The Empire Strikes Back!

Emperor Kofi I flaps his gums - U.N. Chief Rebuts Critics of the Iraq 'Oil for Food' Program:

Secretary General Kofi Annan struck back Thursday at critics of the United Nations and his leadership, saying they were treating unproven charges as facts and ignoring the good that the "oil for food" program brought Iraqis despite its scandal-ridden management.

I guess as long as ALL the money wasn't stolen, it was a good deal! I feel so much better.

But the big news is the answer to my question yesterday, "Where's Bennie?." It seems he's back from the fleshpots - U.N. Big Still Denies Oil Rig: Annan:

The head of the scandal-scarred U.N. oil-for-food program was back at his Manhattan office after more than a month in hiding yesterday and is continuing to deny he took oil bribes from Saddam Hussein, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said yesterday.

Annan revealed to reporters that he met Wednesday, with his longtime friend Benon Sevan, the Cypriot undersecretary-general of the U.N, who had dropped out of sight for more than a month after his name appeared on an Iraq Oil Ministry list of figures who received sweetheart oil deals from Saddam's regime.
...
Sevan is due to retire soon, but Annan said he "should and will be available" to answer questions in the investigation being headed by former Federal Reserve Board Chairman Paul Volcker.

"Benon has stated quite clearly that he is innocent, but that doesn't mean he will not cooperate with the investigation, and he has indicated he will cooperate, as I expect all other staff members to cooperate," Annan said.

Fer sure, dude! No word on how fuzzy ole Bennie's memory is. Hey, he's a busy guy and may have forgotten little details! Like where his millions of Saddam bucks went.