While Democratic Party fuddy-duddies (formerly known as “progressives”) continue to enable massive corruption at the United Nations by blocking the nomination of John “Bad Manners” Bolton, Claudia Rosett (this time working with George Russell) is still investigating the real situation at Turtle Bay.
Yesterday Rosett looked into the affairs and possible nepotism (yes, that again!)of Alexander Yakovlev – “a dapper Russian who is possibly the longest tenured member of the U.N. procurement department.” Last year that department spent more than $1.3 billion. Yakovlev, whose testimony is heavily relied upon by the Volcker Committee report, has been refusing to talk with the press without the permission of Kofi Annan who, you will be shocked to learn, has not given it.
Ironically this blogger once met the Russian personally back in 1987 during the Gorbachev-Reagan Summit in Washington, D. C. when the Soviet delegation was staying at my hotel. (I was there researching a screenplay for Whoopi Goldberg – don’t ask!) I remember Yakovlev very well – he was quite famous at the time as a key adviser to Gorbachev – holding forth in the lobby for a crowd of admirers. He was indeed the suave diplomat. “The Jews,” I recall him opining, “they used to have the best politicians and the worst army. Now they have the best army and the worst politicians.” Everyone nodded sagely.
Thanks to Rosett and Russell, however, things are not going as well for Mr. Yakovlev now. According to an editor’s update to their Fox News report:
In the aftermath of FOX News’ investigation, the U.N. Office of Internal Oversight announced Monday that it is now investigating Yakovlev “as a matter of urgency.”
Bold face theirs and mine.
U.N. procurement department…
Now there’s a job could keep a man reaaal busy. Is there a Dept of Pandering?
Just asking…
**********
“The Jews,” I recall him opining, “they used to have the best politicians and the worst army. Now they have the best army and the worst politicians.” Everyone nodded sagely….
Hey, Roger, if that’s true, well…there goes the long-standing resemblance between the Irish and the Jews. Shoot.
Mr. Yakovlev should be worried if he were being investigated by the Feds or the District Attorney but the U.N. Office of Internal Oversight is the Barney Fife when it comes to a fraud/corruption investigation.
Yakovlev’s statement about Jews is frustratingly devoid of context here, but it’s nonetheless worth considering against the backdrop of Soviet — even late Soviet — “anti-Zionism”. Far too few people realize that today’s anti-Israel repertoire was composed in Moscow decades ago.
The UN Office of Internal Oversight, one wonders which definition of the word “oversight”. Could be as in “Oh, I missed that, must’ve been an oversight.”
I always wondered too if there’s a hidden message in the International Criminal Court. “Hey, we’re all international criminals, let’s organize ourselves a court!”
Ah, Newspeak.
Thanks to Claudia, thanks to Roger and other new media, information is still seeping out a little at a time. But what good can ever come from the UN? Bolton can’t do much. It’s better to have a tough talker as our ambassador than to have an appeaser, but what will it really accomplish? Maybe they will steal a little less. Maybe their corruption will stain the Democrat Europhiles and help the American people to make better choices. But that’s a pretty low level of expectations. It reminds me of living in Chicago under Richard J. Daley. Couldn’t get rid of him but you could work to drag some of the dirty deals out into the sunlight.
The cloture vote on Mr. Bolton is just another piece of evidence of current Democrat strategy. The leaders of the Democratic Party are fully aware that if, by the time of the mid-term elections next year, the war is going well, they have no chance of gaining ground. In fact, they are bound to lose more seats, perhaps the Republicans even gaining a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. Therefore, they are doing all they can to sabotage the war effort with the Bolton nomination, Durbin, Conyers et al. I don’t know about you, but in my book this is treason and deserves to be called such. I don’t know how many rank-and-file Democrats are in on this conspiracy, but anyone who votes for any Democrat for any office in this country is complicit, whether wittingly or not.
Far too few people realize that today’s anti-Israel repertoire was composed in Moscow decades ago.
As was much of modern anti-Americanism.
Odd how long the Soviet corpse’s stench lingers, isn’t it?
Robert, before USSR went after the Persian Gulf, there was a growing, liberalizing, educated, professional middle class in Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon (Beirut was called the ‘Paris of the Mideast’, before KGB armed & fomented the “civil war”). So, yessirree, we’re in the stinky corpse embrace yet.
Robert and Buddy,
You are correct, of course, that we’re still smelling the stench (and suffering the disease) of USSR action in the ME. But please don’t let the French and their Eurabia activities off the hook.
The Middle East isn’t such a clusterbleep because of US policy, it is because of USSR and French policy.
I would have thought that you’d be all over this:-)
” Annan Deputy Goes Ballistic Over Soros Article”
http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12401172&postID=111936292224121474
“According to a transcript of the daily UN press briefing yesterday, available online, Brown went ballistic over the New York Sun’s effrontery. Asked about his links with Soros, Brown launched into a rant about what a non-story ….”
I am not thrilled about John Boltonís predicament—but itís a cheap price to pay. It makes it easier to remind the Democrat members of the ìgang of 14î to live up to their side of the bargain concerning the judicial appointments. Bolton will probably get a recess appointment. The world is not going to end. I strongly agree with the thesis of John Micklethwait and Andrian Woolridge of ìThe Right Nationî fame arguing that the United States is becoming more conservative. This is what they wrote this morning for the Wall Street Journal:
ìBut it is time for conservatives to cheer up. Fixate on a snapshot of recent events and pessimism makes sense. Stand back and look at the grand sweep of things and the darkness soon lifts. There are two questions that really matter in assessing the current state of conservatism: What direction is America moving in? And how does the United States compare with the rest of the world? The answer to both questions should encourage the right.î
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110006847
Some of you are leery of Republicans increasing the number of judges on both the appellate and Supreme Court. There is only thing I can say: a number of societal decisions like Roe vs. Wade should have never been decided by judges. The voters are the ones to call the shots on these controversial issues. You may have liked the outcome of the abortion decision—but is was based on a corrupted view of the Constitution—and such reasoning in the long run endangers all of us.
Rog, I love ya man but you almost certainly met a different guy. A different Alexander Yakovlev was a former Politburo guy and an architect of Gorbachev’s reforms. Wrong AY.
The Bolton Scorecard: 54-38… In a football game, that is a sweet victory. I realize you need a score of 60-32 in order to consider it a squeaker, and release the whiners…
I think the Democrats are boxing themselves into a corner on this nomination. They are preaching to their choir, who gets older and smaller as time goes on. Any voters sitting on the fence over the Bolton nomination are not going to be enticed to support the Democrats by their handling of this issue, as they simply do not care. The Democratic “loser-take-stall” approach will not win them any new converts, and will alienate their moderate wing.
I think ole’ George is on the right track to let this “thing” drag out. It will convert moderate Democrats to adopt a “Zell Miller” school of thought.
I don’t understand what the Democrats are trying to do on this issue. Are they trying to invigorate the marginal undecided and move them to the current Democratic school of thought? The marginal undecided voter they are trying to gain, over this issue, does not care about the UN or Bolton. The Democrats are simply punching air.
Which way would the smart voter and smart money vote?
I urge you to read Cynic’s link. There’s a link-rich column on a not-well-lit side of the UN’s current leadership–and its press coverage. Malloch Brown wants to be understood. So let us understand him.
David’s link to the Brendan Miniter article; also a must-read.
Yes, thanks for the link, Cynic.
“Cheaper to buy politicians and journalists than….”
Sorry, David’s is to another must-read at the same site. Dammit, too many must-reads–they’re EVERYWHERE!
Roger,
Why did Yakovlev give that apt quote about Israel essentially? Is he Jewish? What was the pretext of the conversation at the time. Just curious.
Mike
“Loser-take-stall”, LOL, canucklehead!
Cynic, your link has to got thru a comment box; didn’t you mean to go directly to Mediacrity?
Only slightly Off Topic:
As Roger would say, “From the Department of Who Said this?”
Who said this: “In a media-hungry age, visibility is often regarded as proof of success. But this does not necessarily hold true in Iraq.”
Sound like a Bush Administration representative or supporter?
Nope. It’s Coffers Anan himself…in the Washington Post today in a self-congratulatory 14 paragraphs about what the UN is quietly doing to help Iraq’s transition. (and not even one mention of the United States in the entire article. No big surprise, there’s the word “progress” in the title.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/20/AR2005062001176.html
Canucklehead:
The war continues and the Democrats continue their role as Copperheads. They seek to destroy the Bush administration whatever the cost to the nation. The left is the same all over. It’s all about power. The only difference between PMPM and the Democratic Party leadership is their inability to control the agenda the way a majority in Parliament can.
I am somewhat troubled by branding the Democratic leadership to be unpatriotic and sedition but the dynamics of their political strategy have driven them into a corner. They are like many German politicians at the end of Weimer who thought they could use the Nazis to deal with Communists and then when the dirty work was done they would get rid of the Nazis. Well, the Democrats enlisted the new neo-Nazis of moveon.org and ANSWER into the party to bash Bush and low and behold instead of Bush destroyed the Democrats have been transformed into a party that houses the lunatic, anti-Semitic left. Perhaps Dr. Dean should reflect on this strategy and consider how he might go about reversing course if that is at all possible.
jerry,
“Can’t shake the Devil’s hand and say you’re only kidding.
This is where the party ends
I can’t stand here listening to you…”
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/t/they-might-be-giants/136308.html
Damn, Jerry, that is one perspicacious analogy.
What a great report Claudia Rosette is!
I think nicholas47 is right: Alexander M. Yakovlev and Alexander Nikolaevich Yakovlev.
It’s a great anecdote, though, and I’m beginning to regret that the Goldberg project never got a go.
Some of you are leery of Republicans increasing the number of judges on both the appellate and Supreme Court. There is only thing I can say: a number of societal decisions like Roe vs. Wade should have never been decided by judges. The voters are the ones to call the shots on these controversial issues. You may have liked the outcome of the abortion decision—but is was based on a corrupted view of the Constitution—and such reasoning in the long run endangers all of us.
Bravo. “Hear, all ye good people, hear what this brilliant and eloquent speaker has to say!”
Bruce W.
There isn’t much to admire about the man, but you have to admire the chutzpah of writing an article about how the UN is transforming Iraq without a single mention of the US. Astonishing, really.
Now, on to more important stuff. No doubt that Don Koffi and The Fambly have some reason to put out this communique through WaPo. What’s the hidden message here?
Buddy,
“Cynic, your link has to got thru a comment box;”
Sorry for that. I had to rush out and didn’t think I’d make it back so in my haste to leave the link there was a slip twixt mouse and click:-)
I meant to click on the post’s link
http://mediacrity.blogspot.com/2005/06/annan-deputy-goes-ballistic-over-soros.html
My apologies.
wrt WB’s devil allusion, Milton had his Paradise Lost devil say “”So farewell hope, and with hope farewell fear.” Hmm, maybe there’s something there about the Dem/UN bunch having no limit on what they’re willing to blurt.
Cynic:
I love the set up. Don’t deny anything, just go on the offensive. What arrogance! The royal we sickness of the UN is amazing. And they have the bootlicking press joining them in saying “Don’t you know who you are talking to, the UN saves starving children and gives exposure to ageing Rock Stars at charity concerts. They are entitled to dipping their beak into the honey pot you cretin.” This the media that spends 5 years tracking Bush’s TANG records even when the evidence is in that he fullfilled his obligations.
Buddy,
When I read Mediacrity’s post there were no comments and had there not been a slip of the wrist I would not have read yours and learned some more.
Its amazing how important such tidbits of information are in the correct analysis of a situation.
From the Annan piece:
What a smugly whining vat of hubris (h/t Capt Hate). As if anyone would want the Kofi Klatch to write a constitution for them.
Still, it is inconvenient for many elements here at home to have the UN foursquare behind the democratization of Iraq.
Cynic, here’s a couple of good links. Google [richard holbrooke] for a look at this guy’s career. He coulda been handling things for you in the Mideast. (*shiiiiver*)
Good of you to mention UN’s support for Iraq democracy, Kyda. But, talk about making a virtue of necessity.
Well, necessity is the mother of virtue. Or something.
Necessity is the invention of mother, I think is how it goes.
Cynic, somewhere in the breaking of UNscamgate, Kofi saw fit to fire a guy named Hansen from his job running the UN Refugee program, on the grounds that he Annan “didn’t have sufficient capital with the Americans” to explain why the UN had so many Hamas gunmen on the UN payroll, waiting around for orders (keeping Hamas’ cash-flow healthier).
Holy Opportunism, Batman!
Near the end of the article pointed to by Buddy’s second link above we find this:
And so the repercussions of the oil-for-food scandal continue to move the earth beneath the UN, shifting the tectonic plates of the most immovable bureaucracy. Apart from the consequential staff replacements, the scandal, according to Harvard professor John G. Ruggie, enables profound change within the UN by shifting power from those who see the organization as being beholden to member states, into the hands of those who endorse accountability to the UNís own agencies, non-governmental organizations and the public.
I guess the International Kleptocracy figures that when life hands you lemons, make lemonade. Shift accountability from the member states to itself, NGOs, and “the people’s revolutions.”
Any way we can cut our contribution more than the propesed 50%?
At least the Jews always have the best of SOMETHING at any given point in time, which is more one can say about the Russians.
The UN/Hamas link just explodes my brain. Answers a question I’ve long had, why were these guys so dead-set on wrecking Israel? It’s becoming clear, “It’s the MONEY, Stupid!” Prince Wahabbi has caravans of cash, wants the end of the Zionist Entity, and either put or called some gimme-gimme wretches in management at the UN. Hell, what has anyone seen that makes this unlikely? Or even improbable, given Oil-for-Food?
It’s all Bush’s fault that this is being exposed.
‘bless him.
The world is turning inside out! I love it!!
Harold: Are you really saying that Russia’s gulags were not top notch?
–that’s irresponsible inflammatory speech!
While I’m on the subject, Buddy and Kyda, leave my Mother out of this.
Ha! Mother is the virtue of Bruce’s invention?
Knuck,
There is nothing to stop Sen. Coleman from proposing legislation that would suspend dues entirely. The Hyde bill makes a decent start at 50% but is not explicit enough to suit me.
The US should seek Japan’s help in this matter. Action by the Japanese legislature requiring a Japanese/American auditing agency operating under GAO style guidelines to grant a ‘Certificate of Compliance’ prior to the release of dues by either country might be linked to US legislation with the same requirement. The Japanese have a much higher per capita financial stake in the UN than do Americans.
Perhaps Uranari could fill us in on the public’s perception of the scandal in Japan.
Japan is up for one of the two proposed new permanent security council seats. We want her there–so may want her to stay low-pro on UNscam. Or am I looking at it to defensively?
Claudia Rosset is the great unsung hero in all this
SHE IS OIL-FOR-FOOD. And when I see her speak I marvel at the incredulity that still overtakes her when she speaks of the massive corruption and the gi-normous enabling of the such theivery by the world
George Soros called defeating President Bush “the central focus of my life” and a “matter of life and death”
I get the same kick out of her reports–the combination of anger with innate good humor is fascinating to behold. Razor-sharp, and great smile, too!
the patience of a saint.
Maybe the Vatican should consider Rosset for beautification instead of the fwench Jewhating priest
Great blog Atlas! Beautification
Harold,
re: the Russians. Pianists. Scary good.
And every time I get all stoked up about French perfidy, Julie Delpy and good bistro food come to mind. Oh well…
Nice thread – I’m enjoying it. Patience is tough, but we’re getting there. 2006 will tell – I think the Dems will be gobsmacked, and the MSM will manage to do something as destructive to themselves as Watergate proved to be for the Republican party of the 70′s. It’s only a matter of time.
God bless Claudia, the reason she’s on this so tight is that she can imagine a world where the follies at Turtle Bay actually become worth a damn. It could happen. Truth will out.
Truepeers is right, Atlas is bee-yoo-tyful!
The United Nihilists are at it again and Bolton can’t get an up or down vote because he’s “too mean”?
WELL THAT’S THE PROBLEM….He doesn’t bribe, steal, or have sex with children. I’ve written about Kofi and his merry band of pedophiles and nepotists so many times, I’ve got carpal tunnel.
Roger,
fuddy-duddies
I don’t think “fuddy-duddies” quite captures the scope of the moral and intellectual rot of the so-called “progressives.”