It's funny how the KKKristian KKKonservatives hate taxes and gummit except
when it comes to war. Then they just can't get enough. What a pack of
ignorant buffoons.

Auditors: Billions Squandered in Iraq

Feb 15, 10:42 PM (ET)

By HOPE YEN

WASHINGTON (AP) - About $10 billion has been squandered by the U.S.
government on Iraq reconstruction aid because of contractor overcharges and
unsupported expenses, and federal investigators warned Thursday that
significantly more taxpayer money is at risk.

The three top auditors overseeing work in Iraq told a House committee their
review of $57 billion in Iraq contracts found that Defense and State
department officials condoned or allowed repeated work delays, bloated
expenses and payments for shoddy work or work never done.

More than one in six dollars charged by U.S. contractors were questionable
or unsupported, nearly triple the amount of waste the Government
Accountability Office estimated last fall.

"There is no accountability," said David M. Walker, who heads the auditing
arm of Congress. "Organizations charged with overseeing contracts are not
held accountable. Contractors are not held accountable. The individuals
responsible are not held accountable."

"People should be rewarded when they do a good job. But when things don't go
right, there have to be consequences," he said.

Also testifying Thursday were Stuart Bowen, the special inspector general
for Iraq reconstruction, and William H. Reed, director of the Defense
Contract Audit Agency.

The appearance before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
came as Congress prepares for a showdown with President Bush next month over
his budget request of nearly $100 billion for the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan.

So far, the Bush administration has spent more than $350 billion on the Iraq
war and reconstruction effort.

The Army, which handles most of the Iraq contracting, said Thursday it had
not reviewed the latest contract figures.

"The U.S. Army, along with the Departments of Defense and State, continue to
help thousands of Iraqis daily with reconstruction projects to provide them
with better lives," said spokeswoman Mary Ann Hodges. "We look forward to
examining its findings and applying some of its recommendations in the
future."

Senate Democrats said recently cited cases of waste were "outrageous
rip-offs of the American taxpayer" and introduced legislation Thursday to
stiffen punishment for war profiteers and cut down on cronyism in
contracting.

According to their testimony, the investigators:

_Found overpricing and waste in Iraq contracts amounting to $4.9 billion
since the Defense Contract Audit Agency began its work in 2003. Some of that
money has been recovered. An additional $5.1 billion in expenses were
charged without proper documentation.

_Pointed to growing Iraqi sectarian violence as a significant factor behind
bloated U.S. contracting bills. Iraqi officials, they said, must begin to
take primary responsibility for reconstruction efforts. That is an uncertain
goal, given the widespread corruption in Iraq and the local government's
inability to fund projects.

_Urged the Pentagon to reconsider its growing reliance on outside
contractors in wars and reconstruction efforts. Layers of subcontractors,
poor documentation and lack of strong contract management are rampant and
promote waste even after the GAO first warned of problems 15 years ago.

Walker complained that GAO investigators have difficulty getting basic
detail about reconstruction contracts such as expenses and subcontractors
involved because many Pentagon divisions fail to consistently track or fully
report them.

"It's absolutely essential if Congress wants to make an informed decision on
authorizations and appropriations that we get this information," he said.
"We're talking about billions of dollars and thousands of American lives at
stake."

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., the committee chairman, has pledged scores of
investigations of fraud, waste and abuse - with subpoenas if necessary - on
the administration's watch.

Of the $10 billion in overpriced contracts or undocumented costs, more than
$2.7 billion were charged by Halliburton Co. (HAL), the oil-field services
company once headed by Vice President Dick Cheney.

Noting that auditors still have $300 billion of Iraq spending to review,
Waxman said the total amount of waste, fraud and abuse "could be
astronomical."

"It's no wonder that taxpayers all across our country are fed up and
demanding that we bring real oversight to the 'anything goes' world of Iraq
reconstruction," he said.

Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., the top Republican on the panel, pointed to ongoing,
"systemic" problems in Iraq contracting. "This much is clear: Poor security,
an arcane, ill-suited management structure, and frequent management changes
have produced a succession of troubled acquisitions," Davis said.

--
These photos are only of a very tiny fraction of the thousands of Iraqi
Civilian Victims who have been terrorised, humiliated, injured, maimed
and killed through British and American bombing of civilian areas in
various cities of Iraq. Due to lack of security, independent reporters could
not and still can not reach many areas to photograph and report the
atrocities. Several independent reporters and journalists were
deliberately bombed to prevent them reporting the atrocities.

Please note that some of these pictures are not suitable for small
children and those who have weak hearts.

http://www.robert-fisk.com/iraqwarvictims_mar2003.htm



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

On Thu, 15 Feb 2007 23:23:49 -0500, "Hang Bush" <no@none.com> wrote:

>It's funny how the KKKristian KKKonservatives hate taxes and gummit except
>when it comes to war. Then they just can't get enough. What a pack of
>ignorant buffoons.

How about the TRILLIONS you lame brain Dims have wasted on Poverty
programs?

--


Scott in Florida

In article <1171710613.865608.26170@p10g2000cwp.googlegroups. com>,
"edspyhill01@yahoo.com" <edspyhill01@yahoo.com> wrote:

> On Feb 17, 5:22 am, "dbu," <n...@nojoke.com> wrote:
> > In article <1171705286.946748.55...@t69g2000cwt.googlegroups. com>,
> > "larry moe 'n curly" <larrymoencu...@my-deja.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Scott in Florida wrote:
> >
> > > > On Thu, 15 Feb 2007 23:23:49 -0500, "Hang Bush" <n...@none.com> wrote:
> >
> > > > >It's funny how the KKKristian KKKonservatives hate taxes and gummit
> > > > >except
> > > > >when it comes to war. Then they just can't get enough. What a pack of
> > > > >ignorant buffoons.
> >
> > > > How about the TRILLIONS you lame brain Dims have wasted on Poverty
> > > > programs?
> >
> > > That's a pathetic defense. OTOH that's the best you can do.
> >
> > a worthy cause, fighting terrorists.
> >
> > terrorist
> > noun
> > the detainees are suspected terrorists extremist, fanatic;
> > revolutionary, radical, insurgent, guerrilla, anarchist, freedom
> > fighter; bomber, gunman, assassin, hijacker, arsonist, incendiary.
> > --
>
> This by now constitutes a shrill response.

It's just as good if not better than larrymoecurrly posts.

terrorist
noun
the detainees are suspected terrorists extremist, fanatic;
revolutionary, radical, insurgent, guerrilla, anarchist, freedom
fighter; bomber, gunman, assassin, hijacker, arsonist, incendiary.
--

On 17 Feb 2007 01:41:27 -0800, "larry moe 'n curly"
<larrymoencurly@my-deja.com> wrote:

>
>Scott in Florida wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 15 Feb 2007 23:23:49 -0500, "Hang Bush" <no@none.com> wrote:
>>
>> >It's funny how the KKKristian KKKonservatives hate taxes and gummit except
>> >when it comes to war. Then they just can't get enough. What a pack of
>> >ignorant buffoons.
>>
>> How about the TRILLIONS you lame brain Dims have wasted on Poverty
>> programs?
>
>That's a pathetic defense. OTOH that's the best you can do.

How about the TRILLIONS you lame 'feel good' Dims have wasted on
Welfare programs (which the Republicans put a time limit on....)?
--


Scott in Florida

On Sat, 17 Feb 2007 10:15:55 -0600, "dbu," <nspam@nojoke.com> wrote:

>In article <f49et254a7u8l1m9an767sqh8amvitrb4c@4ax.com>,
> Scott in Florida <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote:
>
>> On 17 Feb 2007 01:41:27 -0800, "larry moe 'n curly"
>> <larrymoencurly@my-deja.com> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >Scott in Florida wrote:
>> >
>> >> On Thu, 15 Feb 2007 23:23:49 -0500, "Hang Bush" <no@none.com> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >It's funny how the KKKristian KKKonservatives hate taxes and gummit except
>> >> >when it comes to war. Then they just can't get enough. What a pack of
>> >> >ignorant buffoons.
>> >>
>> >> How about the TRILLIONS you lame brain Dims have wasted on Poverty
>> >> programs?
>> >
>> >That's a pathetic defense. OTOH that's the best you can do.
>>
>> How about the TRILLIONS you lame 'feel good' Dims have wasted on
>> Welfare programs (which the Republicans put a time limit on....)?
>
>I will say however, those trillions bought the dims enough votes to stay
>in power for 40 years, LOL.
>
>Throwing money at potential voters is a clever way to get elected. Look
>for them to buy both the illegal and legal immigrants before the 08
>elections.


In addition to all the 'dead' voters already on the Dim rolls....

The last election points out the type of government you get
when dead people vote....

--


Scott in Florida