U.S. Can't Account for $100M Spent in Iraq

[Jon8503]

U.S. Can't Account for $100M Spent in Iraq By MATT KELLEY, Associated Press Writer
Thu May 5, 2:03 AM ET
WASHINGTON - U.S. government mismanagement of assets in Iraq, from the lack of proper documentation on nearly $100 million in cash to millions of dollars worth of unaccounted-for equipment, are setting back efforts to fight corruption in the fledgeling democracy, auditors and critics say.

Iraq became awash in billions of dollars in cash after the U.S. invasion two years ago, often with few or no controls over how that money was spent and accounted for. From the $8.8 billion provided to Iraq's interim government to millions provided to U.S. contractors, investigations have detailed a system ripe for abuse.

The latest indication of that came Wednesday when investigators released a report saying $96.6 million in cash could not be properly accounted for. The total included more than $7 million that was simply gone, according to the report from the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.

It said $89.4 million in cash payments in south-central Iraq were made without the necessary supporting documentation, the investigation found. Indications of fraud and other wrongdoing are the subject of separate, continuing probes.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/iraq_money

[liberal N proud]

1. Look in Haliburton's pockets?

[rodeodance]

2. "The total included more than $7 million that was simply gone"--Simply?

[ClintonTyree]

3. A mere pittance....

of what has REALLY been "lost" or "stolen" by Halliburton. This is the number that they can document. I'm guessing the actual total is well over a billion dollars.
The question begs to be asked, why would the United States government handle so many transactions in CASH? It's a rather silly question actually. There is no accounting procedure that can trace where all of that cash is going, how it's being spent, and no procedure in place to track it's actual effectiveness in the rebuilding of Iraq. Halliburton is free to stuff as much of that cash into suitcases to be shipped stateside as is humanly possible without any accounting of it whatsoever. It is NO accident that these procedures were designed. or rather NOT designed, in this fashion.
The bush cabal (cheney in this case) knew that this was going to be a windfall for Halliburton and made sure it was going to be as easy as possible for this theft to take place. "Load the cash up boys, so what if some grandmother in Iowa loses her Medicare coverage, we're going to hit the jackpot, she's going to die soon anyway".

[slor]

4. Yeah, I seem to emember...

a $9 billion disappearance, a few months ago.

[indepat]

5. What's a $100 million here or there when absolutely no accountability

is the standard.

[Jara sang]

6. Look in Cheney's pockets. n/t

[mac2]

7. Iraq a big black money hole..

Iraq is a big black money hole like Vietnam for the American people. American experts..military, etc. and the world told us, it is a big black money hole that we can not win. It is now having a civil war. This is a good thing?

RW talk show host O'Reily says, it is. What planet is he on? I'm really sick of these Orwellian creeps.

This administration is using it to rob out country sometimes very arrogantly. Making money on the back of the American people calling it "fighting for democracy" against "insurgents".

Democrats go along with it. What planet is Howard Deann on? Howard Dean, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, now wishes President Bush “success” for his war in Iraq.

"Now that we're there, we're there and we can't get out," Dean told an audience of nearly 1,000 at the Minneapolis Convention Center on April 20, 2005. "The president has created an enormous security problem for the United States where none existed before,” Dean said. “But I hope the president is incredibly successful with his policy now that he's there.” Howard Dean

He supported Bush when he first ran for office but denied it. Now he still does. Is this the leadership we need as head of our party? He is now showing that he lied about being against the war.

Hillary Clinton supports the war/Bush and will be running for President. Another loser that can't win an election.

It is true...there is one party ruling for empire building and war. I can see the press setting her up now.

We are being silenced and forced to accept the PNAC/Bush agenda.They are a world crime family.

[sellitman]

8. Can you imagine if this incompetence happened under Clinton!

The Repukes would be having a field day. We certainly wouldn't be seeing stupid stories about runaway brides and pedophiles as the lead story on the news. The talking heads might very well explode with excitement. Amazing!