Report uncovers Parson Corp.’s failures in Iraq

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Report uncovers Parson Corp.’s failures in Iraq
By Joseph Giordono, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Monday, February 4, 2008

Reports issued last week by a government watchdog continue to fault the largest American construction firm in Iraq for project failures, but also gave hope that oil revenue could help the reconstruction process.

The reports are from the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. Previous reports have outlined some of the failings of Parsons Corp.’s work in Iraq, but this quarterly report went further and examined some 200 Parsons projects in 11 major “job orders,” totaling $365 million.

The report said that eight of the 11 job orders were terminated by the U.S. government before completion, for reasons ranging from weak contract oversight and failures in reporting problems to poor supervision by the Army Corps of Engineers.

The report also called 2008 a “year of transfer” for the reconstruction program, with several important milestones to be tracked.

Three key developments are identified: the changing security situation and American troops’ roles in each province; the outcome of several Iraqi laws on provincial powers, elections and other issues; and the potential for a significant rise in national income because of oil prices and production.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52187