Bill would boost U.S. power to prosecute war fraud

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government would have greater power to prosecute cases of fraud in contracts for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan under a measure introduced in Congress on Friday.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, and Sen. Charles Grassley, an Iowa Republican, said the bipartisan legislation would update a World War Two-era law against contracting fraud to ensure that it applies to U.S. military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The lawmakers said billions of dollars have been awarded to contractors who have delivered defective products to U.S. troops in the two countries.

Congress approved resolutions that allowed President George W. Bush to use military force in those countries, but never officially declared war against them.

Leahy and Grassley said that as a result, the 66-year-old law addressing U.S. statutes of limitations on contract fraud during times of war does not apply to Iraq and Afghanistan.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080418/pl_nm/usa_iraq_contracts_dc

[Donnachaidh]

1. It's a good start, but I doubt it'll get past the footdraggers on the puke side

And don't we have a few in the Dem side that could be considered "close friends" to the contractors?

[TankLV]

2. How about a bill to PROSECUTE WAR FRAUD on those who INITIATE the FRAUDULENT WAR?!?!

you know, like LYING to everyone about the REASON for GOING to WAR in the FIRST PLACE?!?!

I hope I live long enough to see THAT - with NO statute of limitations, and ability to go back and prosecute and FINE individuals EVEN IF THEIR TERM IN OFFICE IS LONG GONE...

you can bet your ass that georgie will be sanctified and deified when he's out just like ronnie ray-gun...

[sutz12]

3. How about using the powers they already have?

Nope, let's just dream up some more 'legislation' for future generations of Congress to ignore.

This country is so fucked.

:shrug:

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. It is NOT a war...it's an invasion.

Damn....folks keep calling it a war, when even Leahy says it is not a war.
Congress did not approve a war.
Congress approved invasion, yes.
illegal, yes.

Would would happen if we corrected all the pundits who keep saying "war"?

bumper sticker, too, perhaps.

[BR_Parkway]

5. Would be nice if they started with Cheney and the rest of his gang

that lied us into this war - I can't think of a bigger fraud ever played out on the American people.