Hugh continues to all for answers

HUGH ROBERTSON QUESTIONS GOVERNMENT OVER LINK BETWEEN THE DEATHS OF BRITISH SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS AND CORRUPTION AT THE UN

Hugh Robertson has again questioned the government over the link between corruption at the UN during the oil for food scandal and the deaths of British servicemen and women and British civilians in Iraq. The link was highlighted by the report of the Iraq Survey Group, the Volker Inquiry and a statement by the Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon, specifically linking money raised by this corruption with the financing of the insurgency.

It is now estimated that Saddam Hussein and his immediate entourage benefited personally by over US$ 10bn by corrupting the oil for food programme. The unanswered question is whether responsibility lies within the UN itself due to a lack of transparency and accountability or with the countries of the Security Council who knew that this was happening but failed to act. It is a key question because of the actions of France and Russia in the run up to the war and the link to British casualties in post war Iraq.

Hugh said: “The Foreign Office keeps avoiding the question by trying to hide behind the Volker Inquiry. However, given the link to British casualties, this is unacceptable.

“The Foreign Office must have a view over whether this is the fault of the UN itself or the countries of the Security Council. The answer has a vital bearing on events in the period leading up to the war and much of what has happened afterwards.”