PAINFUL FOR ALL OF US

Paul Volker, Chairman of the Independent Inquiry Into The United Nations Oil-For-Food program, presents his final report to the Security Council at United Nations headquarters yesterday.

NEW YORK -- U.N. incompetence and corruption enabled Saddam Hussein to siphon more than $1 billion from an oil-for-food program that was flawed from conception to conclusion, an independent commission said yesterday.

Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette and other close aides to Secretary-General Kofi Annan suffered harsh criticism in the five-volume report by the Independent Inquiry Committee (IIC), headed by former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, which cited the complicity of U.N. member governments and Security Council diplomats.

The evidence was "not reasonably sufficient" to find Mr. Annan personally guilty of wrongdoing in a system that Saddam manipulated with bribes, political pressure and a refusal to cooperate in the humanitarian program, the committee said.

But it released new details of how Mr. Annan's son, Kojo, profited from his U.N. contacts, noting that he had phoned friends in the procurement department "at critical times" in 1998 while a company he was associated with was bidding on a lucrative oil-for-food contract.

"The main conclusions are unambiguous," said the panel. "The organization requires stronger executive leadership, thoroughgoing administrative reform, and more reliable controls and auditing."

Mr. Volcker told reporters that unless changes are made quickly, "the United Nations' credibility is at stake."

...Mr. Volcker also chastised the Security Council for politicized decision-making, tolerating large-scale oil smuggling and kickbacks, and failing to confront Saddam on obvious violations.

Beyond the $1 billion skimmed from the program, Saddam managed to smuggle some $10 billion to neighboring countries, the report said. Security Council members overlooked the smuggling to compensate Jordan, Syria, Iran and Turkey for the loss of legitimate trade with Iraq.

...Mr. Annan described the report as "painful for all of us" and immediately accepted responsibility for those shortcomings attributed to him. But he promised no firings or resignations in connection with the report's findings.

I think "painful for all of us" is an understatement.

The UN, with Annan at the helm, enabled a multi-billion dollar scheme which allowed Saddam Hussein and complicit UN member governments to profit at the expense of the Iraqi people.

That such "illicit, unethical and corrupt behavior within the United Nations" would take place under the guise of a "humanitarian" program is despicable.

While Volcker's report finds that the Oil-for-Food program did alleviate some of the suffering of the Iraqi people, offering minimal relief from malnutrition and inadequate healthcare, billions of dollars were steered away from those it was intended to aid and directed into the hands of Saddam Hussein, Kojo Annan, and corrupt officials and governments.

Security Council member nations, France and Russia, jumped on the gravy train and blocked efforts to make changes in the program to deal with the issue of corruption.

And what is Annan's response?

He called the findings "deeply embarrassing." Annan has called for no firings or resignations.

I think Annan's reaction to Volcker's report is deeply embarrassing.

Why is this guy allowed to remain as Secretary-General of the UN?

It is mind-boggling. Positively mind-boggling.

I also find it troubling that Oil-for-Food has not received the attention from the mainstream media that such a massive scandal deserves. Of course, Hurricane Katrina is the primary focus right now. Naturally, that is the big story. However, Oil-for-Food has never really been given the spotlight.

Compare the hours and hours and pages and pages of coverage devoted to John Bolton with the time and space given to exposing Oil-for-Food as one of the UN's most disgusting "achievements."

The liberal media have failed miserably. I consider them to be complicit in the corruption that permeates the UN. By failing to highlight the scandal, they have served to cover up the illicit actions of the UN.

From the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA):

US envoy John R. Bolton told the [Security] council John R. Bolton said that Saddam Hussein "exploited" the good will of the international community toward the people of Iraq.

"He exploited that good will in order to obtain billions of dollars for his personal use and for the use of his regime to strengthen his authoritarian grip on his own people," he said.

..."We have over the past several days been pushing for exactly that - only to meet resistance from dozens of countries who are in a state of denial - countries which contend that "business as usual" at the UN is fine.

He said this report unambiguously rejects the notion that "business as usual" at the UN is acceptable. "We need to reform the UN in a manner that will prevent another Oil for Food scandal. The credibility of the UN depends on it," he said.

British envoy Emyr Jones Parry told the council that "we need to remember above all that it is Saddam Hussein who remains the key culprit" in the oil-for food scandal, "seeking continuously to "corrupt the programme of personal benefit".

The corruption, criminality and mismanagement of the programme are to be condemned, but "let's not forget that the greater wrong done to the people of Iraq and to the region was done by Saddam".

Even when faced with Volcker's damning report, there is an effort to excuse the UN.

I completely agree with Bolton. This "business as usual" mindset is unacceptable.

Saddam is a murderous thug. It's no surprise that he would steal money meant to help his people.

The United Nations' actions are another matter altogether. Is the UN in the same league as Saddam? Shouldn't the world demand better of this organization? The global community should be aghast at the level of the UN's corruption.

To let the UN off the hook for its role in this scandal and to shift focus from the UN's failings at this point is unconscionable.

I reject Parry's notion that Saddam is the key culprit. Saddam and his UN partners are co-conspirators.

Iraqi envoy Samir Sumaida'i told the council that the Iraqi people have been "robbed" of their assets.

"That loss is permanent. The Iraqis paid the price for any shortcomings and the main beneficiary is the UN," he said.

"I hope this will be taken up by the council. That will at least recompense Iraq for some of the losses," he said.

...Annan stopped short of apologizing to the Iraqi people, telling reporters simply that "it was unfortunate that certainly Iraqi citizens suffered, and in fact, the whole idea of the oil-for-food scheme was to assist them".

Asked if he or any of his senior staff is resigning now that the report revealed mismanagement in the programme, Annan said "I don't anticipate anyone to resign. We are carrying on with our work".

UNFORTUNATE??? That's all?

According to Annan, it's "unfortunate" that the Iraqi people suffered, but don't expect any resignations at the UN. What an utter disgrace!

CARRYING ON WITH OUR WORK???

That's the problem. The world cannot allow the UN to carry on with their work.

The UN is a corrupt, incompetent, impotent organization. It disgusts me that liberals want the U.S. to be subservient to this international band of crooks.

Dramatic reform is needed immediately.

The first step should be to replace Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

IMMEDIATELY.