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In the Shadow of the Food-for-Oil Scandal; Annan Pleads for Relevance

by Marinka Peschmann, Special to Canada Free Press

September 22, 2004

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's United Nation's relevance plea fell upon dour ears this week at the Fifty-ninth session General Assembly in New York.Ý"The world needs an effective mechanism through which to seek common solutions to common problems. That is what this Organization was created for." Annan insisted,Ý"Let's not imagine that, if we fail to make good use of it, we will find any more effective instrument."ÝÝAnnan's address was a huge departure from his bold BBC statements days earlier where he denounced the US's decision to go to war in Iraq calling it "illegal."

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva fortified Annan's appeal, "only an international order based on multilateralism can promote peace and sustainable development of nations. No organ is better suited than the UN for ensuring the world's convergence towards common goals."Ý

Minutes later, U.S. President George Bush took center stage and welcomed the world leaders to "New York" and to the "United States." Bush made no apologizes for Iraq, "When we say "serious consequences," for the sake of peace, there must be serious consequences." And later reminded, "Not long ago, outlaw regimes in Baghdad and Kabul threatened the peace and sponsored terrorists. Today, the Iraqi and Afghan people are on the path to democracy and freedom. The governments that are rising will pose no threat to others."

However, the pressing subject of a United Nations overhaul did not go unmentioned, "We have a duty to do whatever we can to restore that respect," declared Annan while peppering the UN's relevance throughout his address, "It is the law, including Security Council resolutions, which offers the best foundation for resolving prolonged conflicts--in the Middle East, in Iraq and around the world." "But it's composition must reflect today's reality' Acknowledged President Lula,–"not perpetuate the post World War II era."

What was ignored was last week's Fox News Channel report that the UN's Food-for-Oil program, a once noble humanitarian effort, had become at minimum a "$10.1 billion" cash cow forÝSaddam Hussein while enriching monetarily "some of America's most forceful opponents at theÝUnited Nations," including, Russia, France, China and Germany. Even worse, there is evidence "that some of the money ended up in the hands of potential terrorists"and insurgents who are fighting Americans and the coalition in Iraq.

Republican Rep. Christopher Shays, who heads one of many Oil-for-Food investigations told Fox News,Ý"We're talking about American lives that are being lost in an attempt to bring democracy to Iraq," According to Shays. "If France, Russia, China and Germany had told Saddam it was time to back down and honor his commitments, it's possible the United States may not have needed to go to war against Saddam."ÝÝThe UN is conducting their own internal investigation into Food-for-Oil but "only after they were outed by an Iraqi free press, and a government leak from the Iraqi governing council."

Contrary to published reports U.S. President Bush's speech received stronger applause, then his predecessors, in what had been described as a "hostile" welcome. Further President Bush proposed a "Democracy Fund' where the US will "make an initial contribution and he "urged" other nations to contribute.Ý"Let history show that in a decisive decade, members of the United Nations did not grow weary in our duties, or waver in meeting them."