Staff, Africa back Annan in wake of US claim

[cal04]

Thousands of United Nations (UN) staffers as well as African nations rallied on Wednesday around UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, wounded by United States (US) allegations that he allowed corruption in the now-defunct Iraq oil-for-food programme.

On a UN internal e-mail system, started two days ago, some 3 000 staff have so far have signed on to a letter saying many of the accusations leveled against the world body were "made without full knowledge of the facts." "More than ever, we support the secretary-general in his balanced, fair and substantive approach," the letter said.

One of the letter's originators, Georg Kell, executive head of the Global Compact Office, which engages business leaders, said the e-mail reached more than 8 000 staff in New York, Geneva and elsewhere and responses were flooding in.

African countries at the United Nations have also sent a letter to Annan saying media reports were biased and pledged to support him.

http://iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3&art_id=qw1101940022555B262

[UL_Approved]

1. Oops

Looks like the plan backfired. Looking forward to 2005!

[berni_mccoy]

2. Like yeah, the U.S. is SOOOO Credible Now.

We are losing world respect in a hurry...

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. And my fuckwit weasel senator Normie Coleman (Asshole-MN)

is behind the effort to get the U.N. to sack Kofi Annan (who, ironically enough, went to college - my alma mater - in MN). No doubt Norm's getting his marching orders directly from KKKarl on behalf of the Chimpinator, whom Normie has been enthusiastically fellating ever since he got the word from Darth Cheney that he'd been Chosen as the Repuke senate candidate vs. Wellstone. I'm so embarrassed for Minnesota -- it's a blue state, but we still have that disgusting little mutant as one of our senators. :puke:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

3. I wonder if this was what * had in mind?

Somehow I don't think it was. :eyes:

[LynnTheDem]

4. Oil for food "scandal"...2 words; AHMED CHALABI

It was Ahmed Chalabi who accused the UN of corruption in the oil for food program.

It is Ahmed Chalabi, the close personal bush pal slash Iranian spy slash Iraq WMD conman extraordinaire slash arrest warrant fugitive slash wanted criminal in 4 nations is the ONLY PERSON who claims to have documents showing corruption in the oil for food program.

Funny thing; Chalabi has to date refused to allow ANYONE to see these documents, or copies of the documents.

NO ONE ELSE has seen any such proof; NO ONE ELSE has any such proof; NO ONE ELSE has ever seen these mystery documents of Chalabi's.

Rightwingnuts; fool them once...twice...thrice...3,678 times...3,679 times...

[berni_mccoy]

6. Exactly! Notice how we have heard NARY a word about him

The U.S. did a KKKrazy Ivan on their stance to bust Chalabi... he must have had some good dirt locked away on the admin!

[Algomas]

7. Lynn, its posts like yours that keep me hooked on DU.

[LynnTheDem]

10. Gee, I get blamed for EVERYthing!

:D

:pals:

[msgadget]

8. The media is so distractable,

The revelation that American corporations also helped Hussein profit during the Oil for Food program was a mere blip on our screens.

[messyca]

9. I've been brewing with anger....

Since I've found out about this accusation. Hey, Norm, Hows about cleaning up the corruption running rampant in this administration, before we start pointing fingers at anyone else!

According to his logic, the entire Bush administration should resign. After all, 9-11 happened on their watch, the prisoner abuse scandal happened on their watch, Osama is still at large, halliburton has been robbing us blind, Ohhh I could go on and on and on!

If there is corruption at the U.N. it should be addressed, but if we are to be taken seriously, if we are to have any credibility, if we are going to be true leaders in the world community we ought to spend some time cleaning house in the U.S.A! How dare Norm Coleman and the like, fain outrage over this. 2008 can't come fast enough, when I get to vote that asshole out of the senate!