People, money needed to watch Afghanistan spending

[Coventina]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The investigator overseeing spending for Afghanistan's reconstruction says he needs more people and money to ensure that the $32 billion the U.S. has committed for improvement projects is being spent properly.

Arnold Fields has a team of 41 auditors, inspectors, and support staff, but requires 90 personnel to do the job, he says in testimony to be delivered Wednesday at a House Armed Services Committee hearing.

Fields says his budget of $16 million for 2009 is $7.2 million short. He also says that with the additional money, the office's presence in Afghanistan can increase from seven to 32 personnel by the end of the year.

The position of special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction was created in 2008, nearly seven years after U.S. forces invaded the country.



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