Cliff Stearns: “the recent release of a report from the Independent Inquiry Committee into the U.N. Oil-for-Food Program, also known as…”

“the recent release of a report from the Independent Inquiry Committee into the U.N. Oil-for-Food Program, also known as the Volcker Committee, has once again brought the issue of U.N. mismanagement to the forefront. According to the Volcker Committee, $1.8 billion in kickbacks and elicit surcharges were paid to Saddam Hussein's government by nearly 2,200 different companies in widespread abuse of the Oil-for-Food Program. As we can see, the Oil-for-Food Program lacked proper accountability and oversight, and thus caused massive fraud and abuse. Unfortunately, this lack of accountability and oversight is nothing new at the United Nations. As the largest U.N. donor, the U.S. has the responsibility to ensure that the dollars of the American taxpayers are not being wasted. Until such accounting reforms are made, no United States money should be sent to the U.N. Only after such reforms are enacted will the United Nations begin its return to relevancy. ____________________”