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Politics : Liberalism: Do You Agree We've Had Enough of It? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Neeka who wrote (728)	12/1/2004 11:21:08 PM
From: Wayners	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 224648

They would say the Americans did it.

To: Neeka who wrote (728)	12/4/2004 6:56:19 AM
From: lorne	Respond to of 224648

Wicker to introduce resolution calling for Annan resignation From Staff Reports December 03, 2004 zwire.com WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Rep. Roger Wicker will introduce a resolution in the House of Representatives Monday calling for the resignation of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. The Congressman said questions about fraud, mismanagement, and bribery in the U.N.'s Oil For Food Program in pre-war Iraq raise concerns about Annan's ability to lead the organization. "The Oil For Food Program is a scandal of enormous proportions, and it may reach into the highest levels of leadership at the U.N.," Wicker said. "Mr. Annan should step aside to ensure that these serious charges are fully and independently investigated." The Oil For Food Program was created in 1996 to allow Iraq to sell oil to secure revenue for food, medicine, and other humanitarian needs while the country was under U.N. sanctions. Growing evidence indicates that Saddam Hussein manipulated the program to enrich himself and strengthen his hold on power in Iraq. It is suspected he used bribes, kick-backs, and other means to exploit the system. "These allegations of corruption and mismanagement have seriously undermined Mr. Annan's credibility and his capacity to head the U.N.," Wicker said. "He has also failed to cooperate with efforts to investigate the scandal. The world community deserves to know what happened. It is in the best interest of the U.N. that he step down and allow a full and thorough inquiry to proceed." Wicker is vice chairman of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee. He said the resolution is non-binding, but that Congress could consider tougher measures including withholding funding for U.N. activities if the scandal is not fully addressed. "There needs to be an accounting of what happened to the billions of dollars in the Oil for Food Program and whether U.N. officials may have been complicit in helping Saddam Hussein subvert international law," he said. "I do not think that is possible as long as Mr. Annan remains as Secretary-General."