Quick question: Why is the US Senate investigating a UN matter?

[dolo amber]

I'm confused. I thought we wanted to be *less* involved with the UN...go it alone...ride 'em cowboy yee-haw, etc. :shrug:

[blm]

1. Because the GOP has been out to destroy the UN outright for years.

Many don't realize that when Clinton was considering going into Iraq in 98, one big reason was the GOP was trying to make an issue out of UN "incompetence" and "irrelevance" and the rhetoric only ramped up after the UN weapons inspectors were not allowed back in.

Clinton and Gore were trying to act before the GOP argument could take hold.

[rodeodance]

2. this way the US can cover up any US involement as much as possible

[Just Me]

4. You two represent my view: destroy UN & cover-up RW corruption.

The last thing a corporacratic empire wants is a legitimate international body in its way!

[cornermouse]

3. That's so they don't have to investigate Bush...Ken Lay and Enron...

why bin Laden hasn't be caught...why there were no WMDs...why we now torture people...why the Pentagon finds corruption and punishes the offender with another mega-contract...why no one in the administration can give a straight answer to a question...why Iraq just gets worse and worse every day...and themselves.

[rodeodance]

5. US 'backed illegal Iraqi oil deals'--see this Democratic report

I posted this on DU this am. in LBN.


US 'backed illegal Iraqi oil deals'

Report claims blind eye was turned to sanctions busting by American firms

Julian Borger and Jamie Wilson in Washington
Tuesday May 17, 2005
The Guardian

The United States administration turned a blind eye to extensive sanctions-busting in the prewar sale of Iraqi oil, according to a new Senate investigation.

A report released last night by Democratic staff on a Senate investigations committee presents documentary evidence that the Bush administration was made aware of illegal oil sales and kickbacks paid to the Saddam Hussein regime but did nothing to stop them.

The scale of the shipments involved dwarfs those previously alleged by the Senate committee against UN staff and European politicians like the British MP, George Galloway, and the former French minister, Charles Pasqua.

In fact, the Senate report found that US oil purchases accounted for 52% of the kickbacks paid to the regime in return for sales of cheap oil - more than the rest of the world put together.

"The United States was not only aware of Iraqi oil sales which violated UN sanctions and provided the bulk of the illicit money Saddam Hussein obtained from circumventing UN sanctions," the report said. "On occasion, the United States actually facilitated the illicit oil sales.

[cornermouse]

8. Yep. I heard about that today.

[rodeodance]

Here is the link to the Guardian story.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1485648,00.html

[cornermouse]

17. Thank you.

[dolo amber]

11. Hmmm...ok

That makes sense in that..well, it's a smokescreen. But I mean like procedurally...is this really their job? Shouldn't this be being handled by the UN?

[Just Me]

16. They can begin an investigation into pretty much whatever they please.

This one is a right-wing attack for right-wing purposes.

[SouthernDem2004]

6. Their reasoning is that we give alot of money to the UN.

[Just Me]

9. More like false rationalization to sell to the masses.

In reality, they don't want the UN interfering with the imperialistic endeavors and they don't want anyone finding out that the US was the biggest culprit of corruption.

[rodeodance]

14. and therefore we can tell the UN what to do and how to vote. simple isn't

it.

[tjdee]

7. Because Commander Cuckoo Bananas is doing everything right, duh!

Why, everything is just perfect here!
Freedom is on the march!
Up is down, day is night!

But that stinky UN, taking our money and...doing...some stuff...now THAT needs to be investigated!

[spanone]

10. Destruction of the United Nations. Remember they are 'irrelevent'.

And Norm Coleman is just the prick to step up to the job. Bush HATES Kofi Annan. But back to your original question, I wondered this too. This should be a World-Court matter. I doubt that we have any jurisdiction over the UN other than pulling our funding and throwing our substantial weight aroung.

[rodeodance]

13. and Galloway was supporting/defending Kofi today.

[ReadTomPaine]

12. There's nothing the GOP prefers more than eliminating competition. n/t

[Disturbed]

15. John Bolton set up to destroy UN..

effectiveness.

The RW is anti-UN, except if the members kiss RW ass.

[ReadTomPaine]

18. And he's quite a perfect weapon for the job, eh?

As I have mentioned elsewhere, he's a like a club with a nail thru it. He will either destroy the UN or render it useless. He's almost uniquely suited to the job. Would be nice if Dems found the willpower and means to stop this nomination.

RTP