According to this news article, the only official at the United Nations that was fired over the Oil for Food scandal has been reinstated. Not only that, but he’s been given back pay for the time he was out of work.
So that means that he was innocent, right? Someone made a mistake and this is how they fix it.
Not exactly. It seems that at least two separate investigations have found that he was guilty, but the UN still reinstated him and passed out the money.
Joseph Stephanides was the head of the corrupt and poorly managed Security Council Affairs Division, the UN agency which is at the heart of the Oil for Food scandal. It was while he was holding down the top chair in 1996 that he advised a British company on what they should bid in order to snag a UN contract. This is hardly as bad as loading up the trunk of his Mercedes with raw yellowcake and driving across the Iraq border, but it is a clear act of favoritism. The bidding process was tainted by his actions.
Stephanides maintains that he was simply acting on orders from the UN Security Council sanctions committee. He claims that singling him out is a cynical ploy to deflect criticism from those who are guilty of more serious crimes. This is almost certainly true, but it doesn’t detract from the fact that he contributed to the snakepit of corruption in his own little way.
I need to get my resume together and apply for a job at the UN. Looks like you can do no wrong even when it’s obvious that you did wrong.
Unfortunately, the UN has been infected by kleptocractic 3rd world institutional culture. It completely lacks the accountability of the type commonly found in the institutions of the developed world.
Yet another reason not to trust it with nothing serious.
Yes, Shannon, the UN is a third world organisation. I think we demean ourselves by being a part of it. I mean, Iraq was chairing the Human Rights committee and no one blinked an eye. Because that’s how it works in the third world. Bubba’s turn. And Kofi Annan’s son was on the big time take, and that seems to have been OK, too.
And now they want to take over the internet. I have long said, leave them to tgheir shady dealings. The Anglosphere and like minded people should simply walk away and form an organisation of more responsible countries – probably with N Europe (I exclude France) and Mexico, SE Asia (excluding Indonesia) and some of the more sensible African and S American countries. After that, sauve qui peu!
It completely lacks the accountability of the type commonly found in the institutions of the developed world. Yet another reason not to trust it with nothing serious.
So you’re saying that I should apply for a pretty prestigious position, then?
James
I hear they’re looking to hire an IT manager.
Yes indeedy, it does look like there are some pooches that are officially unscrewable!
James, I’m not sure you’ll “fit in” there…unless you are a crook or a pedophile. Then you’ll enjoy the perks.
-Steve
James, I’m not sure you’ll “fit in” there…unless you are a crook or a pedophile. Then you’ll enjoy the perks.
I’m thinkin’ that I should get a job there just to get the goods on these guys.
Know any crooks or pedophiles that will give me a letter of recommendation? All of the C&P’s that I came in contact with I helped put in jail.
James