"RICHARDSON, PICKERING FAVOR EXPANSION OF OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAM By William B. Reinckens USIA 17 March 1999 -- 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, therefore, key to our national security." . . . .