NYT: U.N. Chief Admits Oil-for-Food Missteps

[DeepModem Mom]

U.N. Chief Admits Oil-for-Food Missteps
By WARREN HOGE
Published: September 8, 2005


UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 7 - Secretary General Kofi Annan said Wednesday that he took personal responsibility for the management failures highlighted in a damning new report on the oil-for-food program, and he urged adoption of fundamental changes in the way the United Nations is run.

Addressing the Security Council along with the report's author, the former Federal Reserve chairman, Paul A. Volcker, Mr. Annan said, "The report is critical of me personally, and I accept the criticism."

He told the 15 members seated around the Council's horseshoe panel that the findings "must be deeply embarrassing to us all; the inquiry committee has ripped away the curtain and shone a harsh light into the most unsightly corners of our organization."

At a news conference at the Roosevelt Hotel, Mr. Volcker was unsparing in his criticism. "Our assignment has been to look for mis- or maladministration in the oil-for-food program and for evidence of corruption within the U.N. organization and by contractors," he said. "Unhappily, we found both."

Wednesday's 847-page report excoriated Mr. Annan and the Council for their management of the program and said the United Nations must be extensively overhauled if it is to earn global credibility and meet 21st century demands....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/08/international/08food.html?hp&ex=1126152000&en=baf07dfb9f20d9fd&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[rpannier]

1. It's nice some people take responsibility

for major screw ups on their watch. too bad scrubbo doesn't feel the need to do likewise.

[kikiek]

2. Bush's flying monkey, Coleman, will try to force him to resign so their

evil empire will have control over the UN. The world should be afraid. Very afraid.