US implicated in Iraq reconstruction scam

[rooboy]

Iraq's interim trade ministry is investigating alleged corruption of up to $US40 million by members of the US-led Coalition Provisional Authority and senior ministry officials.

Trade minister Ali Allawi says he discovered a month ago that a contract for wooden doors worth about $US80 million had been manipulated.

"I think a third of it was stolen," he said, specifically estimating that "probably around 30, 40 million" disappeared.

Mr Allawi said the allegations mainly involve "contract manipulation and ... contract prioritisation" which he has asked a prosecutor to investigate.

"There is strong evidence ... of the implication of certain individuals, senior management who have since been asked to leave, together with, unfortunately, figures in the CPA," said Mr Allawi, who returned from his job as a London investment banker to take up his post in September.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1017231.htm

[cosmicdot]

1. a contract for wooden doors worth about $US80 million

that's a lot of doors

as far as missing millions ... wouldn't surprise us at all

due diligence in the accounting of our money doesn't appear to be part of the operation

[TankLV]

11. All I know is we built an 20 storey office building in Honolulu for $18

million.

Gee, ya think it's a bit much?! Did every f-----g iraqi get a door?

But, no, nothing to see here, no war profiteering, that's why the repukes removed that provision from the $87 billion aid package.

'Cause these guys are sooooo honest and trustworthy!

[gristy]

2. $80M for wooden doors...

and they think half of it was stolen. I'd like to see how many wooden doors are actually installed on something, how many are used for firewood, and how many just never even make it across the border into Iraq. What a travesty.

[bahrbearian]

3. Well they make good computer tables too.

[izzie]

4. What kind of wood could this be?

We had better get the toilet seat people looking into this.

[Military Brat]

5. 14-gold-plated, mahogany, engraved by Celtic artisans

eom

[Robb]

6. Even at, say, $200 a door

(which is a pretty nice door, I think)

...it's still like half a million doors. Are there that many buildings left standing? :shrug:

[aquart]

14. Do we leave the gift of a door

Every time we batter one down?

[truthseeker1]

7. Money diverted to the Kurds for Saddam's capture perhaps?

We know they got more than the $25m promised. This guy Allawi better watch out!

[whathappened]

8. these crooks

need to go straight to jail with no get out of free card , dam i'm sick of this crap , we americans are suffering while these crooks make out like bandits

[cyclezealot]

9. You must read "Risky Business" in this weeks Nation

Naomi Klein writes about private business transactions going on in Iraq right now with OPIC...Examples...Haliburton is giving out sub contracts at 1/4 of the bid that they have received and pocketing the other 3/4. OPIC is making promises of 'political insurance,' to cover private contracts that later might not be honored by a new Iraqi government...This is scandalous stuff and the American public needs to know..This is bigger than Teapot Dome or Watergate.
With the media coveing up such scandals will it ever be revealed.?

[Wickerman]

10. Sorry this isn't late breaking news

removes moderator hat

this cabal has been looting the treasury and every other fund they can get their hands on for months. Glad to see it is coming to light. I will believe it'll stick when its a Faux news exclusive for more than 2 hours running.

uh, not meant as a moderator, just a cynical bastard

[koopie57]

12. I wonder how many

people would be employed if making 80 million dollars worth of doors?

[Nlighten1]

13. This is obviously Bill Clinton's fault.

How could it be otherwise?