Oil For Food program?

JoeSox

"Q Ari, one of the problems that the administration has had in selling this war, particularly overseas, is doubts about our motives regarding Iraqi oil. And the President has said repeatedly that it is a resource that belongs to the Iraqi people, that they'll derive the benefits from it once this is over. But Prime Minister Blair has put together a proposal to have the U.N. administer, essentially, an Iraqi oil trust. Is that something that you can talk to us about? MR. FLEISCHER: Well, the U.N. does administer an Iraqi oil trust right now. Q No, I mean in the post-war set-up, a very controlled circumstance to make sure that the Iraqi people -- MR. FLEISCHER: Well, the U.N. just passed something like that. The U.N. passed something that the oil money that Iraq does receive currently and will still receive today and tomorrow is controlled by the United Nations under the Oil For Food program. That remains an United Nations program. The President was gratified that the United Nations passed it once again. But certainly, down the road, the President sees a day when sanctions will be lifted and the Iraqi people will be free to have all their resources at their own disposal. " http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/04/20030401-2.html[^] Can someone help me understand the pros and cons of this Oil For Food program?:confused::~ (originally posted in lounge by mistake :oops::) Later,
JoeSox
www.joeswammi.com "Man will always be Man, there is no new Man" -Danilov's Remorse, Enemy at the Gates(Alain Godard & Jean-Jacques Annaud)

peterchen

a) Sanctions against Iraq. To make them learn. No selling oil! b) Sanctions bad for people, not Saddam. UN scratches head. c) UN offer Oil for Fodd program: You can't sell oil and buy Anthrax for it, but you can trade it for food etc. d) OFF working not too bad, some people abuse it, not all food arrives at Iraqui people - but food moves into land. e) USA happy because they can now buy Iraqui oil via Europe f) In a move I don't quite understand the oil price in the OFF program has been reduced to far below the market price some time after indroduction. g) OFF fading away. Pro: allows Iraq t otrade for food, and gives reason to keep their oil wells running Con: Has been abused. Other stuff moved into the country, and OFF has been used to get oil below the market price.

Italian is a beautiful language. amare means to love, and amara bitter.
sighist | Agile Programming | doxygen

Brian Delahunty

Nice explanation peterchen. :-D Regards, Brian Dela :-)

Doug Goulden

Found a real good link detailing the program, also discusses some of the French and Russian interests. Food for Oil Uptight Ex-Military Republican married to a Commie Lib - How weird is that?

Doug Goulden

This link talks about the history of the program and might shed some light on France and Russia's interests. If I remember correctly the French company mentioned is or was a government owned company. http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/iraq.html Uptight Ex-Military Republican married to a Commie Lib - How weird is that?

peterchen

Doug Goulden wrote: ....doe.gov Wasn't it you who warned me just yesterday to be careful about new source bias? ;P can't get to the site - even www.doe.gov doesn't seem to work. Sure there were other intereststhan just helping poor iraquis. (and that France and Russia would get a trade of it was implicit in my list). However, I still think it was a viable idea to reduce the "collateral damage" of the sanctions.

Italian is a beautiful language. amare means to love, and amara bitter.
sighist | Agile Programming | doxygen

Doug Goulden

I think that it was on balance a good thing, but like most things the help doesn't always get to the people who need it most. peterchen wrote: Wasn't it you who warned me just yesterday to be careful about new source bias Hey knock that off.....:laugh: Actually I figured that it looked more like statistics than an editorial. Uptight Ex-Military Republican married to a Commie Lib - How weird is that?