WASHINGTON -- Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT) believes the United Nations Oil for Food scandal will grow as the investigation continues. Several House and Senate panels are looking into evidence that suggests Saddam Hussein skimmed billions of dollars from the program that was to allow the Iraqi dictator to sell oil under the supervision of the international body.

During a web cast interview last week on "Jeff Gannon's Washington", Shays said that the debacle would "keep getting bigger."

"It is a scandal of gargantuan proportions," Shays added.

The Connecticut Republican has been following the issue closely since a list was published last January in the Iraqi daily, Al-Mada. It included the names of 270 companies, organizations, and individuals who were allegedly awarded oil vouchers. Among them was the nation of Russia and high-ranking politicians from France and Indonesia.

Despite resistance from the U.N. bureaucracy, Shays declared that the investigation would have to yield results. He recently told former Federal Reserve Board Chairman Paul Volker who was heading up the independent U.N. probe that Congress would pass judgment on the effectiveness of his investigation.

Shays indicated that Congress really doesn't need Volker's cooperation, since the State Department, the French bank, and two other companies that handle transactions have been helpful.

Charles Dulfer, head of Iraqi WMD survey group, has yet to testify before Shays' committee, but he is expected to provide significant testimony. Dulfer's report to Congress on WMDs told of Saddam's diversion of money from the Oil for Food program to retain the capability to restart his weapons programs after sanctions were lifted.

Shays said, "Sanctions weren't working at all, because our European allies weren't cooperating."

He added, "It was the policy of Saddam to use oil for food money to buy off three permanent members of the Security Council: France, Russia and China."

The Connecticut Republican said that since the United States contributes 25% of the U.N.'s budget, Congress has the power to demand transparency. He indicated that there would be increasing pressure on the body to change the way it does things.

Some are calling for the resignation of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Fred Gedrich of the Coalition for Security, Liberty, and the Law suggested that Annan should step down because of the corruption that appears to have taken place on his watch.

"Annan tried his best to prevent the U.S.-led coalition from removing this ruthless tyrant from power by claiming such action was 'illegal,'" Gedrich said. "He was clearly more interested in protecting the world body's financial interests and that of his cronies rather than freeing Iraqis from their horrible existence."

By Jeff Gannon
Talon News