Kojo Annan NEVER WORKED ON THE OIL-FOR-FOOD program

[underpants]

The incredible creation of this story by the RW noise machine, as far as I have been able to tell, never even claims that Kojo Annan (Kofi's son) ever worked on the Iraqi Oil-for-Food program or had anything to do with it. The connection is merely made implicitly between Kojo and the company he worked for IN WEST AFRICA and the timeline is thrown into doubt by the RW's own reporting on it not what Cotecna Inspection Services SA has reported. Cotecna has 4,000 employees (2,000 contracted) in 150 offices in 100 coutnries-I can't find a number on the assets they hold though.

This is complete BS. They aren't even actually saying that he had anything to do with the Oil-for-Food program just throwing out that his employer was (it was) and letting the message blend together in the ears of the faithful and those not really paying attention.


Here is the New York Sun article that is the Holy Grail to the RW. BTW-The NY Sun folded in the '50s and the name was purchased within the last year to lend some credibility to those not actually paying attention (like Rev.Moon's UPI).

http://www.nysun.com/article/5372

One of the next big chapters in the United Nations oil-for-food scandal will involve the family of the secretary-general, Kofi Annan, whose son turns out to have been receiving payments as recently as early this year from a key contractor in the oil-for-food program.

...was previously reported to have worked for a Swiss-based company called Cotecna Inspection Services SA, which from 1998-2003 held a lucrative contract with the U.N. to monitor goods arriving in Saddam Hussein's Iraq under the oil-for-food program.

The timing coincides with the entire duration of Cotecna's work for the U.N. oil-for-food program.

Oh but there is this

Cotecna earlier this year denied any wrongdoing, saying that Kojo Annan's portfolio involved West Africa, not the U.N. or Iraq.

10 times in 18 paragraphs *oil-for-food.....Kojo's employment* is mentioned

Sounds a lot like the "Saddam......9/11.....war on terror" Bush line from speeches huh?

[russian33]

1. What I want a righ-winger to explain to me, in their screwed up mind

How is this story different from Halliburton getting no-bid contracts while still paying Cheney salary?

[underpants]

4. Or Halliburton dealing in the Oil-for-Food program through subsidiaries

Can't find WaPo link (scrubbed probably) but here is a GASP Newsmax story.
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2001/6/24/80648.shtml



http://www.truthout.org/docs_01/02.03E.Hallib.Iraq.htm
According to oil industry executives and confidential United Nations records, however, Halliburton held stakes in two firms that signed contracts to sell more than $73 million in oil production equipment and spare parts to Iraq while Cheney was chairman and chief executive officer of the Dallas-based company.

Halliburton's trade with Iraq was first reported by The Washington Post in February 2000. But U.N. records recently obtained by The Post show that the dealings were more extensive than originally reported and than Vice President Cheney has acknowledged.


But in 1998, Cheney oversaw Halliburton's acquisition of Dresser Industries Inc., which exported equipment to Iraq through two subsidiaries of a joint venture with another large U.S. equipment maker, Ingersoll-Rand Co.

The subsidiaries, Dresser-Rand and Ingersoll Dresser Pump Co., sold water and sewage treatment pumps, spare parts for oil facilities and pipeline equipment to Baghdad through French affiliates from the first half of 1997 to the summer of 2000, U.N. records show. Ingersoll Dresser Pump also signed contracts -- later blocked by the United States -- to help repair an Iraqi oil terminal that U.S.-led military forces destroyed in the Gulf War.

[The Doctor.]

21. You're right... although 'technically'

what Cheney recieves is a 'deferred salary', which means he already earned the money, but it is being paid out over time.

Kinda' like the lottery.

That's how they keep it legal.

[underpants]

22. Kojo's is too

but they are purposely not explaining that.

[DownNotOut]

2. It makes me

so sad to know that * is trying to ruin the lives of the noble men at the UN. I hope France and Germany (and Russia and China for that matter) squeeze the crap out of our economy and snuff out this dragon!


DownNotOut

[Maat]

8. Thanks for articulating my views.

I felt like I was being steamrolled by the Republican noise machine. Fox News is spewing this bunch of crud while I sit and think about how Haliburton pled guilty to charges related to illegally dealing with Iran and other countries. I wonder who was CEO then (no, I don't wonder really)? Who still has stock options/deferred compensation? Very disturbing! The hypocrisy is overwhelming!

[BeHereNow]

11. Welcome to DU and...

I know how you feel.
I am willing to suffer financially if it brings
the empire to a screeching halt.
I am already doing my part by NOT driving
if I can help it.
I will not spend a dime this Christmas.
I will not eat in a corpoRAT dining place.
I will not shop in a corpoRAT market or store.
STARVE THE BEAST world!
PLEASE! Before it eats us all.
bhn

[dpibel]

25. Oh how gratifying it must be

Edited to add material in <>

Even with all the clues you helplessly <Who am I kidding? That's there just to see how far you can push it.> left--leading with France and Germany, e.g.--this is utterly transparent.

But you still got bites.

Congrats! You must be very proud.

I also compliment you on your rare ability to spell. Or has the word gone out to use the spellcheck?

[BeHereNow]

27. I give up- clue me...

You're saying what exactly?
I just got lost.
bhn

[Sterling]

38. Saying you are responding to troll bait.

I think I agree.

[BeHereNow]

40. "noble" was the clue, eh?

Oh, I feel so stupid.
I am always looking for the best in people.
I am so trusting.
It would be my fatal flaw, were Shakepeare writing
my life.
bhn

[BeHereNow]

3. SO WHAT?

GEEZ, what do you want here?
The TRUTH?
Stop whining and report to your Walmart station.
Chinese made 'murikkkan flags need restocking
on aisle 6. Now get busy or we'll suspend your
15 minute lunch break...for a week!
bhn

[underpants]

6. I'm sorry for being late SIR

I...I guess my pay is cut for costing the company money right SIR?

:scared:

So what?

too funny.

[BeHereNow]

13. THAT's FRAU BeHereNow peon!

And JA, your paycut haz cost de company-
Now restock de flags!
SCHNELL, SCHNELL!!!
Dat is all,
Frau BeHereNOW

[underpants]

15. Yes Sir

<still confused and scared--disoriented>

[BeHereNow]

19. Not Sir, FRAU!

As in Fraulein...er, female?
Now I am confused...
and assuredly scared.
These people get more and more bold in their LIES!
They fully intend to dismantle civilization as we know it.
Scary thing is: The fundies will back this all the way.
They believe the UN is part of SATAN's grip of evil.
The UN wants to take their FREEEEDUMBS.
Oh hell, we are so screwed.
Let's go see about those Walmart jobs;
maybe they will let us sleep in some boxes
out in back of the store.
bhn

[underpants]

20. See #14

:scared: I still can't find it anywhere

I suggest the sports department (sleeping bags)

[MisterP]

35. you are a WalMart Kapo! You do not show fear! You do not feel fear!

Or doubt! Especially over an embezzler's squealing as his neck goes on the line!
And remember, don't not record advertisements! You might as well ROB THE POOR EXECS' HOUSES YOURSELF AND KILL THEIR DAUGHTER'S KITTY IN THE PROCESS! Same goes for turning your TV off.

[BeHereNow]

39. Oh CRAP, why did you say THAT???

You couldn't have known, I realize...
BUT, my daughter invited me to watch one of
her favorite films with her last night. "Gummo."
Have you seen it?
Two of the characters kill local cats for cash.
It is set in the the MOST dismal white trash town you could
dream of, and the cat killings are particularly GRUESOME.
bhn

[MisterP]

44. just thinking of the waterworks the the execs are continuously turning on

and the glurge some freaks put out: "and before dying she turned her angelic head to her tear-filled parents' eyes and weakly whispered 'and give my insurance money to the homeless orphans and pray for me and the kittens and Aunt May and the baby ducklings' before she died of injuries from the (pit bull mauling/sinister African-American attack/whatever) and her soul went up with the little angels and Baby Jesus and she was hugged by God for ever and ever and ever and ever. And ever."

[tandot]

5. Right-wing retaliation against Kofi/UN for refusing to lick Bush's boot

and refusing to join an unjust and unnecessary war.

You either do what the US tells you to do or you'll be destroyed by right-wing extremists, who'd do anything to crown Bush as the leader of the whole world.

The scandal needs to be investigated. But if they don't have any proof that Kofi or his son have anything to do with it, it should be "innocent until proven guilty" ... at least for us reasonable people.

[underpants]

14. Okay now this is getting strange-can't find Sen.Coleman on Today

from just yesterday.

Couric pointed out that his call for Annan's resignation is premature as they have only been "Accused" of these charges (Coleman's word) then she asked if this whole issue could used to blame the war on the UN (incredibly) Coleman answered "That could be inferred yes"

I swear I saw it just yesterday but there is no video link on the Today show site and I can't find a single article on his appearance. WEIRD!

[BeHereNow]

16. The Ministry of dis-information

They fabricate stories and disappear them
according to their whim of the moment.
I wonder what Waxman has on this...he is the
one who would know and be able to reveal
the Halliburton involvement.
BHN

[tandot]

17. These Nazis stop at nothing. I wouldn't be surprised if they'd blame the

UN for the Iraq war.

And the press just goes along. I guess they don't want to offend this Regime out of fear of repercussions. :mad:

[0007]

45. Da brown shirts are out doing their thing

Yes, it was the UN's fault for the Iraq war. The history books are bing printed now!

[Catchawave]

7. Since I don't trust this administration or the media.....

I don't know who to believe anymore. Though I do believe a "regime" change at the UN is probably a good idea right now.

[Maat]

9. Yes, put the Big Dog in charge of the U.N.!

[K-W]

12. The only regime that needs changing at the UN is the security council.

The elite few cannot be trusted to rule the world.

[LizW]

10. ABC News should have to do a Dan Rather mea culpa

I'll be over here holding my breath.

[underpants]

18. Yes and notice how the whole story never appears on the same news source

ABC EXCLUSIVE from 12/1/04
http://www.abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=295926&page=1

NBC 11/30/04
What happened to Iraq’s oil money? (This is a Lisa Meyers report too)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6621523/

[TryingToWarnYou]

23. Ok, Im missing something then...

Where is the proof that he never worked for the company? Is it only this passage; "Cotecna earlier this year denied any wrongdoing, saying that Kojo Annan's portfolio involved West Africa, not the U.N. or Iraq."??

Im just asking.

[K-W]

26. Guilty until proven innocent?

nobody has to prove his innocence.

You have to prove his guilt, and the point of this thread is that the implications against him are not justified by the evidence, since there are no definate ties between him and the program. The one tie they have hyped up isnt a definate tie.

[underpants]

30. He DID work for Cotecna but not on the Oil-for-Food program

I never claimed he didn't work for Cotecna just that he was in West Africa AND was never involved in any part of the Oil-for-Food program.

The RW noise machine isn't actually saying that he was involved in the program they are just letting YOU the listener make the connection for them.

He was employed by Cotecna and received a deferred compensation package but he nor the money were associated with the Oil-for-Food program in any way. No evidence of that and that claim isn't actually being made by anyone.

[K-W]

24. Franken on AAR discussing the oil for food controversy.

Good stuff.

[K-W]

28. He is talking to a UN undersecertary

Basically this corruption was on Saddam's side in deals between his regime and companies from many countries including the US.

The oversight was done by a committee of which the US was a part that reviewed and approved every single one of these contracts. But they were only focused on the military parts of it, making sure no duel use stuff slipped by, the financial area seems to have been neglected.

According to the UN, the US's offical position (according to a vote) is to wait for the UN report to come out.

It isnt really surprising or particularly scandalous that Saddam was getting some money illegally. And the amount in the US media is the sum total of money gained over a long period of time, often including things done outside of the oil for food program.

[K-W]

29. More.

This kind of corruption is pretty standard operating procedure.

There is, so far, no evidence whatsoever of any corruption by anyone in the UN or any of the Annan's.

[underpants]

31. $15B of the $20B was shipping oil to Syria, Turkey, and India

which the US and the UN knew about but was allowed (turned a blind eye to) because Turkey and India are our allies-I think the Syria thing was just some diplomatic thing.

These numbers are accordingly to Sen. Carl Levin according to Joe Conason.

Check above-since the US took over the Iraqi Oil revenue $11B has been "wasted" -no controls no one is sure where it went. That is in less than two years.

[Karenina]

32. Kick!

:kick:

[Sara Beverley]

33. We all know this but it's the way our media reports it.

They are out to get Kofi for his comments about the illegality of the invasion of Iraq and Bush's policies.

[underpants]

49. That was what I was getting at

Yes they are carrying the water, as usual, for their corporate masters.

[nascarblue]

34. Did you see the "Cheney mouthpiece Judith Miller on C-Spans Journal?

It was incredible. I guess 59,000,000 Americans must be that dumb to still be buying her con job. I felt like screaming when I heard her answering calls.
Judith Miller was on Washinton Journal pimping hard for the Bush regime this morning. She'd go on long winded runs of scandalous accusations, and then pull a feeble Fox style balance job by mumbling, "these charges are not yet fully investigated yet" Somebody send her to Abu Ghirab I say!

[Logansquare]

36. Does anyone remember MISSING CHEMICAL WEAPONS??

No of course not. Why can't our media ignore this crap, and actually follow the real stories?
NYT should change their motto from "All the news fit to print" to "I see something shiny!"

[underpants]

50. How about "stolen British Army uniforms" or "chemical suits found"

Remember those from the invasion stage?

[DS1]

37. Ah, but underpants. If you force this logic, then the right-wing will

immediately jump on ~everything~ that has ever said that the Bush Family and Carlylse and the Saudis have ever touched in one way or another is kosher. I say we don't fight this battle, we'll lose.

[underpants]

48. I don't need FACTS I've already been told what the answers are

so say the Repub faithful or at least they should

[Cleita]

41. From the LA Times today.

December 3, 2004

"Lynch Mob's Real Target Is the U.N., Not Annan"

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-traub3dec03,1,575253.story?coll=la-news-comment-opinions

You have to register but it's free.

[linazelle]

42. Cheney's "receiving payments" from Halliburton...

And there's a much tighter connection between Cheney's dealings with crooked Halliburton than with Kojo Annan getting a paycheck. The fact that they are harping on this smacks of another one of their setups and smear campaigns. All the better to dismiss the UN when they invade Iran.

[0007]

43. Norm Coleman was on PBS tonight and looked like a complete

jerk trying to explain why Kofi Annan should step down.

Even junior is saying that we shouldn't jump to conclusion until we have all the fact from the investigation.

Ho Hum!

[DemonFighterLives]

46. Good cop bad cop

Normie looking more evil than the chimp. What a good student.
Dirty bassturd couldn't hold a candle to Anan.

[underpants]

47. Nah they don't REALLY want to get rid of Annan

They need a face to put the black hat on and as I said above OBL and Zarqawi are out because they can't find them and Chirac...well we aren't actually going to invade France so after a while that would get old.