Where’s the Car, Kofi?
You may recall James Bone, or you may not; he is the journalist who got such a rise out of Kofi Annan recently with his questions about a certain Mercedes. He’s got a real point:
The Mercedes was purchased by Kojo Annan in his father’s name four days before the Hotel de Crillon meeting–and about two weeks before Cotecna won the U.N. contract. The use of the U.N. chief’s diplomatic status qualified the car for a $6,541 discount on the purchase price and a $14,103 tax exemption when it was imported to his native Ghana. Mr. Volcker’s investigators found a memo on the computer of Mr. Annan’s personal assistant asking him to authorize a letter to Mercedes. “Sir, Kojo asked me to send the attached letter re: the car he is trying to purchase under your name. The company is requesting a letter be sent from the U.N. Kojo said it could be signed by anyone from your office. May I ask Lamin to sign it?” the assistant wrote.
Neither Kofi Annan, his aide Lamin Sise, nor his assistant, Wagaye Assebe, can recall what happened, and the original documents have disappeared–but somehow the Mercedes was purchased with the diplomatic discount anyway. Abdoulie Janneh, the U.N. official who arranged the tax exemption in Ghana was recently promoted to U.N. under-secretary-general, in charge of the Economic Commission for Africa.
Amid the clutter of unanswered questions, one query has the virtue of simplicity: Where is the car? I have been asking this for weeks at the U.N.’s daily briefing. It was this question that triggered Kofi Annan’s outburst. He clearly wants me to shut up. I’m afraid, Mr. Secretary-General, that would be the wrong thing for me to do. Every schoolboy knows that.
Par for the course, I’m afraid, in Kofi’s U.N….
It makes me mad that the US is still supporting this corrupt organization.
Yesterday, I read a report that over 30% of the money donated to the UN for tsunami relief was used up on “administrative” costs. Then tonight, CNN was in Pakistan in the earthquake zone, and the UNHCR sent tents that are not weather-proofed, even for rain. And, with no heaters. Temps already get down to 18 degrees at night in the area, and the UN sends DESERT tents!
The UN is corrupt and inept, and we are fools to keep sending them money and providing them a place to live.
When does Kofi’s time as Secretary General expire?
I believe his term is up next year – seems that the only hope for the UN’s future is Vaclev Havel as Kofi’s replacement – otherwise, the only choice is to go it alone.
You can already hear the expected detractors howling on that one – “Oh no, they’re going unilateral again!”
I rarely agreed with Jesse Helms when he was serving, but he had the right idea all along regarding the UN.
Hey, I’m all for Havel…it would be an inspired choice…