From the Too Little, Too Late Department

Secretary-General Kofi Annan fired a staffer for his role in the Iraq oil-for-food scandal,

Wonderful job, Mr. Annan. You may have single-handedly restored the credibility of this utterly corrupt international institution. Excellent work. So when are you following?

Joseph Stephanides, dismissed Tuesday, was the first U.N. official said to be fired in the wake of an independent probe into allegations of wrongdoing in the $64 billion program.

The United Nations had accused Stephanides, head of the U.N. Security Council Affairs Division, of interfering in the competitive bidding process for an oil-for-food contract.

Yep, there's the man behind the plan. There's the culprit of the most costly international scandal in history. Cough up the cash, Mr. Stephanides! We know you have it! Don't try and deny it! You interfered with competitive bidding on an oil-for-food contract, you Saddam toadie, you! Fortunately for the world, Mr. Annan had you in his sights.

Now, Africa's refugee teenage girls can breathe sighs of relief, for their days of rape are over and...

Oh.

Stephanides, head of the U.N. Security Council Affairs Division, had been accused of tainting the competitive bidding process for a company to inspect humanitarian goods entering Iraq under the program.

His contacts with an unnamed U.N. mission - which a U.N. committee acquiesced to for political reasons - led to Lloyd's Register Inspection Ltd. winning the contract even though there was a lower bidder, it said.

The Lloyds connection! Of course! What a great thing it was that SG Annan was on the job this time. Where would the United Nations be without him?