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Iraq
Iraqi profiteers, al Qaeda seen funding attacks
2003-12-16
EFL
Attacks on U.S. soldiers in Iraq are financed by a combination of al Qaeda-linked funds
(yes, yes...)
and profiteering from the recently dissolved U.N. oil-for-food trough program,
(Oh, that’s not good.)
according to former Treasury Department senior official.
Hey, I thought we were starving the Iraqi children with sanctions?
The attacks would decrease markedly, said David Aufhauser, if world governments showed more concern cooperation in tracing and halting the money flowing to former Ba’athists and their sympathizers.
You don’t say?
Money skimmed from the United Nations program
(Say it aint so!)
by the deposed regime "has not been found, and that money is fueling the insurgency that’s going on in Iraq," said Mr. Aufhauser, who two weeks ago left the Treasury, where he was general counsel and a key player in the Bush administration’s efforts to stanch the flow of cash to terrorist organizations. The oil-for-food trough program "was designed by bureaucrats, not businessmen, and therefore destined for failure" Mr. Aufhauser told a gathering of the Middle East Forum last week. "It was easily gamed by Saddam Hussein, and he made it a holiday for graft, kickbacks, schemes and front companies. He integrated himself into the program and openly skimmed north of $6 billion."
Ah, come on Mr. Aufhauser, are you saying the UN was ripped of? Taken advantage of?
Although few analysts are willing to speculate how much money was illicitly accrued during seven years of increasingly bold surcharges, informal licensing and other profiteering, it is clear that a group of favored UN businessmen grew immensely rich during the sanctions decade.
I am shocked that the UN would allow its funds to be used in such a way. Shocked I tell you!
Posted by:Dragon Fly

#3  Any truth in a story of some months back that Koffi Annan's son has oil dealings that took advantage of the UN's Oil for Food deal?
Posted by: Barry   2003-12-16 11:11:57 AM  

#2  but, but, it was for, The Children(TM)!
Posted by: B   2003-12-16 9:20:07 AM  

#1  The UN most certainly was not ripped off. They intended for the program to operate the way it did.
Posted by: Robert Crawford   2003-12-16 7:45:40 AM  

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