Congress to investigate claims of Saddam's oil-for-food bribery

[DoYouEverWonder]

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/story.jsp?story=512805

19 April 2004

An American congressional panel will begin hearings this week into charges that Saddam Hussein bribed officials around the world with billions of dollars from the United Nations' oil-for-food programme.

The timing of the hearing could not be worse for the UN, as the embarrassing charges of laxity will be aired as it prepares to return to Iraq after the 30 June handover to interim Iraqi authorities.

The fraud allegations that have surfaced so far are only the "tip of the iceberg", said Claude Hankes-Drielsma, a British adviser to the Iraq Governing Council, who will testify before Congress on Wednesday.

"A private company in Jordan received a profit of $97m in the month prior to the liberation. Why? Hopefully, the investigation will show," Mr Hankes-Drielsma said.



BTW: The Security Council was responsible for the oversight of this program and last time I checked the US was still a member? Funny, what Congress chooses to investigate and what they choose to ignore? Even in just this investigation, Congress is apparently more interested in Jordan, who just got on our shit list, rather than investigate Turkey, who we turned a blind eye to for 'political reasons.'

[WVhill]

1. The news is still coming out.

So far the documents found in Iraq point to a large group of beneficiaries many who supposedly have political ties in countries such as France and Russia. Even Kofi Anan's son has been implicated. The UN has started an investigation. Some don't believe the UN can properly investigate itself. The Food-For-Oil documents haven't been released and some reports indicate their whereabouts aren't known.

It looks like the UN is going to take a major credibility hit especially if money from the program had anything to do with the French and Russian objection to our actions against Iraq. Some reports are insinuating that some of the money went to sponsor terrorists.

[DogFart]

2. !

wow....the UN taking a credibility hit...go figure.

[WVhill]

3. This could play into Bush's hands.

A major scandal could divert folks attention from other problems and possibly reinforce public perception of Bush's decision to go-it-alone in Iraq.

[Hobarticus]

8. I hope he does...

First words out of Kerry's mouth should be, "what on earth does this have to do with the US economy, and how does pursuing this make us stronger against terrorism?"

[daleo]

4. The U.S. Congress could also look into Enron

And other matters closer to home. Maybe check into their buddy Chalabi's financial background, if they must look into allegations of foreign corruption (don't forget Halliburton either).

Did the Bush invade Iraq over the oil for food program? Because if he did, it would have been worth mentioning that was the reason at the time.

[WVhill]

5. I have no idea if there's any domestic political fallout.

I thought the list had been made public months ago. I don't think it was known prior to the invasion. If it had been, I can see how it might have been used as grounds if there was a terrorist connection. I think this is something that came to light after we took control of the mountains of documentation left when the Iraqi government collapsed.

[Hobarticus]

7. KICK!

You know it, daleo!!!

[Hobarticus]

6. This is classic smoke-and-mirrors...

Anything to deflect blame away from themselves.

The UN knew that oil-for-food was corrupt, but the alternative was to let the Iraqis starve, and they were getting beaten up in the press as it was with the embargo.

Congress, just...say...no, and do the right thing for once.

[KoKo]

9. It's Bush's Payback to the UN for not supporting him. Comes just at the

time when folks are asking the UN to get back into Iraq. The Repugs never supported the UN from it's founding. The NeoCons and PNAC'ers hate the institution and want it gone.

Everyone who crosses Bush get's death threats, trashed or investigated.

This is so blatent it's ridiculous. One day they will stretch too far and go after the wrong person or institution.

[bagnana]

10. I hope they investigate the Halliburton subsidiary that

was trading with Iraq during the same period. I can't remember it's name.