Saddam misused oil-food program

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Congressional investigators have uncovered new information showing how Saddam Hussein's government systematically purchased military-related goods for the seven years of the U.N. oil-for-food program.

According to officials involved in ongoing probes, motorcycles bought by Saddam under the United Nations' food program were used by the Fedayeen to attack U.S. forces in Iraq.

"Trucks, pickups, motorcycles and other equipment purchased by Iraqi ministries were pooled and then sent to the Defense Ministry," one official said. "They ordered motorcycles that were used by Fedayeen against us."

The black-hooded guerrillas under Saddam waged commando-type attacks on advancing U.S. troops in spring 2003.

Investigators from the staff of the House International Relations Committee disclosed details of their probe, one of several being carried out by Congress, including new details on Saddam's bribes to U.N. officials and officials of foreign governments.

A second investigation, led by Rep. Christopher Shays, Connecticut Republican and chairman of the Government Reform subcommittee on national security, emerging threats and international relations, has found that Saddam ran the Iraqi side of the food program as a "cash cow" that let him buy weapons with some of the $10 billion he siphoned off, according to a report by the investigators.

Mr. Shays' panel is scheduled to hold a hearing on the report today.

The governments of Russia, France and China also blocked U.S. efforts within the United Nations to stop abuse of the program, which was designed to get food and medicine to Iraqis through limited sales of oil.

"As the program developed, it became increasingly apparent the French, Russians, and Chinese had much to gain from maintaining the status quo," a staff subcommittee memorandum states.

The Shays investigation also concluded that the U.N. officials, including executive director Benon Sevan, also abused the oil-for-food program.