UN Backtracks on Transparency While Official Who Pushed Lockheed Now Pushes George Clooney

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis

UNITED NATIONS, January 8 -- A day after Ban Ki-moon pledged transparency about the UN's $250 million no-bid contract with U.S.-based military contractor Lockheed Martin, his spokesperson changed course and said that there will be no answers from an official who pushed for Lockheed, Jane Holl Lute. In early December, the spokesperson said that such a briefing would be provided after the General Assembly voted on the related Darfur peacekeeping mission budget. Last week, when Inner City Press asked about that vote, in which the General Assembly expressed concerning about the "single-source" contract to Lockheed and asked for an investigation, the spokesperson again said a briefing would be provided, but that officials were away. Tuesday, this too was revoked. Jane Holl Lute having been spotted on the street outside the UN on Monday night, Inner City Press asked when the briefing would be. Jane Holl Lute is very busy with the deployment in Darfur, the spokesperson said, adding that in her view no briefing is necessary.

            [Later on Tuesday, Inner City Press was informed that as part of her deployment work, Jane Holl Lute has sought permission to include the actor George Clooney in an ostensibly "technical" mission.]

Jane Holl Lute, back in the day

            Back on October 16, Inner City Press asked, "is the contract going to be made public"? The spokesperson replied, "Sure, yes, yes." Click here for transcript. But the contract has never been made public.

            On October 25, when Inner City Press asked again about the lack of competition, the spokesperson said "I think we should get the question to Peacekeeping."

            On Wednesday, November 21 Inner City Press asked, "maybe it's for DPKO to answer, but whoever briefed the Security Council leading up to the UNAMID resolution, Russia wants to have asked, why weren't they told that this process began in April?" The spokesperson said, "Yes, we can get that question to DPKO." Then another journalist asked, "could we have a briefing?"

Spokesperson: There was a briefing by Mr. Guehenno where he addressed that issue of the 750 and the 250.  I think he answered specifically that question, if I remember correctly.  I can go back to the record and find out.  Warren Sach and Alicia Barcena also spoke on this

Inner City Press: but the only thing is that since Mr. Sach spoke here, documents have emerged showing that Warren Sach himself wrote a memo criticizing the contract... it would be really good to have a briefing on that...

Spokesperson:  Okay, we can try to get someone for you from DPKO

Question:  ... would it be possible to have a briefing on that contract, to...

Question:  Yes, absolutely.  We would like to know how...

Spokesperson:  Sure.  We can get someone from DPKO to come and discuss the specificities of the contract.

            On Monday, November 26, Inner City Press followed up: "On Wednesday there were a number of reporters [who] asked to have a briefing about this, the Lockheed Martin contract for the UNAMID deployment?  Is the Guehenno stakeout going to be that?"

The spokesperson answered, "We are still asking for one a fuller one.  But we don't have an answer yet.  As you know, Mr. Guehenno was traveling.  He just got back."

            In fact, Mr. Guehenno has not spoken publicly about the Lockheed contract. His deputy Edmond Mulet told Inner City Press, "You have to asked DFS," which Jane Holl Lute heads. On January 2, Inner City Press asked, "You also said that, once the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly has ruled, then we would get a briefing on it.  Now that that's done, and two weeks have gone by, can be get such a briefing by either Jane Holl Lute or whoever?" The spokesperson said, "I will try to get that.  Of course not everyone is back yet."

            Then Jane Holl Lute was seen, and the question asked again. Now she is too busy, and the various statements above apparently did not mean what they seemed to mean.  Meanwhile, later on Tuesday, Inner City Press was informed that as part of her deployment work, Jane Holl Lute has sought permission to include the actor George Clooney in an ostensibly "technical" mission. Watch this site.

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These reports are also available through Google News and on Lexis-Nexis.

Click here for a Reuters AlertNet piece by this correspondent about Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army. Click here for an earlier Reuters AlertNet piece about the Somali National Reconciliation Congress, and the UN's $200,000 contribution from an undefined trust fund.  Video Analysis here

  Because a number of Inner City Press' UN sources go out of their way to express commitment to serving the poor, and while it should be unnecessary, Inner City Press is compelled to conclude this installment in a necessarily-ongoing series by saluting the stated goals of the UN agencies and many of their staff. Keep those cards, letters and emails coming, and phone calls too, we apologize for any phone tag, but please continue trying, and keep the information flowing.

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Other, earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.

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