Author Topic: Bribed UN officials: Iraq (Read 701 times)

Ripsnort · « **on:** April 21, 2004, 07:45:15 AM »

Should be interesting to see if or how this developes...

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ABC Scoop on UN Scandal: "Monumental Rip-Off?"
ABC ^ | Apr 21, 2004 | Brian Ross

Posted on 04/21/2004 2:13:12 AM PDT by The Raven

April 20 — At least three senior United Nations officials are suspected of taking multi-million dollar bribes from the Saddam Hussein regime, U.S. and European intelligence sources tell ABCNEWS.

One year after his fall, U.S. officials say they have evidence, some in cash, that Saddam diverted to his personal bank accounts approximately $5 billion from the United Nations Oil-for-Food program.

In what has been described as the largest humanitarian aid effort ever undertaken, the U.N. Oil-for-Food program began in 1996 to help Iraqis who were suffering under sanctions imposed following the first Gulf War.

The program allowed Iraq to sell limited amounts of oil, under supposedly tight U.N. supervision, to finance the purchase of much-needed humanitarian goods.

Most prominent among those accused in the scandal is Benon Sevan, the Cyprus-born U.N. undersecretary general who ran the program for six years.

In an interview with ABCNEWS last year, Sevan denied any wrongdoing.

"Well, I can tell you there have been no allegations about me," he said. "Maybe you can try to dig it out." And in a Feb. 10 statement, Sevan challenged those making the allegations to "come forward and provide the necessary documentary evidence" and present it to U.N. investigators.

But documents have surfaced in Baghdad, in the files of the former Iraqi Oil Ministry, allegedly linking Sevan to a pay-off scheme in which some 270 prominent foreign officials received the right to trade in Iraqi oil at cut-rate prices.

"It's almost like having coupons of bonds or shares. You can sell those coupons to other people who are normal oil traders," said Claude Hankes-Drielsma, a British adviser to the Iraq Governing Council.

Investigators say the smoking gun is a letter to former Iraqi oil minister Amer Mohammed Rasheed, obtained by ABCNEWS and not yet in the hands of the United Nations.

Ghosth · « **Reply #1 on:** April 21, 2004, 08:28:09 AM »

Thanks for filling in the blanks for me rip.
Just caught the headlines earlier.

Waiting to see if Blix was on the payroll also.!

Eagler · « **Reply #2 on:** April 21, 2004, 08:37:51 AM »

its an american setup

bush is evil

"war hero" kerry to the rescue

Ripsnort · « **Reply #3 on:** April 21, 2004, 08:58:21 AM »

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But this story is about more than a simple U.N. scandal. What it shows is what the alternatives to war against Saddam actually were: a slowly disintegrating regime, becoming ever-more Islamist in tone as it tried to cling to power; sanctions that were in effect starving kids, destroying Iraqi civil society and enriching corrupt U.N. officials and Saddam's family; and the potential of those sanctions being lifted at some point, leading to a resurgence of WMD development. We were so right to intervene. The alternatives were far, far worse.

Fair analysis I think…
http://www.andrewsullivan.com/

Bodhi · « **Reply #4 on:** April 21, 2004, 09:14:19 AM »

Sincerely hope this is not true, but in the end whether it is or not will turn into a he said/she said fest when the liberals respond....

JBA · « **Reply #5 on:** April 21, 2004, 09:18:33 AM »

Where is the entire "it was the US sanctions that hurt the Iraqi children" crowd? I remember when this war started all those bleeding hearts “we love Saddam he’s better the Bush” people posting about how we should leave them alone.

And now they are onto ‘we need the UN to take over.”

Right the same UN that stole from the “children.”

We want them to take over for caring for them now?

I doubt the Iraqi’s want the Un to take over. Especially after they realize UN and the “European protectors (France, Germany, Russia)” were steeling from them.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #6 on:** April 21, 2004, 09:22:45 AM »

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Originally posted by JBA

I doubt the Iraqi’s want the Un to take over. Especially after they realize UN and the “European protectors (France, Germany, Russia)” were steeling from them.

They did blow up the UN headquarters in Iraq early last year...

Airhead · « **Reply #7 on:** April 21, 2004, 09:30:08 AM »

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Originally posted by JBA
Where is the entire "it was the US sanctions that hurt the Iraqi children" crowd? I remember when this war started all those bleeding hearts “we love Saddam he’s better the Bush” people posting about how we should leave them alone.

ROFLMAO Yeah, that's it JBA... We opposed sending American kids to invade and occupy Iraq because we just LOVED Sadaam Hussein! I mean, the mostache...cool uniforms... the people shredders... What a fuggin guy!

Ripsnort · « **Reply #8 on:** April 21, 2004, 09:31:51 AM »

Normal liberal trolls showing up...any "thoughtful" libs out there have anything of substance to contribute or just a "we;ll wait and see" approach?

JBA · « **Reply #9 on:** April 21, 2004, 09:31:58 AM »

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Originally posted by Airhead
ROFLMAO Yeah, that's it JBA... We opposed sending American kids to invade and occupy Iraq because we just LOVED Sadaam Hussein! I mean, the mostache...cool uniforms... the people shredders... What a fuggin guy!

Thats the best you got on this subject.

now call me a name and go away mad.

1K0N · « **Reply #10 on:** April 21, 2004, 09:49:01 AM »

eeewwwwwwwhhhhhh... Big surprise right!!

if you look closer you'll find americans on the saddam payroll as well as UN Administrators..

Airhead · « **Reply #11 on:** April 21, 2004, 09:53:17 AM »

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Originally posted by JBA
Thats the best you got on this subject.

now call me a name and go away mad.

I don't do name calling and I NEVER go to bed mad.

It's just the statement that those of us who opposed an Iraqi invasion did so because "we love Sadaam he's better than Bush" is just about the funniest thing I've read here since MrBlack got booted. LOL It figures the only one nodding their pointy little head in agreement with you is Ripsnort.

"Yup, yup, them thar Liburls love Saddam, that must be it- why else would they oppose this heah war?"

You crack me up.

Sixpence · « **Reply #12 on:** April 21, 2004, 09:59:24 AM »

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Originally posted by Ripsnort
Normal liberal trolls showing up...any "thoughtful" libs out there have anything of substance to contribute or just a "we;ll wait and see" approach?

Let me see if I can find something at fightliberalism.com

Otto · « **Reply #13 on:** April 21, 2004, 10:04:15 AM »

Corruption at the United Nations....?

Embellishment.....?

Thievery.....?

No..., No..., that can't be true. If they had taken money they wouldn't have had to loot their own Cafeteria for lunch.

I'm sure it's all a big mistake.

ravells · « **Reply #14 on:** April 21, 2004, 10:04:58 AM »

Looks like Halliburton just getting rid of the competition to me

Ravs