MARCH 17, 1999 : (PICKERING & RICHARDSON TESTIFY THAT THE UN 'OIL FOR FOOD PROGRAM' IS AN ''ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S IRAQ STRATEGY) Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Pickering and Energy Secretary Bill Richardson testified March 17 that the U.N.'s Oil-For-Food program for Iraq is an essential component of the U.S. Administration's Iraq strategy and is