The UN Oil-for-Food Scandal – undoubtedly the greatest boodoggle in the entire history of international organizations — continues to be virtually unreported by our sclerotic Mainstream Media like the NYT and the LAT. They seem desperate to preserve the impression that all is well at the United Nations — proof by itself that our contemporary hidebound “liberalism” is not only dead, it’s decomposed.(Further evidence is their rush to cover who “leaked” the Berger Affair rather than the alleged crime itself. Pathetic and, yes, reactionary.)
Fortunately, the Iraqi Press itself continues to report the news on this issue that may tell us more than anything about why various nations were opposed to intervening in Iraq (hint: greed first/Iraqi freedom last).
Central bank tracks foreign deposits
(Al-Mutamar) – An anonymous source in the Central Bank of Iraq said a number of countries, including Lebanon, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and France, hid more than $10 billion. The source added they were sure of these sums, according to hard evidence related to the accounts of the oil-for-food programme. He pointed that the funds are deposited under names of people close to the former regime or under fake names. Most of the funds are in Lebanon and Jordan and are the result of corruption cases in the oil-for-food memorandum of understanding as well as agreements signed between Iraq and other countries. The Central Bank has taken legal action to restore the funds according to the Security Council resolution 1483 which states that all Iraqi funds abroad be deposited in the Iraqi Development Fund.
10 billion!!!! I’ve said it before and I”ll say it again – why can’t I get some of that for myself? I’m a US taxpayer. Who else subsidizes the UN?(via GVL)
Join the conversation as a VIP Member