Special from NewsMax's Most Informed Sources
Sunday, May 16, 2004

1. Kofi Annan Ignored Genocide Reports

NewsMax's U.N. correspondent Stewart Stogel reports to us that when it rains it pours, especially for United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Last week, the CIA confirmed that a bounty allegedly put on his head and that of President George W. Bush by al Qaeda "is probably authentic."

Published reports claim that Osama bin Laden and company are offering a "reward" of about $150,000 in gold for a successful hit on the two world leaders.

If that wasn't enough, Annan found himself in the crosshairs of others this week, Stogel says.

In a soon to be released book -- "Emergency Sex and Other Desperate Measures" (Miramax) -- by a former and two current U.N. employees, it is alleged that Annan played a significant role in the U.N.'s failure to stop the genocides in the African nations of Rwanda and Burundi in 1994.

It is believed that more than 800,000 people were slaughtered during tribal warfare in the two nations.

Kofi Annan directed the U.N.'s peacekeeping operations during the period.

The book contends that Annan personally prevented a report on the impending genocide by his field commander Gen. Romeo Dallaire (Canada) from reaching Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali and the U.N. Security Council.

The book claims: "Gen. Romeo Dallaire, the commander of U.N. troops in Rwanda sent a fax detailing imminent genocide and they (U.N.-NYC) ignored that.  Kofi Annan, the head of U.N. Peacekeeping, ordered him to stand down and do nothing, other than share his information with the French, who at the time were arming their allies among the Hutu extremists, who then committed the genocide."

Less than 18 months later, Annan received critical backing from Paris to become the UN's first African secretary-general.

Annan's office had no comment.

Another minefield for the U.N. chief is in the upcoming Iraq oil-for-food program investigation.

Recently, Annan empowered a commission headed by former Federal Reserve Bank Chairman Paul Volcker to investigate alleged corruption in the former U.N. department.

Published reports claim that upwards of $10 billion may have been skimmed from the aid program during its seven years of operation (1996-2003).

A source close to the investigation tells NewsMax that testimony against Annan himself is likely.

The source claims that Annan along with his most powerful patron, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, "knew" of the recurring rumors of "rip offs" taking place in the U.N. aid program.

Neither Annan nor Albright showed any interest in investigating it, he admitted.

Annan's son Kojo has been accused of receiving kickbacks (in the form of employment) from a company that won one of the lucrative U.N. contracts.

Recently, Annan insisted it was the Security Council's Sanctions Committee that was supposed to monitor the program's financial activity.

The committee, known as the 661 committee, was driven by policy emanating from the Clinton White House.

It never sought to investigate the rumors of corruption and embezzlement.

"It was Saddam's money and nobody cared," explained the source.

2. Kerry's Wife Pays Less Taxes Than Median Family

For a long time Steve Forbes has been advocating a flat tax. He says this is the only way to make sure the rich pay their fair share of taxes due Uncle Sam.

Now we know why Steve Forbes wants the flat tax.  Wealthy individuals such as Teresa Heinz Kerry pay less in taxes, proportionately, than does the median U.S. family.

This fact was illustrated to us by a NewsMax reader, Robert Clay of California.

Mr. Clay writes:

"According to HUD, the median family income for the U.S. for 2003 was $56,500.  After applying the standard deduction of $9,500 for married filing jointly we end up with a taxable income of $47,000.  This puts the average family in the 15 percent tax bracket.  Kerry's wife, using tax shelters, managed to pay only an effective federal tax rate of 11.5 percent, compared with the top federal income tax rate of 35 percent.  She paid $587,000 on an income of $5.1M.

"If Kerry wants the rich to pay more he should start with his wife."

Despite the release of partial financial information, John and Teresa Kerry have not explained why, if it's so important for the evil rich to pay more taxes, they didn't add a voluntary addition to their check to the IRS.

3. Chinese Back 'Any Plan' to Get U.S. out of Iraq

The Chinese may be America's newest friends, but they sure don't act it.

At the U.N., China has joined the Arab states in asking the U.N. Security Council to demand the U.S. leave Iraq, as we are violating (gasp!) the U.N. charter and international law.

A Beijing representative of the Foreign Ministry says China will support "any plan" to end the Iraq war, Radio Australia News is reporting.

But China's lack of support for the U.S. is not "linked" (a term Reagan liked to use to hold communist countries accountable) to U.S. trade benefits.

After a meeting that took place earlier in Washington with Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi, U.S. Commerce Secretary Donald Evans promised to ease curbs on exports of computers and other technologies that could be used in Chinese weapons systems, as reported by Charles Smith on NewsMax.com.

Smith warns that the curbs could jeopardize U.S. and East Asian security because, as stated in a February 2004 U.S. General Accounting Office report, China does not adhere to treaties it has signed on "dual use" equipment.

According to the GAO, Beijing continues to violate provisions, such as permitting inspections to verify that exported equipment is not being used for military purposes or shared with terrorist nations.

Earlier this month federal authorities arrested two Chinese men in Los Angeles who were trying to smuggle out "tightly controlled" defense equipment -- for use in satellites, missile systems and jet fighters -- to China.

Meanwhile, back in China we hear that security officials there have installed video cameras in all of Shanghai's 1,325 Internet cafes to monitor users.

And software is being installed to scrutinize the viewing of pornographic or "superstitious" (i.e., religious) sites, especially sites pertaining to the Falun Gong movement.

Experts say the Chinese government enforces greater censorship over the Web than does any other government in the world.

4. Hip-Hop Campaigns Against Bush

Hip-Hop Artist Russell Simmons, chairman of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, is "selling sneakers ... and registering voters ... in the 'hood." 

Simmons is bored with music and clothing design so, like all bored celebrities, he's getting into politics. 

Simmons is working to mobilize the country's "urban youth" to register to vote. It sounded like a good effort until we learned its real purpose.

Simmons tells Fortune magazine it's his responsibility to use his celebrity status "to create energy that will make a change, then it is the same as a social initiative. You can't avoid being political. You are part of a team. Your tax dollars. Your karma. If President Bush goes to war with my tax dollars and I think it is an unjust war and I don't speak up, then I am not doing my job as a citizen."

And it's not just Simmons. The artist says musicians Jay-Z, Puffy, Beyonce and Eminem (there's an interesting example of an American "patriot") all come to "Hip-Hop Summits" and contribute money. 

"The collective consciousness of Hip-Hop is rising," says Simmons, and states that LL Cool J, Beyonce, Master P., Puffy, Snoop Dogg and others have hosted summits that registered nearly 200,000 voters in Houston, Philly and L.A., with the help of those cities' mayors.

"I've given to all the Democrats. But our registering voters is a nonpartisan effort," the rapper claims.

Right.

Please Note:

• Find out why the UN Is Dead in NewsMax's Special Report.
• Get the Desert Hat just like our troops -- See it Here.
• Dick Morris new book -- Check it Out.
• George Soros Plots to Defeat George Bush -- Find out How Here.
• How Matt Drudge conquered the Web -- Read it Here.

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