

Looks like Kofi the Klown is finally facing the reality of what his "legacy" is gonna look like. Kinda like Warren Harding's "legacy."

[Jhohanna]

Free us from our Kofi addiction!! :P

[stubernx98]

Probably a pot & kettle thing.

[Rosemont]

Krazy Klown Kofi, head of the 3rd world Supremacist group, the UN.

[marron]

He criticized reporters Wednesday for what he said was unfair coverage of his role in the oil-for-food program and insisted reporters missed the big story.

That, he said, was the more than 2,200 companies and invididuals from some 40 countries that paid kickbacks or illegal surcharges to Saddam Hussein's government to get contracts.

I agree with Kofi Annan, that this is a huge story, and reporters have missed it. Some 2,200 companies from 40 countries paid billions in kickbacks and surcharges to Saddam Hussein under the Oil for Food program. Kofi Annan oversaw this program, and fought us every step of the way when we moved to put an end to it.

This is the biggest scam in recorded history, and Kofi Annan ran it.

[sheik yerbouty]

A fit of temper from the future men's roomn attendant..

[george76]