Annie
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- Nov 22, 2003
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http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/050124/usnews/24scandal.htm
Let's hope the reports are illuminating:
Let's hope the reports are illuminating:
Fallen behind on your scandal news lately? Well, don't look now, but the doozy the United Nations has brewed up in its Iraqi oil-for-food program is about to come to full boil. The Treasury Department, the Department of Justice, the Manhattan district attorney's office, five legislative committees, at least three foreign governments, and, oh yes, the United Nations itself are asking who's responsible for the more than $4 billion in illegal kickbacks on Iraqi oil sales and goods from suppliers exporting food, medicine, and other materials to Baghdad. Former Federal Reserve Board Chairman Paul Volcker, who is heading the U.N.'s investigation of itself, is due to weigh in later this month with his findings and has already given a glimpse of the mess with a "provisional" assessment of a program plagued by sloppy, myopic management that may or may not turn out to have included criminal conduct. The Volcker report should be good reading, as the former Fed chief has had unfettered access to U.N. documents and personnel. U.S. News has learned that the Justice Department has lent him some experienced federal prosecutors, while the Manhattan district attorney's office is providing information gained through its subpoena power.