Saddam using UN to rake in billions

SMH.com.au ^ | September 19 2002 | Douglas Farah and Colum Lynch in Washington and New York

[yoe]

Saddam Hussein and his inner circle will make more than $US2billion ($3.65billion) this year by exploiting the United Nations' oil-for-food program and running extensive smuggling operations, a new report says.

The report, by a human rights group, says Saddam's illicit income has grown steadily since the oil-for-food program began in 1996, from $US471million then to $US2.2billion last year and up to $US2.5billion this year.

The Iraqi leadership generates more than $US1billion of that revenue through the illegal sale of oil to Syria, United States officials say. It makes a further $US1billion from smuggling and kickbacks on its multi-billion-dollar trade in oil and humanitarian goods, diplomats say.

The figures are consistent with estimates by US and European governments.

The report, by the non-profit Coalition for International Justice, is one of the most comprehensive completed on the size and sources of Saddam's money.

Sources of Revenue for Saddam & Sons: A Primer on the Financial Underpinnings of the Regime in Baghdad

looks at one of the primary ways in which Saddam, despite 11 years of international sanctions, has kept his grip on power by acquiring the wealth necessary to buy the loyalty of cronies and finance a weapons development program and an internal security apparatus.

Under the UN-mandated oil-for-food program, Iraq is allowed to export oil but must use the revenue for the purchase of food, medicine and other humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people. Iraq makes about $US6billion a year under the program. But, the report says, Saddam and his family take in billions more by skimming off the program and other smuggling operations.

[yoe]

Is there any better reason to stop any American funds from going to the United Nations than this as long as we are at War with Terrorism? I think Not!

[tomball]

We should have nothing to do with the United Nations - This unelected self-appointed body of egotistical and racially motivated individuals have always had a way of funding organized thugs in the name of humanitarian aid. Our government having anything to do with this organization is a slap in the face to every tax payer whose money is still being diverted to terrorists although unintentionally. Mugabe, Saddam, Arafat, and others still receive funds from the UN and/or the IMF.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

I wonder how much Saddam contributed to the Clinton Library Fund?

[Flashman_at_the_charge]

I want to see these palaces he’s allegedly built. I do remember reading that they were supposed to rival Versailles in their scale and opulence.