How do you get to Carnegie Hall?

[EFerrari]

Iraq Weapons Are a Focus of Criminal Investigations

By JAMES GLANZ and ERIC SCHMITT
Published: August 28, 2007

BAGHDAD, Aug. 27 — Several federal agencies are investigating a widening network of criminal cases involving the purchase and delivery of billions of dollars of weapons, supplies and other matériel to Iraqi and American forces, according to American officials. The officials said it amounted to the largest ring of fraud and kickbacks uncovered in the conflict here.

The inquiry has already led to several indictments of Americans, with more expected, the officials said. One of the investigations involves a senior American officer who worked closely with Gen. David H. Petraeus in setting up the logistics operation to supply the Iraqi forces when General Petraeus was in charge of training and equipping those forces in 2004 and 2005, American officials said Monday.

There is no indication that investigators have uncovered any wrongdoing by General Petraeus, the top commander in Iraq, who through a spokesman declined comment on any legal proceedings.

This article is based on interviews with more than a dozen federal investigators, Congressional, law enforcement and military officials, and specialists in contracting and logistics, in Iraq and Washington, who have direct knowledge of the inquiries. Many spoke on condition of anonymity because there are continuing criminal investigations.


http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/28/world/middleeast/28military.html

[JHB]

1. Practice, practice, practice.

Doesn't everyone know that?

[Poboy]

2. r'd

[CBGLuthier]

3. Sparks Knows

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doK9Jo0wVx8

[virgogal]

4. What am I missing here? Strange header.

[EFerrari]

6. Is David Petraeus Dirty? Ted Westhusing Said So, and Then He Shot Himself

Melina Ripcoco , Brilliant at Breakfast at 4:00 AM on April 8, 2008.

Big snip (read the whole article if you can)

He's not the first Iraq suicide, though he was, at the time of his death, the highest ranking one. He was an oddity; a thinking soldier in a war that requires blind obedience, and unwavering dedication. The black and white world of Bush's military doesn't allow much for the grays that come into the picture when one is, at heart, a philosopher...and even in the face of seeing the reality of war, how can anyone come to terms with the revelation of corruption on this scale? More crushing was the realization that the leaders that he idolized, and the honor that he held as being the very foundation of his entire world as a military officer, were all a lie, and stories told to cadets at West Point that didn't bear out in reality. The leaders in this war didn't care, and many were, as he outlined in his 4 page suicide letter, that was addressed to General's Fil and Petraeus, his direct commanders, only out for their own selfish enrichment.

Thanks for telling me it was a good day until I briefed you. --You are only interested in your career and provide no support to your staff--no msn support and you don't care. I cannot support a msn that leads to corruption, human right abuses and liars. I am sullied--no more. I didn't volunteer to support corrupt, money grubbing contractors, nor work for commanders only interested in themselves. I came to serve honorably and feel dishonored. I trust no Iraqi. I cannot live this way. All my love to my family, my wife and my precious children. I love you and trust you only. Death before being dishonored any more. Trust is essential--I don't know who trust anymore. Why serve when you cannot accomplish the mission, when you no longer believe in the cause, when your every effort and breath to succeed meets with lies, lack of support, and selfishness? No more. Reevaluate yourselves, cdrs . You are not what you think you are and I know it.

COL Ted Westhusing

Life needs trust. Trust is no more for me here in Iraq.

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/81678

[librechik]

8. If he is, he'll fit right in

that's probably why he got picked to run the CIA.

[leftstreet]

5. K&R

[PufPuf23]

7. Was going to say taxi.

MIC and weapons and weapons sales and financial fraud and so on demean humanity and enable psychopaths.

Dream of a world without violence.

We in the USA live in the most armed war-oriented nation in known human history.

Nuclear weapons make decisons on war Faustian.

Soldiers are not heroes but rather victims of social failure because of psychopaths.

[EFerrari]

9. And now that NATO has attacked a country that gave up its WMD

I'm sure others will be rushing to give up theirs.