UNSCUM inflation, that is. Previous reports estimating skimming by Saddam and his United Nations Oil-for-Food cohorts at 10 billion dollars were off by a measly 11.3 billion bucks, according to a probe by the Senate Committee on Government Affairs. It’s now 21.3 billion (more than double the original estimate) and could go higher, making the Oil-for-Food Scandal the greatest heist in world history by far. Kofi & his cronies should be proud. They’ve earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records. [You're not trying to tell me the UN is worse than Halliburton?-ed. Nah. Don't worry.]
But maybe it’s time to think about moving the location of the United Nations, while still keeping it in New York State, from its tony Manhattan Turtle Bay address to more historically appropriate digs in Ossining.
Umm. Roger. More than double would be more than 22.6B, not a merely outrageous 21.3B
John, I know my math is weak, but is 2 X 10 billion really 22.6 billion?
Roger,
The Oil for Fraud numbers are important because 21.3 Billion is how much they netted, not just how much they stole. As long as you consider the the recipients as part of the “gang” that stole the money, they got a great return on their criminal activities. This makes Kofi Annan the greatest fence in human history.
For referance, the Enron and the other energy trading companies destroyed hundreds of billions of dollars of wealth to net as little as 1% of the proceeds, and the traders themselves recieved only a fraction of that. Still a huge amount of money, but much more destructively wasteful. Of course, the US economy can soak a spoilage like that for a little while. The Oil for Fraud folks were literally taking food out of babies’ mouths to steal what they were taking.
UN should be located at Tierra del Fuego. No use in using up that piece of real estate in New York.
Isn’t Parmelat at $19 billion euros? Which would make it more?????
I’m all for moving UN HQ to someplace like Darfur. It’s time we temper any legitimacy the United States gives to that corrupt, anti-Semitic organization.
I think the UN should stay in NY.
I can’t think of a more appropriate place than the Fresh Kills landfill.
Well, staying with a New York venue, this makes that place seem a safer bet.
I pass through Ossining every time I visit relatives. Much to pretty for these thieves. I suggest Joliet with a view of the steel mills and railroads or Maybe Levenworth with the helpful soldiers.
Read Safire this morning in the Times and how he drives the nail in Volcker’s butt !!!
More on the story here at WaPo.
What I find most interesting is that Sevan said investigatins were the responsibilities of member states, and so blocked an internal audit, while Annan says investigations are the UN’s responsibility, and thus is blocking member states’ investigations.
Charlie:
That is how they convinced themselves they could get away with this. Everything is somebody else’s job or responsibility or fault. Kinda makes you wonder what these guys are getting paid for. They are either thieves or incompetents, neither of which inspires confidience.
Claudia Rosett has repeatedly written that it could end up going near 40 billion. Remember, there was money that was simply barter and the skimming of this was high.
Isn’t it about time that the “world government” gets a visit from the world police.
Roger:
Once again it will be interesting how the bulk of the MSM will ignore this story or minimize it. I bet that the marine shooting the Iraqi in the Mosque will get far more ink and tube time then the 21 billion or higher fleecing of the Iraqi people by the “august” international body that was put in charge of a humanitarian aid. Stealing the lifeblood of an impovershed nation just won’t be as interesting as a single terrorist getting killed by a marine.
At a cool $20 billion plus, the Oil-for-Fraud deal makes Arafat’s thievery pale in comparison.
The real point is the US, along with Britian and other untarnished states, should immediately cease paying dues. (Yes, I know the US is in arrears.) Let’s try to bring some monetary pressure to bear until an audit is done to US satisfaction.
Next, my guess is that the UN is exempt from property taxes as some sort of international non-profit organization. If so, reinstate the property taxes. The UN is clearly profit minded.
Third, let’s get rid of diplomatic immunity for certain crimes. This has got to be one of the best the money laundering cases of all times. It would be interesting to see where the money really went. Let the chips fall where they may.
Last, as a condition to rejoining the UN as a dues paying member, the charter and by-laws of the UN need to be changed and given the same transparency as public companies subject to Sarbanes-Oxley. They cheat because they can hide. Put it all out in the sunlight.
I wonder why we don’t hear more about this Oil-for-Fraud scandal in the MSM? Oh, wait; wasn’t some of this blood money diverted to bribe world leaders, inspectors and JOURNALISTS?
No wonder we don’t hear about it.
There’s a big, fat juicy story just waiting out there for an honest reporter, or at least an ambitious one. I wonder which reporters were being wined and dined and bribed?
Plus, we were all told repeatedly (by the MSM) how opposition to an Iraq invasion was principled and just, with concepts like “sovereignty” and “international law” stirred into the mix for good measure. The media now have to find a way to say they were wrong, and if they can’t, I think, they simply won’t.
Les, It doesn’t have to be $$$, it’s enough that UN is big in Kerry-world.