UN Told of Weaknesses in U.S. Handling of Iraqi Oil
Monday, January 17, 2005 at 02:25AM
TheSpook
U.S. handling of Iraq's oil money after the defeat of Saddam Hussein
was marked by weaknesses including problems tracking oil production and
cash, a watchdog told the U.N. Security Council on Friday, diplomats
said. The criticisms follow accusations by U.S. policymakers that the
United Nations mismanaged a separate oil-for-food program for Iraq
under Saddam. "These shortcomings (in the U.S. management) have to be
kept in mind when we judge the management of other programs such as
oil-for-food," said one council diplomat, speaking on condition of
anonymity. U.N. Controller Jean-Pierre Halbwachs, who heads the
International Advisory and Monitoring Board set up to oversee U.S.
management of Iraqi oil, briefed the Security Council on the issue in a
closed-door meeting. He discussed problems tracking how much oil was
produced and how the proceeds were spent, and how noncompetitive
contracts were awarded to Halliburton Co., formerly led by Vice
President Dick Cheney, the envoys said. Several said he repeatedly used
the term "weaknesses" to characterize problems with the U.S.
management. Republican U.S. lawmakers have accused the United Nations
of mismanaging the now-defunct oil-for-food program, which allowed Iraq
under Saddam to sell oil and buy civilian goods to ease the impact on
ordinary Iraqis of sanctions imposed after Iraq's 1990 invasion of
Kuwait. [more]
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