Contractors Rarely Held Responsible for Misdeeds in Iraq

[cal04]

The list of alleged contractor misdeeds in Iraq has grown long in the past 3 1/2 years. Yet when it comes to holding companies accountable, the charges seldom stick.

Critics say that because of legal loopholes, flaws in the contracting process, a lack of interest from Congress and uneven oversight by investigative agencies, errant contractors have faced few sanctions for their work in Iraq.

And the inspector general's office credited with doing the most to root out waste and fraud is scheduled to go out of business by next October.

Senators from both parties said yesterday they would push to extend the work of the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, which has uncovered such problems as shoddy construction and bribery schemes.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/03/AR2006110301585.html

[gratuitous]

1. "A lack of interest from Congress"

Gee, I wonder if any of that might change if a new party takes control of one or both houses of Congress?

[texpatriot2004]

2. Yeah, criminals in Congress not interested in prosecuting their

criminal friends.