UN purges Iraq documents with $15-bn in question

Mineweb ^ | April 28, 2003 | Tim Wood

[Cicero]

Another smoking gun. I don't know why on earth this story is appearing in Mineweb, but possibly it's from a UN contact connected with the Congo, where there are many mining interests.

Note the estimate: The UN has probably ripped off more than forty billion dollars. That's not chicken feed.

[annyokie]

Thank you for posting this. I'll send it around.

[Cicero]

Bump

[RobbyS]

I wonder if it is possible to determine which individuals pocketed funds?

[ex-Texan]

*BUMP* !

The truth about the UN is about to emerge. It will be very dirty and very ugly. Suitcases full of cash moving around in the hands of UN employees ... pay offs and bribes.

[The Old Hoosier]

Bump.

[The Old Hoosier]

Bump.

[jimkress]

Great catch! Thanks for posting.

[RummyChick]

If they have been purged that is suspicious in and of itself.
Hard drives are still accessible. SOmeone should be seizing those hard drives.

[Cicero]

Well, from earlier articles, I understand that there are at least a couple of thousand UN bureaucrats being paid from the oil-for-food budget. Presumably Kofi Annan and Benon Savan know where the money is going. Probably Chirac knows.

It has also been said in earlier articles that much of the money is sitting in French banks.

But we'll never know who pocketed the money unless somebody moves in, seals the documents, and holds their feet to the fire. For the FBI or the US to move in on the UN would be an extraordinary, unprecdented action, since the whole works has diplomatic immunity. And I can't imagine anyone BUT the US getting to the bottom of this mess.

[Bigg Red]

You can bet that Koffi has been skimming his share big time.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Bump.

No wonder Bill Clinton has expressed interest in the UN presidency. He's perfect for the job.

[aristeides]

But won't there be documents on most of this stuff in Iraq?

[aristeides]

I think this thread could use your picture of Kofi and Tariq Aziz.

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

O'Reilly's working on the U.N. More work needs to be done. Thanks for the excellent article.

[Cicero]

I agree. But seizing the hard drives of UN computers would be equivalent to a declaration of war against the so-called "international community." It's not a step to be taken lightly. At the least, Bush would need to do the PR work first, and get the American people on his side.

[Cicero]

Iraq will show how much oil was shipped, maybe, and to whom; and also how the money was misspent within Iraq. But it won't show what happened to the funds the UN was caretaking.

[Maigrey]

More research for you, Twinkie.

[ModelBreaker]

Can any FREEPERS get this to Rush, O'Reilly, and Hannity? This needs wide distribution. It could bring down the UN!

[aristeides]

Who has to seize the hard drives? Isn't all that's needed a black bag job by the authorities?