Some interesting developments in the whole Oil-for-Influence scandal at the UN. Kofi has finally bowed to pressure and allowed an ostensibly independent investigation to go forward. For those who haven't kept pace, documents in Iraq have revealed that the UN's Oil for Food program with Saddam was a sham, with high placed UN officials on the payroll. Saddam was using this money not for baby formula, but to buy supporters -- everyone from the Russian Orthodox Church to the Minister of Forests of Myanmar (I'm not making that one up. . .)
NR is now reporting some interesting links between Saddam's payments and al-Qaeda related organizations. But this can't be right, since we've been told by Kerry's sort of people that secular dictators never work with terrorists (except the bounty payments to the families of Hamas bombers, of course.)
Check out this ABCNews investigation as well, which includes a lengthy list of Saddam's mercenary supporters.
Lastly, Opinion Journal claims the Russians are impeding a real investigation, not surprising since they're up to their necks in this.
John Kerry wants the UN to run Iraq. If they can't run a food program, how can we trust them with something infinitely more complex (and open to abuse)?
Posted by Discoshaman at avril 21, 2004 02:29 AM | TrackBack
The only surprise in this whole mess is that it took 'em this long to uncover it. I'll still be amazed if the mainstream US media runs with it.
Posted by: Eric at avril 21, 2004 02:56 AMNot to say that the US gov't is immune to such abuse.
Although I suspect the US news agencies would pay much more attention to any signs of such behavior by the current administration.