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AP: U.N. Audits Show Oil-for-Food Bilking | ||
2005-01-09 | ||
NEW YORK (AP) - Internal audits conducted by the United Nations of its oil-for-food program revealed lapses in U.N. oversight that allowed contractors to overcharge by hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to copies obtained by The Associated Press. Two of the audits examined irregularities including overcharging by two companies who were hired to monitor oil sales and the import of humanitarian goods under the program. Another detailed financial mismanagement by a U.N. agency administering humanitarian aid under the program. An independent panel led by former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, who was appointed in April by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to investigate corruption at the oil-for-food program, was set to release 400 pages of the audits on Monday. But the panel distributed the documents to congressional investigators two days early. A congressional aide provided the AP with copies of three of the 56 audits, including one that found that the United Nations was billed over several years for 31 days of work in June, which only has 30 days. The series of audits, which were carried out from 1996 to 2003 by the U.N watchdog, the Office of Internal Oversight Services, have been a source of contention between the United Nations and members of Congress examining allegations of corruption in the program. The United Nations had refused to release them while Volcker's panel conducts its investigation, although the world body passed a resolution in December making OIOS reports available to member states who request them. Though the audits illustrate negligent U.N. management of contracts, a U.N. spokesman said that they also show that the United Nations was monitoring itself during the course of the oil-for-food program. ``These audits do show that this was a program that was highly audited with a great level of oversight by the U.N.,'' spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Saturday.
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Posted by:Steve White |
#10 You remember what happened to the monumental screw-ups of the DIVAD and the A-12? The entire program was cancelled, and lots of people lost their jobs. Cancel the UN. |
Posted by: Brave Sir EU 2005-01-09 8:57:36 PM |
#9 ... anarchy, riot and protest. When was the last time the same activities occured at the UN Gen Ass, UNICEF, HRO? (OK, UN Cafeteria is an exception.) That wasn't anarchy in the cafeteria - that was reverting to type. |
Posted by: Pappy 2005-01-09 7:30:47 PM |
#8 Do a global replacement of "United Nations" by "Department of Defense", and nobody would raise an eyebrow. I realize I'm probably wasting keystrokes here, but please respond to this, Mike - the US government has a system of checks and balances against the three branches. If the DoD does something the legislative branch doesn't like, they withhold funding, plain and simple. The UN, by design (unless I missed it), does not have a similar structure, but the US, as the main funder of the UN can do something similar but such a move can be perceived as retaliation. That's why so many Rantburgers criticize your positions with respect to the UN. If you understand that point then maybe you'll understand where we're coming from. |
Posted by: Raj 2005-01-09 6:27:04 PM |
#7 The UN represents the And note the consequences. Every meeting of the World Bank, G8, WTO, NATO, Pacific Rim, Presidential Inauguration, results in anarchy, riot and protest. When was the last time the same activities occured at the UN Gen Ass, UNICEF, HRO? (OK, UN Cafeteria is an exception.) Whither the enemy. |
Posted by: john 2005-01-09 1:08:40 PM |
#6 Going for the big one .com? Noodling is now legal in Missouri. |
Posted by: Shipman 2005-01-09 1:01:30 PM |
#5 This is an appetizer, not the main course. It simply confirms commonly accepted knowledge: the UN and auditors are unethical slime. That said, this news does throw a morsal of raw meal into the shark tank and could lead to a more intense feeding frenzy. That would be nice. |
Posted by: Captain America 2005-01-09 8:52:13 AM |
#4 *yawns* as if the MSM gets onto UN fraud with as bad an attitude as it gets onto military fraud. I'm still waiting. Lessee, use of universals when talking about reality, and gratuitous use of moral equivalence in the face of documented malfeasance/incompetence of a supranational "authority". Keep it up, boy, and you WILL identify yourself. |
Posted by: Ptah 2005-01-09 6:08:08 AM |
#3 Lol! In your dreams, catfish. This is the minnow pool they're letting Volker fish in. When the shark pool goodies are leaked, you'll be looking for a new job, though I must admit, you are the most proficient and dedicated ass-kisser I've ever come across. Someone will want you. Truly impressive. Keep your fingers crossed and put on your Don't Panic HHGG specs, son, I fear you will suffer serious trauma when the shit, the really Big Turd you worship, finally does hit the fan. G'luck! |
Posted by: .com 2005-01-09 2:14:42 AM |
#2 Hmmm! |
Posted by: Mr. Spock 2005-01-09 1:33:27 AM |
#1 Is this all? Do a global replacement of "United Nations" by "Department of Defense", and nobody would raise an eyebrow. |
Posted by: Mike Sylwester 2005-01-09 12:23:58 AM |