The “independent” inquiry into the oil-for-food scandals have issued its findings. I say it that way because the committee responsible for the inquiry was chosen by Secretary General Kofi Annan himself. There’s probably a very bad problem when your own kind turns you in. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is just the tip of the iceberg.

This is one of the reasons I can’t stand the U.N. In 2001, the UN spent over $9 million (most of which comes from the U.S.) on a disarmament project that ended up not producing ANY tangible results. The United States pays more than 25% of the UN budget. 85% of their budget is paid by just 20 countries. The UN contains 191 members or countries.

When the United States wanted to help with the tsunami relief, the United Nefariously organization got upset and even criticized the US for the amount we contributed, which was more than any other nation. We were called “stingy” for sending $15 million. Let’s see, Canada, Spain, Germany, and Belgium all contributed a paltry $1 million each. The entire European Union is made up of 25 countries and they all only contributed a reported $31 million to the relief. And yet, the United Nations criticizes US for a $15 million contribution!!

UN weapons inspectors, not US weapons inspectors, were pulled from Iraq in 1998 because Iraq wasn’t cooperating with them. 4 years later, they attempt to try and let inspectors back in after fears of a US invasion, plenty of time to hide or deport any incriminating evidence. The UN passes resolutions demanding that Saddam come clean about where all his stockpiles are or face the prospect of military action. This is something that the UN didn’t have the cojones to enforce and we had to do ourselves. Then, of course, the UN again tries to make us look like renegades for enforcing THEIR resolutions. Keep in mind, we went into Iraq after five years of trying to negotiate with Saddam. My gosh, I could hide the city of Las Angeles with that kind of time.

And then we come to this most recent report of corruption during the entire time we were sanctioning Iraq in attempting to get them to come clean. Perhaps the reason the UN was so resistant to invasion was that it didn’t want to lose its kickbacks that Saddam and other other nations gave it. France, Germany, and Russia were receiving plenty of profit through the program. The UN’s own Resolution 687 (1991) deplored Iraq for “threats made by Iraq during the recent conflict to make use of terrorism against targets outside Iraq and the taking of hostages by Iraq.” And yet, there still seems to be a sort of conventional wisdom that terrorism had nothing to do with our invasion. It came straight from the lips of the lion that they would resort to terrorrism!! And yet, people like Optruth.org’s own Paul Rieckhoff endlessly trolls the news networks to insist he knows best because he’s “been there.”

Now that I’ve mentioned Optruth, let me relay a story about my personal experience with them. Back in the early days of Optruth’s existence, I was emailed about doing a radio interview with Al Franken down in San Diego or LA, can’t remember. Paul and I discussed over the phone the aspects of the interview. When I told him that I supported our efforts in Iraq, he began to backpedal about whether or not I should go. He tried to use the excuse that I was still active duty and it could cause problems. Since I had already spoken to my JAG and Public Affairs Officer I told him that wasn’t a problem. He then told me that he’d get back to me and eventually emailed me telling me they weren’t going to send me, even though I was going to pay my own way there. Now that Optruth has had time to get some roots, their true agenda of undermining our efforts in Iraq has come forth. It was supposed to be a place where soldiers could go and post their war stories and experiences, yet mine were never approved, while many soldiers complaining about their experiences were. Just some thought. It’s just awe inspiring that Paul claims to still be a reserve soldier yet fights any actions to publicize the good intentions of our soldiers.

Anyway, I recognize that my position on the UN is completely contrary to that of the US and the US Army. As members of the UN, it’s probably bad policy to openly badtalk them. But, I don’t believe in this “New World Order” that the UN wants to create. I don’t believe that I should have to serve under a foreign commander, which is what happens when we are sent on UN assignments. These commanders may or may not have our best interests at heart. They are corrupt. A yearlong investigation of the U.N. oil-for-food program issued a strong indictment of the United Nations and its top leadership Wednesday, concluding they tolerated corruption and allowed Saddam Hussein’s government to pocket $10.2 billion. I know that many of my America-hating critics will undoubtedly point to the fact that we have just as much corruption here just as the UN probably does. I guess that would make it right in their minds? Is our corruption killing innocent people by the mass grave-sized proportions? I’ve downloaded the full 1,000+ page report and will be reading as I have time in order to find more information that the press may not have covered. I just wanted to air my general UN frustrations while I could and it was fresh.