Charges coming against military personnel, contractors accused of fraud in Iraq

[maddezmom]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Several members of the U.S. military who served in Iraq and military contractors operating there will be charged Wednesday with conspiracy, money laundering and bribery in the latest wave of criminal charges stemming from the alleged fraudulent use of funds in Iraq, according to federal law enforcement sources.

Sources said the charges involve bid-rigging, which occurred while the Coalition Provisional Authority was attempting to establish control of Iraq in the wake of the toppling of the Saddam Hussein.

Details of the charges will be announced Wednesday afternoon by top Justice Department and FBI officials. --From CNN Justice Producer Terry Frieden (Posted 11:19 a.m.)

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/02/07/wednesday/index.html?section=cnn_latest

[Faux pas]

1. Hallelujah! Something like this just may prove there is a God. n/t

[rodeodance]

5. I hope Amb. Bremner does not get off scot free!

[Faux pas]

12. I hope no one gets away with anything. Enough is more than

enough!

[twilight_sailing]

2. If the Republicans had held the Congress,

would this ever have seen the light of day? ;)

[goforit]

3. Well, its about time. Beter our court vs. the World Court.

[goforit]

4. Question?.... Is this a smoke screen to get the little guy just to make the Big

boys happy and protected from their multiple criminal charges?

The Big Boys such as Haliburton, KBR, Bectel,Carlyle and Oil Gods?

[maddezmom]

7. I'm hoping it's the big dogs..: After many denials, US Army confirms private security contract

The Associated Press
Published: February 7, 2007

WASHINGTON: ... The secretary of the Army on Tuesday wrote two Democratic lawmakers that the Blackwater USA contract was part of a huge military support operation by run by Halliburton subsidiary KBR ...

Several times last year, Pentagon officials told inquiring lawmakers they could find no evidence of the Blackwater contract. Blackwater, of Moyock, North Carolina, did not respond to several requests for comment ...

The hidden contract not only cost taxpayers money, it also might have been illegal. The Halliburton subsidiary's main contract for military support services prohibited hiring subcontractors to provide armed security. That job is left to the U.S. military, unless the theater commander decides otherwise ...

On Tuesday, Army Secretary Francis Harvey wrote Van Hollen and Waxman that .... the security costs were not itemized anywhere, yet were factored into ESS' labor costs under KBR's contract, which in turn is financed by U.S. taxpayers ...


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2720377&mesg_id=2720377

[maddezmom]

9. or maybe it could be MZM, the Dukestir's downfall

AP: Water Deal Illuminates Secret Contracts (Dusty Foggo and Brent Wilkes)
Edited on Tue Feb-06-07 02:07 PM by calipendence
Well, it looks like some of the details of what Foggo and Wilkes have been investigated for are starting to come out now, presumably right before they get indicted here in San Diego when Carol Lam leaves the Attorney's office next week! Sounds like a case where Foggo steered a lot of the business contracts over to Wilkes' and other cronies' companies. You know, the script for "Iraq For Sale" and "Iraq's Lost Billions" all over again!

From:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...


Water Deal Illuminates Secret Contracts

By KATHERINE SHRADER and ALLISON HOFFMAN
The Associated Press
Tuesday, February 6, 2007; 2:23 PM



WASHINGTON -- CIA officers operating in northern Iraq bought drinking water from a bottling plant there for years prior to the 2003 invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein.

That changed soon afterward. A CIA officer handling logistics for the Middle East and other regions recommended that an American company provide water and other supplies, according to former government officials.

The U.S. contractor that benefited from the multimillion-dollar deal wasn't just anyone. The company had personal ties to the officer, Kyle "Dusty" Foggo, who would soon leave his logistics post in Frankfurt, Germany, and move to Washington to become the CIA's third-ranking official.

In at least one written communication, a Baghdad CIA officer complained about the no-bid contract. According to one official, the officer believed the deal was simply unnecessary because safe water was available commercially but he was ignored.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2719622

[rodeodance]

6. i see the Justice Dept is finally doing its job.

...Details of the charges will be announced Wednesday afternoon by top Justice Department and FBI officials. --From CNN Justice Producer Terry Frieden (Posted 11:19 a.m.

[Miss Chybil]

8. K & R. nt

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

10. "Bid-rigging"?? WHAT BIDS?????

They've been handing out contracts outside the bid process since 2000. Any rigging charges should go straight to the Oval Office.

[redqueen]

11. They've been indicted.

On CNN Breaking banner:

Three former Army Reserve officers and two civilians indicted with conspiracy, money laundering and bribery in probe of alleged fraudelent use of millions of U.S. dollars in Iraq.