New York
U.S. senators this week accused the United Nations of blocking their investigation of corruption in the Iraq oil-for-food program. From 1996 to 2003, the U.N. let Saddam Hussein sell oil despite economic sanctions imposed on his regime. He was supposed to use the proceeds to buy food and other essentials for ordinary Iraqis, but investigators believe he bribed U.N. officials to look the other way as he took much of the cash to build palaces and buy weapons. After examining documents, the investigators now believe Saddam siphoned off more than $21 billion—twice as much as was originally estimated. Leading Senate investigators accused Secretary-General Kofi Annan of withholding internal U.N. documents they need to get to the bottom of the scandal. A spokesman said Annan would look into that “troubling” complaint.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Turner Prize 2025: ‘artistic excellence’ or ‘cultural nonsense’?Talking Point Work by the four artists nominated for this year’s award is on display at Bradford’s Cartwright Hall
-
Man vs Baby: Rowan Atkinson stars in an accidental adoption comedyTalking Point Sequel to Man vs Bee is ‘nauseatingly schmaltzy’
-
Goodbye June: Kate Winslet’s directorial debut feels like a ‘John Lewis Christmas TV ad’Talking Point Helen Mirren stars as the terminally ill English matriarch in this sentimental festive heartwarmer
