Sergey Lavrov isn’t the only old apparatchik running around the UN these days. Remember Iqbal Riza, Kofi Annan’s onetime chef de cabinet who retired “with very mixed emotions” after allegations, later substantiated by the Volcker commission, that he had shredded several years’ worth of documents relating to the Oil-for-Food investigation?
Well, can you imagine my surprise to find that Riza is back, according to Claudia Rosett and George Russell, working for the United Nations in Kofi’s new pet project the “Alliance for Civilizations” – read the link for what that piece of work is – this even though Riza seems yet more nefarious:
During the Oil-for-Food program itself, as Volcker reported in September, 2005, “Mr. Riza played a greater role than he was willing to state.” According to Volcker, Riza dealt heavily with the graft-riddled program, meeting with Iraqi officials, and routinely handling important Oil-for-Food documents, some pertaining to corruption in the program. During at least the last two years of Oil-for-Food’s seven years in operation, Volcker concluded, Riza – along with Annan and the now departing deputy secretary-general, Louise Frechette – was aware of both the smuggling and kickback schemes of Saddam, but withheld information from the U.N. Security Council.
And yet he’s back! How could Kofi be so brazen? … Well, you don’t have to be a crime writer to figure that one out. Riza has more on Kofi than even Kojo has. Why would the old chef de cabinet not be back?
From the article: Annan seeks ‘a need to “create dialogue”‘
Is it amazing the way this crop of thieves reinvents the English language to justify their existence and relevance and hide their banditry?
jedury -
i can remember when people
who talked and talked
and made a lot of promises they didn’t keep
were pitied or treated like children.
now they’re worshipped.
Wait a seond –
During at least the last two years of Oil-for-Food’s seven years in operation, Volcker concluded, Riza – along with Annan and the now departing deputy secretary-general, Louise Frechette – was aware of both the smuggling and kickback schemes of Saddam, but withheld information from the U.N. Security Council.
The Volcker Report makes it clear Annan knew??
Will someone please explain to me why that man still has a job?
I’m sure they’ll all get the Arafat-Baradei, er, Nobel Peace Prize for their selfless, heroic public service.
Anthony:
There is more party loyalty regarding the U.N. then there is in the most rabid Republican or Democratic political circle. The myth of the U.N. being the cure for all of the worlds problems is so entrenched in the mindset of the left that they will never examine the reality of the institution. So when the facts about the corruption of Don Kofi and his clique come out they just put their heads between their knees and say “No, no, no ,no, lies, lies, lies. Most pastors would scream with joy if they could get this kind of faith from their church members. It has become like a cult. The Kool-Aid has been swallowed and there is no turning back.
Can’t remember who said it, when Nixon announced his ultimately successful intention to run for the US presidency despite losing his bid for governor of California: Living proof that you can’t keep a good crook down