October 2, 2004

KERRY'S "ALLIES":

3 Nations Reportedly Slowed Probe of Oil Sales (JUDITH MILLER, 10/02/04, NY Times)

Congressional investigators say that France, Russia and China systematically sabotaged the former United Nations oil-for-food program in Iraq by preventing the United States and Britain from investigating whether Saddam Hussein was diverting billions of dollars.

In a briefing paper given yesterday to members of the House subcommittee investigating the program, the investigators said their review of the minutes of a United Nations Security Council subcommittee meeting showed that the three nations "continually refused to support the U.S. and U.K. efforts to maintain the integrity" of the program.

The program, set up in 1996, was an effort to keep pressure on Mr. Hussein to disarm while helping the Iraqi people survive the sanctions imposed after the invasion of Kuwait in 1990. The briefing paper was prepared by the House Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, before hearings scheduled for Tuesday on the scandal-ridden program.

The paper suggests that France, Russia and China blocked inquiries into Iraq's manipulation of the program because their companies "had much to gain from maintaining'' the status quo. "Their businesses made billions of dollars through their involvement with the Hussein regime and O.F.F.P.," the document states, using the initials for the program. No officials of the three governments could be reached for comment.


So we reach the following point: the best that can be said of the axis of weasels is that they were just indifferent to the brutality of Saddam, the illegality of his regime, and the suffering of the Iraqi people; the worst is that they Vichyed with him.

Posted by Orrin Judd at October 2, 2004 4:19 PM
Comments

Kerry thinks he can solve the world's problems by inviting these people to a summit.

Posted by: MarkD at October 2, 2004 4:40 PM

And that any U.S. action is predicated on passing a "global test" involving their approval.

Posted by: jd watson at October 2, 2004 5:01 PM

The Kerry campaign must be relieved that the issue may be too complicated for Dan Rather to dissect and report on truthfully. I'd be surpised if this becomes a contention of the campaign although one can hope.

Posted by: at October 2, 2004 5:14 PM

Anon - Correct. The only way this becomes part of the campaign is if Bush makes it so by doing something drastic like withholding UN dues or publicly scolding the UN. Can't see that happening in Bush's run out clock campaign.

Posted by: AWW at October 2, 2004 7:48 PM

No new news here.

Haven't most of us been saying this from the very beginning. What's impressive is that it's now being reported. Now it's the bloggers who will have to connect the dots during this month to have an impact.

The times of London has an article referring to an Iraqi list of 200 individuals, most in France and Russia including Putin's private office, who benefited substantially financially.

Let slip the Blogs of war!

Posted by: genecis at October 3, 2004 10:22 AM
« WELL, THAT'S AWKWARD: | Main | AT THE END OF HISTORY EVERYONE'S A DEMOCRAT: »