Iraq Funds Are Focus of 27 Criminal Inquiries

[G_j]

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-fg-probes30jul30,1,4850093,print.story?coll=la-headlines-frontpage

Iraq Funds Are Focus of 27 Criminal Inquiries

By T. Christian Miller
Times Staff Writer

July 30, 2004

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.

The report is the most sweeping indication yet that some U.S. officials and private contractors repeatedly violated the law in the free-wheeling atmosphere that pervaded the multibillion-dollar effort to rebuild the war-torn country.

More than $600 million in cash from Iraqi oil money was spent with insufficient controls. Senior U.S. officials manipulated or misspent contract money. Millions of dollars' worth of equipment could not be located, the report said.

"We found problems in the CPA's financial management, procurement practices and operational controls," Stuart W. Bowen Jr., the inspector general, wrote in the report. "These results are not surprising: The CPA faced a variety of daunting challenges, including extremely hazardous working conditions."

..more..

[napi21]

1. I read a longer report on this on the ABC news site.

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20040730_4.html

It's obvious there was gross mismanagement by the CPA and KBR. It looks to me that there was a whole lot of money thrown into this project, but very little assignment of responsibility. It's like giving your teenage daughter $30,000 in cash, dropping her off at the biggest mall in town, and saying, now honey, get what you want but make good decisions.

I do discount some of the criticisms though. This audit was performed just like one that is done in the offices of GM, or any other public corp. in the US. I certainly understand that the purchase orders were found, but the DOCUMENTATION showing proof of delivery wasn't attached. It is excuseable that some paperwork would not be handled properly in the middle of a war zone!

That does not excuse the fact that the vehicles couldn't be found! It does not excuse cost savings being found BEFORE the contract was signed, but ignored!

[greekspeak]

2. Absolutely vulgar

These people are shameless! Jeez Louise. How can half of America be so brain dead as to give this lot pass after pass after pass etc. $600 million dollars? SIX HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS? You could buy EVERY AMERICAN two or three tacos at Taco Bell with that kind of change. Just think how much food we could buy starving people with that money. Just think how many "failing" schools could get the money they need. Just think how many people could get the medical treatments they need. Who in the hell do these pollsters call for these polls? Registered Republicans?

[Q]

3. They're 'shameless' and completely untouchable....

...given the fact that they've already committed at least a couple dozen crimes and...go away with it.

[greekspeak]

4. I think this administration makes the Nixon Administration look flawless

Of all the ugly, nasty things about the Nixon White House that have come out, they seem to pale in comparison to the crap the current BADministration is churning out. The audacity with which they do the things they do is as disturbing as the things themselves. Want to know what is going on? Sorry that is officially swept under the rug with the broom of "executive privilige." What about that taskforce, Mr. Crashcart? What about those potentially threatening personal records about you, Chimpster? Why do you guys like to do everything behind the curtain like the humbug "wizard" of Oz? Didn't you learn that all it takes to reveal the truth is a smart little terrier to pull back the curtain and expose your butts?

[G_j]

5. pure amo for Kerry

we're talking about taxpayer's money.

[greekspeak]

7. Kerry could take these facts and build a strong argument

Republicans bitch about paying taxes, and produce an administration that blows tax dollars on corporate cronies. The choice is simple: tax and spend Democrats, or Tax the middle class out of existance and deficit spend republicans.

[G_j]

8. "tax & give it to your friends" republicans n/t

[greekspeak]

10. "tax & give it to your friends"

One of the top three Puke hypocricies. Right behind waving the flag while stealing freedoms and civil liberties, and thumping the Bible as absolute moralists while allowing children to starve to death and murdering Iraqis for their oil. But they are all sort of interconnected, aren't they?

[Old and In the Way]

9. The Bush Administration and the Republican Party have set the

new standard for corruption. It's the 21st Century Republican business model:

(1) Start needless wars to benefit your war industry supporters.
(2) Hand out no bid contracts to your war reconstruction supporters
(3) Repeat (1), (2) as often as you can get away with it.

http://www.southernstudies.org/reports/newsupdate10b.htm
http://www.warprofiteers.com/article.php?list=type&type=176

[greekspeak]

11. I bet they got this strategy from their shampoo bottles

LATHER RINSE REPEAT EVERY DAY FOR SOFTER, SILKIER HAIR is not a far jump from START WAR, LINE POCKETS EVERY DAY FOR FATTER, FULLER WALLETS. At least in their minds.

[leftchick]

6. 1 BILLION missing...

I read that somewhere yesterday. They can not account for 1 Billion Dollars! Has anyone seen ex-Viceroy Bremer lately?

[Karenina]

12. Just add it to the

2.3 TRILLION the Pentagon couldn't find 2 years ago... :shrug:

[G_j]

13. McKinney and Kucinich have both spoken of this

has Kerry?