Looks as if Kojo and Kofi are in for a rough ride. I admit that Kofi is among my favorite speakers, if not one of my favorite public figures, so take the following with several grains of salt.
It’s a familiar story at the highest levels: Kofi Annan’s son Kojo works for a company that happens to get a substantial contract under the oil-for-food program. Kofi has testified that Kojo told him he had left aforementioned company prior to the contract being awarded. This was true except the minor detail that Kojo was still on the payroll. Was Kofi mislead by his son, or is this a case of the lowest ranking culpable person taking the heat for corruption at higher levels?
You can read the report; a 144 page snoozer that outlines the background better than I do. It should be pointed out that the only criticism currently is misadministration; the report stops short of accusing the Secretary General of maladministration, a far more serious criticism. Note also that under the procurement rules of the UN, Kofi has no say in the awarding of contracts. While the whole thing is pungent with the potential for corruption, we can still be sure that there is some competition for contracts. This is still more than we can say for some similar situations of our own.
I like the new format! Also pretty cool that you got linked to via slate. I still think Kofi had to know something. Purely an ignorant assessment not unlike our hype oriented news program people. On another subject I think your idea about eliot spitzer (that’s gotta be way mis-spelled). He might get himself killed though. I’m guessing the UN may be a little rougher than wall street.