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| International-UN-NGOs |
| The Teflon U.N. |
| 2005-02-06 |
| The defiant UN starts fightback Americans confounded as corruption probes falter For the last couple of years you might have been forgiven for thinking the United Nations was a cesspit of corruption, that billions of dollars had been lifted by bent officials involved in the Iraqi oil-for-food programme, designed to relieve Iraqis' suffering during sanctions. If you listened to the ideologically motivated US right, you might be under the impression that the organisation was riddled with wrongdoing, from Kofi Annan down. But now that the former chairman of the US Federal Reserve, Paul Volcker, has delivered his interim report into the oil-for-food programme, what do we have? Wrongdoing, certainly, by Benon Sevan, the man in charge of the programme, who by Volcker's account - if not by his own persistent denials - benefited to the sum of $160,000 by encouraging the Iraqi authorities to give a friend oil allocations under the scheme. Volcker's report does not reveal any systematic corruption. But what it has shown is the massive scale of Iraq's smuggling of oil during the sanctions period with the knowledge of members of the Security Council's permanent five, including the US. Talking to Mark Malloch Brown, Annan's new British chief of staff, this weekend I sensed a new sense of resolve that the UN was ready to take the fight back to its detractors. Indeed, Malloch Brown, who was behind the reshaping of the demoralised UN development programme, sees the current probe as allowing a long-overdue restructuring, improving the accountability of what he admits is an 'old fashioned' organisation. 'It is a lot easier to make changes amid a crisis. It means entrenched positions are more malleable,' he said. 'We have to go for a broader rebuilding of management structure and accountability, particularly when we are so much under the spotlight.' Despite the continuing, and separate, investigation into Annan's son Kojo's involvement in the oil-for-food programme, whatever might be uncovered, Malloch Brown is certain that Annan will be found in the clear, allowing him to spend the final two years of his job as secretary-general to push through reforms. There is a wider sense in the UN that perhaps the moment of danger from right-wing ideologues in the US who would destroy it has passed. The new US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, has reaffirmed her view of the importance of the organisation. And now, believes Annan, the opportunity is ripe to win back the middle ground of US opinion it feared had turned against it. Presented straight-faced, without comment, edited for length. My ability to make witty comments wilts in the face of all these screamers. |
| Posted by:gromky |
| #10 I'm sure with the help of Ted Turner, Howard Dean, Michael Moore, and the usual suspects from the NYT and Hollywood - Kofi can regain the trust of Red State America. Yeah, about the time Ice Rinks of America opens a branch in hell. |
| Posted by: AJackson 2005-02-06 6:06:57 PM |
| #9 I doubt he thinks he can - or perhaps that meeting with top Democrats a while back convinced him otherwise? At a minimum, however, he needs to give his supporters enough official cover so they can hold off financial and other punishment. |
| Posted by: too true 2005-02-06 5:56:55 PM |
| #8 I think JerseyMike nailed it: if Kofi thinks he's going to "win back the middle ground of US opinion," he's outta his mind. |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2005-02-06 5:28:17 PM |
| #7 Or a blindfold and a quick trip to a mysterious white plane... Bwahahahahaha! |
| Posted by: Tom 2005-02-06 5:23:51 PM |
| #6 I'd like the investigation to take place by persons with agendas, the Iraqis. Bet they've got some interesting corrobarrating evidence. Perhaps extradition can be arranged after we pick him up. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2005-02-06 5:18:56 PM |
| #5 I want to see diplomatic immunity set aside so real investigations can take place by persons without agendas. Since this source is not unquestionable I will add large grains of salt. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2005-02-06 5:12:18 PM |
| #4 And now, believes Annan, the opportunity is ripe to win back the middle ground of US opinion it feared had turned against it. There couldn't possibly be a poorer reading of the tea leaves than this comment. Kofi had best hope that the tranzi leftists in the US hold enough sway to keep him from getting bit in the ass and the UN run out of the US. |
| Posted by: JerseyMike 2005-02-06 5:07:04 PM |
| #3 The Guardian is whistling past the graveyard. The investigations have just begun. The real fun will start when subpenia and search and seizure powers are excercized. |
| Posted by: ed 2005-02-06 4:15:34 PM |
| #2 al-Guardian moves in on Scrappleface territory. Will Scott Ott sue? |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2005-02-06 3:32:05 PM |
| #1 I didn't even realize yet that I am "confounded" and that the probes are faltering: this is really cutting edge journalism. |
| Posted by: Tom 2005-02-06 3:28:04 PM |