WASHINGTON -- Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein skimmed $21.3 billion in revenues in the 12-years of the U.N. oil-for-food program, the Financial Times reported Tuesday. The newest estimate came from the U.S. Senate permanent sub-committee on investigations, chaired by Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., who expressed disbelief it was allowed to go on for so long.
"It's difficult for me to comprehend that folks at the highest levels of the United Nations and its member states did not know about this," he said.
Although not yet completed, the probe is the most complete review of how Saddam managed to undermine economic sanctions on his regime following the 1991 Gulf war and continue amassing wealth and weaponry.
Previous reports have said at least $13.7 billion came from oil smuggled out of Iraq through Turkey, Jordan and Syria, which was well-documented but largely ignored by western governments.
