Who Violated Oil for Food? 

Who Violated Oil for Food?

Alterman's right: this piece at least deserves study in relation to "who kept buying Iraq's oil when Saddam was supposedly subject to "Oil for Food"?

The U.S., that's who.

Of the money that Saddam made from "smuggled" oil--not officially approved under the sanctions plan--somewhere from $5.7 million worth to $13.5 million--roughly 85% was traded with the direct approval of the United States.

UPDATE: Thanks to [link=http://www.slate.com/id/2113218/]Slate[/link], "In Other Magazines," two articles from TNR: one says Oil for Food and the UN both did what they were supposed to, and the "abuses" that are now the basis of complaint were carefully monitored and encouraged by the U.S. at the time; the other says the Volcker report should have laid more fault at Annan's door, and the UN could use a shake-up.