UN inspectors 'spent their days drinking'....but...one problem....

[Roland99]

Drudge has this like it's supposed to be some big thing to counter Martin's statements the other day, I guess.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/02/16/woil116.xml

UN inspectors in Iraq spent their working hours drinking vodka while ignoring a shadowy nocturnal fleet believed to be smuggling goods for Saddam Hussein, a former senior inspector told the US Senate yesterday.

In a move that provoked fury from officials of the Swiss firm Cotecna, an Australian former inspector detailed a picture of incompetence, indifference and drunkeness among the men acting as the frontline for UN sanctions.

Arthur Ventham, a former Australian army officer and customs officer, joined the operation in 2002 and worked at various sites in Iraq and neighbouring states.

<...>

Cotecna officials said the unheralded release of Mr Ventham's allegations was unfair and that they would respond in detail at a later date. They said Mr Ventham had been dismissed and was a disgruntled former employee.


Who is this Arthur Ventham?


Interesting...
EX-SERVICE, SERVICE & VETERANS PARTY
http://www.esvp.asn.au/Media27.htm
West Australian Arthur Ventham, a Vietnam veteran working for the United Nations' oil for food program in Iraq, will run for the Senate with Mr Dalton.

And what's up with this Jim Dalton:
http://www.esvp.asn.au/Media4.htm
DISGRUNTLED former servicemen and women are forming a political party to represent their interests at Federal level.

They hope to have at least one senator elected in each State.

<...>

Former deputy commissioner for Veterans Affairs Jim Dalton is lending his support.

Not sure how Australian politics work but this doesn't look good for Jim Dalton:
http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/2001/senate2001wa.txt