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| International |
| Kofi wants to run oil-for-food program |
| 2003-03-20 |
| With war under way, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan asked the Security Council on Thursday to authorize him to run Iraq's oil-for-food humanitarian aid program, now a joint venture between Baghdad and the United Nations. While the primary responsibility for caring for Iraq's 26 million people would lie "with the authority exercising effective control in the country" — the United States, in the event of a military victory — the United Nations could play its role in meeting crucial needs if the Security Council approved, Annan said in a letter to the council. He submitted his proposals as the United States and Britain were finishing their own draft resolution, which they planned to circulate to the council's five permanent members as soon as Thursday afternoon, council diplomats said. Under the existing oil-for-food program, in place since 1996 but suspended this week due to the impending war, Iraq's oil revenues go into a U.N. account out of which President Saddam Hussein's government buys food, medicine and other goods for the general population under U.N. supervision. I'd call this pretty meaningless, since the oil-for-food program probably doesn't have many more months to run. Its significance lies in Kofi's meek acquiescence to a subordinate position. He knows the UN is toes up, unless the U.S. and Britain decide to keep it... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #15 Jeez, Blair's making nice. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-03-21 01:02:44 |
| #14 Koffi's been making noises about the UN taking over control of rebuilding Iraq. This is what the French and Germans are hoping for. This way the Axis of Weasels can get in on the $$$ to rebuild Iraq and not suffer any financial pain for opposing the US and Britian. Plus, since they opposed the US and Britian they didn't have to ante up for any $$$ to fund the liberation of Iraq. AND they get to brag to their Muslim (terrorist) constituency that they opposed the will of the Great Satan so go bomb NYC or London, leave Paris and Berlin alone. |
| Posted by: Mark 2003-03-20 20:19:50 |
| #13 Maybe we need to run a background check on Kofi before we hire him........... |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-03-20 16:18:54 |
| #12 US $ Kofi, not euros. And open books. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-03-20 15:31:54 |
| #11 This is about Kofi keeping the big office and the limo service. |
| Posted by: Matt 2003-03-20 15:09:29 |
| #10 I have no problem with Kofi running the program -- as long as he understands that ALL the food purchases come from Iraq's liberators. |
| Posted by: Tom 2003-03-20 15:02:40 |
| #9 No, no, Kofi. You'll be in charge of setting up the new time shares at Trump Tower: Turtle Bay. "I have a very nice 2 bedroom. It used to be my office..." |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-03-20 14:48:00 |
| #8 May have to give up control of oil proceeds to UN as part of our "5 Our Fathers and 10 Hail Marys" we will need for our forgiveness. However, the bids for reconstruction and modernization will be handled c/o Tommy Franks- purchasing department, and French, German, Chinese bidders need not respond. And USA will help Kofi with those critical business decisions such as "prefered pricing" contracts... I think the administration has a couple of guys who know some people in the oil business that Kofi will want to meet. |
| Posted by: Capsu78 2003-03-20 14:46:29 |
| #7 Nyet But we should audit and make public the current program along with Frances trade program with Iraq over the last twelve years. |
| Posted by: Timmy the Wonder Dog 2003-03-20 14:45:41 |
| #6 John is correct. There have been other articles about how the administration is planning to bypass the usual NGOs and privatize much of the reconstruction aid. It has also started talking about a venture capital like model for foreign aid in which countries put together proposals showing how they've become worthy by cleaning up corruption, etc. People who think the UN is still valid as a humanitarian organization must contend with the fact that it is grossly inefficient, which matters more now that we see 'nation building' as strategically important. |
| Posted by: JAB 2003-03-20 14:31:04 |
| #5 Getting oil for food will not be the UN's little game any more. The US should be publicly clear on this. Saddam made the whole program a charade. Bush NEEDS to show the world how to do it right, and take every mealy-mouth UN bureaucrat out of the loop. Bush cannot back down on this one. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-03-20 14:31:01 |
| #4 Kofi makes a lot of money with Oil for Food, for the UN this is big business and he needs the cash flow; last thing he wants to do right now is ask the US for money. http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/cRosett/?id=110002335 |
| Posted by: john 2003-03-20 14:21:50 |
| #3 The whole reason for the oil-for-food program is about to die. I think he wants to keep a finger in the humanitarian money pie, or indirectly create a humanitarian crisis that can be blamed on the United States. The whole damn land of Iraq, including its oil, will be the temporary responsibility of the Coalition. *looks around* I suggest giving the job to Spain. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-03-20 14:18:46 |
| #2 I have no problem with Kofi running the program -- as long as he understands that ALL the food purchases come from Iraq's liberators. |
| Posted by: Tom 3/20/2003 3:02:40 PM |
| #1 The whole reason for the oil-for-food program is about to die. I think he wants to keep a finger in the humanitarian money pie, or indirectly create a humanitarian crisis that can be blamed on the United States. The whole damn land of Iraq, including its oil, will be the temporary responsibility of the Coalition. *looks around* I suggest giving the job to Spain. |
| Posted by: Ptah 3/20/2003 2:18:46 PM |