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Is anyone really surprised?
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/07/un.oil.food.probe.ap/index.html
"Report Criticizes U.N. on Oil-For-Food
By NICK WADHAMS and EDITH M. LEDERER
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - In a devastating assessment of the U.N. oil-for-food program in Iraq, investigators strongly criticized Secretary-General Kofi Annan, his deputy and the Security Council for allowing Saddam Hussein to bilk some $10.2 billion from the giant humanitarian operation.
The Independent Inquiry Committee's definitive report on oil-for-food said those managing the program - both U.N. member states and the world body's staff - failed the ideals of the United Nations, ignoring clear evidence that corruption and waste flourished after it was created in 1996.
``The inescapable conclusion from the committee's work is that the United Nations organization needs thorough reform - and it needs it urgently,'' the report said.
The report's conclusions and its strong urging for change come a week before world leaders gather for a summit in New York to consider a host of Annan's own reform initiatives. Many of his proposals have stalled - including ones similar to the committee's - because of deep divisions among member states. The United States and other supporters of U.N. reform hope the report will provide much-needed impetus."
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/07/un.oil.food.probe.ap/index.html
"Report Criticizes U.N. on Oil-For-Food
By NICK WADHAMS and EDITH M. LEDERER
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - In a devastating assessment of the U.N. oil-for-food program in Iraq, investigators strongly criticized Secretary-General Kofi Annan, his deputy and the Security Council for allowing Saddam Hussein to bilk some $10.2 billion from the giant humanitarian operation.
The Independent Inquiry Committee's definitive report on oil-for-food said those managing the program - both U.N. member states and the world body's staff - failed the ideals of the United Nations, ignoring clear evidence that corruption and waste flourished after it was created in 1996.
``The inescapable conclusion from the committee's work is that the United Nations organization needs thorough reform - and it needs it urgently,'' the report said.
The report's conclusions and its strong urging for change come a week before world leaders gather for a summit in New York to consider a host of Annan's own reform initiatives. Many of his proposals have stalled - including ones similar to the committee's - because of deep divisions among member states. The United States and other supporters of U.N. reform hope the report will provide much-needed impetus."