Iraq Funds Are Focus of 27 Criminal Inquiries

[Cadfael]

From the LA TIMES

WASHINGTON — A comprehensive examination of the U.S.-led agency that oversaw the rebuilding of Iraq has triggered at least 27 criminal investigations and produced evidence of millions of dollars' worth of fraud, waste and abuse, according to a report by the Coalition Provisional Authority's inspector general.

<snip>

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-probes30jul30.story

[wishlist]

1. Edwards made a good remark, that they didn't want to give a blank check

to Bush when he and Kerry voted against the $87 billion appropriations. They need to point out this funding scandal in defense of their votes.

[Jose Diablo]

2. Diversion of money from a program that is authorized

to a program that is not constitutes fraud and is a felony. Any business executive caught doing this would be fired on the spot.

[tom_paine]

5. Ther ARE NO LAWS that apply to the Imperials

That is one of the main reasons I always say Imperial Amerika is techincally a Totalitarian Nation.

Well, that and a Media which would be very well suited to a Capitalist version of Commie Russia.

Oh, and don't forget a debased, Third World and corrupt voting system.

[papau]

10. U.S. Authorities Didn't Keep Track of Iraq Reconstruction Spending

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBOO6SGAXD.html

U.S. Authorities Didn't Keep Track of Iraq Reconstruction Spending, Audit Says
By Matt Kelley
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. authorities in Baghdad spent hundreds of millions of Iraqi dollars without keeping good enough records to show whether they got some services and products they paid for, government investigators said.
Officials of the former Coalition Provisional Authority did not have records to justify the $24.7 million cost for replacing Iraq's currency, according to the report from the authority's inspector general. The report also said the authority paid nearly $200,000 for 15 police trucks without knowing if the trucks were delivered.

[tom_paine]

12. Of COURSE the didn't. Did the Nazis keep track of Polish reconstruction

spending?

[papau]

14. :-)

:-)

[intheozone]

3. Gee, I wonder if this will get

as much time and attention as oh, say, Whitewater, Travelgate, Filegate or Monicagate! Think the Repubs will go on and on with investigations of the CPA they way they did with investigations of the Clinton whitehouse and friends??? Unfortunately, I suspect the answer to that question is NO! We need to remove the Repub control in Congress so things like this can be truly investigated and the wrongdoings and wrongdoers can be punished.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Wow! Thanks for posting -- n/t

[74dodgedart]

6. Ain't capitalism great ?

</sarcasm>

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. what a surprise, eh?

Give a bunch of Republicans (and that's how they recruited the CPA staff, from Republican websites) an almost bottomless pit of money and virtual control over the law in a country, and they steal it.

Kerry: investigated Iran/Contra, BCCI
Bush: dubious deals with failed oil companies and baseball stadium building

Yet another example of Bush's minions following his unserving lead ...

[democrat_patriot]

8. KICK.

[AspenRose]

9. I am reminded of a line from "Evita"

"Accountants only slow things down...figures get in the way."

[catzies]

15. Yes, and I am reminded of a line of Henry Kissinger's

"The illegal we do right away; the unconstitutional takes a while longer."

:mad:

[Jackpine Radical]

21. Bushco revision:

The unconstitutional we do right away. The unconsciounable we already did.

[Beetwasher]

11. Ahh, Yes, The Adults Once Again!

Or is it kids w/ a cookie jar, a DEADLY cookie jar...

[wellst0nev0ter]

13. You Mean These "Adults"?

LINK

<snip>

Ledeen's journey to Baghdad began two weeks earlier when she received an e-mail out of the blue from the Pentagon's White House liaison office. The Sept. 16 message informed her that the occupation government in Iraq needed employees to prepare for an international conference. "This is an amazing opportunity to move forward on the global war on terror," the e-mail read.

<snip>

Others from across the District responded affirmatively to the same e-mail, for different reasons. Andrew Burns, 23, a Red Cross volunteer who had taught English in rural China, felt going to Iraq would help him pursue a career in humanitarian aid. Todd Baldwin, 28, a legislative aide for Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), thought the opportunity was too good to pass up. John Hanley, 24, a Web site editor, wanted to break into the world of international relations. Anita Greco, 25, a former teacher, and Casey Wasson, 23, a recent college graduate in government, just needed jobs.

For months they wondered what they had in common, how their names had come to the attention of the Pentagon, until one day they figured it out: They had all posted their resumes at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative-leaning think tank.

<snip>

[struggle4progress]

16. We really need to track these investigations. Bushistas ...

... are creating record deficits through record corruption.

[Dover]

17. Audit on Iraq Contracts Finds Fraud, Other Abuses

Audit on Iraq Contracts Finds Fraud, Other Abuses

By Sue Pleming
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. investigators found multiple examples of fraud and abuse in millions of dollars worth of contracts to rebuild Iraq that used U.S. taxpayer and Iraqi funds, according to an audit released on Friday.

The report to Congress by the inspector general's office of the Coalition Provisional Authority, the U.S. occupying force dissolved in June, said it had been involved in 69 criminal investigations, of which 42 had been closed or referred elsewhere. A further 27 are still open.

In one case, an unnamed senior adviser for the CPA bypassed the bidding process for a $7.2 million security contract. The deal was revoked, a $2.3 million advance taken back from the contractor and the CPA adviser removed.

CPA Inspector General Stuart Bowen said his findings were not unexpected given that the CPA and contractors were working in a volatile, dangerous environment.

"These results are not surprising: the CPA faced a variety of daunting challenges, including extremely hazardous working conditions," the former White House lawyer said in a letter accompanying the report. ...cont'd

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=5831692

[Karenina]

18. Kick!

:kick:

[struggle4progress]

19. The Coalition Provisional Authority Office of .. Inspector General Reports

http://www.cpa-ig.org/reports.html

[Cocoa]

20. will the Iraqis haul Bremer back over there?

he's got some explaining to do...