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Guy
Citizen
Username: Vandalay
Post Number: 416
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 - 8:57 am: | 
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Madden, WSJ Opinion Journal is the conservative version of the NYT Op Ed section only better.
Themp, I would hardly call that Good News fom Iraq piece poorly sourced. There is significant progress being made and the people on the ground are reporting this. The other reality is that horrific attacks continue to occur and it remains to be seen if they will be successful in intimidating the population.
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themp
Citizen
Username: Themp
Post Number: 1232
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 - 9:01 am: |
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"And exactly who profited? Perhaps we’ll find out more, but it present it seems as though Kofi Anon’s son did."
$2500 per month? This is supposed to be a stinging repudiation of John Kerry, for some reason? So the kid's a crook and a slacker, like Neil Bush. Big deal.
Meanwhile, what about this:
Iraq Funds Are Focus of 27 Criminal Inquiries
by T. Christian Miller
WASHINGTON — A comprehensive examination of the U.S.-led agency that oversaw the rebuilding of Iraq has triggered at least 27 criminal investigations and produced evidence of millions of dollars' worth of fraud, waste and abuse, according to a report by the Coalition Provisional Authority's inspector general.
The report is the most sweeping indication yet that some U.S. officials and private contractors repeatedly violated the law in the free-wheeling atmosphere that pervaded the multibillion-dollar effort to rebuild the war-torn country.
More than $600 million in cash from Iraqi oil money was spent with insufficient controls. Senior U.S. officials manipulated or misspent contract money. Millions of dollars' worth of equipment could not be located, the report said.
"We found problems in the CPA's financial management, procurement practices and operational controls," Stuart W. Bowen Jr., the inspector general, wrote in the report. "These results are not surprising: The CPA faced a variety of daunting challenges, including extremely hazardous working conditions."
The report raises anew questions surrounding the occupation government under Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III, who turned over control in June to an interim Iraqi government.
The coalition's failures continue to haunt the country today as Iraqis struggle with security issues and infrastructure problems with electricity, transportation and water.
The Times has reported on several cases in which a small circle of former Republican administration officials had drawn scrutiny for their actions in Iraq, including a deputy undersecretary of Defense under investigation by the FBI in connection with a telecommunications contract. In another case, officials have said, a former senior U.S. advisor conducted negotiations with a family connected to Saddam Hussein to form a new Iraqi airline.
Former CPA officials and contracting experts said they were surprised at the number of criminal investigations described in Bowen's report. They noted that criminal corruption charges in the U.S. involving federal contracting were rare.
The CPA has disbanded, and Pentagon officials did not return calls for comment.
Iraq was "a much more Wild West environment. It's a wartime environment," said Steven Kelman, a Harvard professor and contracting expert. "I wouldn't be surprised if, psychologically, some folks have the idea that they're risking their lives under difficult conditions. They justify that they're entitled to a salary increase."
The report cited several criminal cases under investigation, though it provided no names and few details.
In one case, a senior U.S. advisor "manipulated" the contracting system to award a $7.2-million security contract. The contract was later voided and the money returned.
In another incident, a contractor billed $3.3 million for nonexistent personnel working on an oil pipeline repair contract. A security contractor guarding the pipeline overcharged the CPA by $20,000. Both incidents are under criminal investigation.
In another example, a military assistant to a Pentagon employee gambled away part of a $40,000 grant issued to help coach an Iraqi sports team, the report found.
"In the early days, there was no record keeping. They were flushed with money and seized assets. People just didn't follow established procedures," said Charles Krohn, a former CPA official. "You were dealing with inexperienced people who didn't understand that there's always a day of reckoning."
Besides the more than two dozen criminal cases under investigation by the inspector general, about 35 other matters have been referred to other U.S. agencies for further investigation, said James Mitchell, an inspector general spokesman.
He did not know how many of the criminal cases involved U.S. citizens, or what actions the other agencies have taken in regard to the referrals.
So far, he said, none of the criminal investigations has resulted in a prosecution.
"It's only been a short time that we've been in business," Mitchell said.
The CPA inspector general's office began in January and has more than 100 employees continuing investigations.
Many of the report's findings concern the handling of Iraqi oil revenue, which was placed into a special account called the Development Fund for Iraq. All told, more than $20 billion passed through the account, which was not subject to the same stringent contracting and accounting rules as U.S. government money.
Several former CPA officials interviewed in the past have said the development fund was seen as a way to get quick approval for reconstruction projects without the hassle of burdensome contracting regulations.
Many of the former officials have also acknowledged that they frequently suspected or were told that officials used the money to pay bribes or buy favors for allies and family members.
"It's just like anybody who wanted something would get it [through the development fund] and then the money would go out," one former CPA official said. "Some people were working the system, trying to figure out how to get their hands on a lot of loose cash lying around."
CPA officials have vigorously defended their handling of the Iraqi money, saying that all actions were taken transparently. A recent United Nations audit largely backed up that assessment, with U.N. officials raising concerns that not all of the money that entered the fund could be adequately tracked.
Several of the CPA departments criticized by the report objected to the findings. In one case, inspectors questioned the location of $18.6 million worth of property owned by the CPA. Most of the material, including electric generators and cars, was later found.
Other CPA officials acknowledged the problems, but said that improvements were made as time passed.
"It is important to recognize that during the time frame this audit covered, [development fund] procedures were continuously being improved and modified," said U.S. Air Force Col. Don D. Davis, the CPA's former comptroller. "In fact, many of the findings identified in this report were already being addressed by this staff."
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Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 471
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 - 9:10 am: |
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Guy, better why? Because it's right-leaning as oipposed to left-leaning?
themp, hardly an stining indictment. The amount of money is not huge in context, and it seems as if a lot of the fraud has been found and rectified. I think it's more an indictment of the lack of preparedness going into this than anything else. While I do agree that all money should be accounted for, I can understand trhe lack of tracking in the early days. I guess people were more concerned with not getting shot (or worse) than tracing funds. |
Robert Livingston
Citizen
Username: Rob_livingston
Post Number: 541
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 - 9:28 am: |
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It's appalling that these nutjobbers here would question the patriotism of people willing to stand up and ask questions.
And cjc, there is a difference between being defeatist and being a realist. Everyone really wants things to go well in Iraq, but it hasn't, just as most of the more prudent, thoughtful people predicted.
"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism."
- President Thomas Jefferson
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Robert Livingston
Citizen
Username: Rob_livingston
Post Number: 542
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 - 9:55 am: |
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The situation in Iraq stinks, by the way, and it's only getting worse. |
Guy
Citizen
Username: Vandalay
Post Number: 417
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 - 10:13 am: |
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What a shock. Another leak from the CIA on the front page of the NYT. If you actually read this weak article, the situtaion is referred to as " mixed" . It points to important progress being made especially with regard to the political process in the midst of a security situation that may get worse.
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notehead
Citizen
Username: Notehead
Post Number: 1772
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 - 11:20 am: |
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Face, cut the tone, okay? If you honestly had any interest whatsoever in the UN's contributions to peace & security, economic & social development, human rights, election assistance, humanitarian affairs, international criminal courts, and international law, you would take 60 seconds and go to their website.
Of course the oil-for-food scandal reeks. I, for one, have been saying that Kofi ought to step down as a result of it. Perhaps more liberals aren't screaming about it because, terrible as it is, it's not as important to them as the situation in Iraq. Maybe they aren't talking about it so much because the media isn't talking about it much, and they're not as leftist as you think.
And you're right: I do hate George W Bush. |
tjohn
Citizen
Username: Tjohn
Post Number: 2764
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 - 12:03 pm: |
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Smedley Butler on Interventionism
-- Excerpt from a speech delivered in 1933, by Major General Smedley Butler, USMC.
War is just a racket. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of people. Only a small inside group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few at the expense of the masses.
I believe in adequate defense at the coastline and nothing else. If a nation comes over here to fight, then we'll fight. The trouble with America is that when the dollar only earns 6 percent over here, then it gets restless and goes overseas to get 100 percent. Then the flag follows the dollar and the soldiers follow the flag.
I wouldn't go to war again as I have done to protect some lousy investment of the bankers. There are only two things we should fight for. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the Bill of Rights. War for any other reason is simply a racket.
There isn't a trick in the racketeering bag that the military gang is blind to. It has its "finger men" to point out enemies, its "muscle men" to destroy enemies, its "brain men" to plan war preparations, and a "Big Boss" Super-Nationalistic-Capitalism.
It may seem odd for me, a military man to adopt such a comparison. Truthfulness compels me to. I spent thirty- three years and four months in active military service as a member of this country's most agile military force, the Marine Corps. I served in all commissioned ranks from Second Lieutenant to Major-General. And during that period, I spent most of my time being a high class muscle- man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the Bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism.
I suspected I was just part of a racket at the time. Now I am sure of it. Like all the members of the military profession, I never had a thought of my own until I left the service. My mental faculties remained in suspended animation while I obeyed the orders of higher-ups. This is typical with everyone in the military service.
I helped make Mexico, especially Tampico, safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefits of Wall Street. The record of racketeering is long. I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1912 (where have I heard that name before?). I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. In China I helped to see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested.
During those years, I had, as the boys in the back room would say, a swell racket. Looking back on it, I feel that I could have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents. |
Montagnard
Citizen
Username: Montagnard
Post Number: 1342
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 - 1:08 pm: |
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Remember that traditional America is the Northeast, i.e. those of the original Thirteen Colonies that defeated the pro-Slavery insurrection in the Civil War. Traditional America is where you find the roots of the U.S. Constitution and much of what is admired about America overseas.
This is also the part of America, along with the West Coast, that has the strongest links with other Free Nations like Britain, Canada, France, Italy, and others.
In contrast, we have Jesusland, an area made up of ex-Slavery states from before the Civil War, where modern ideas have been slow to take hold, and where the influence of traditional America has been opposed by Evangelical Christian fanatics.
Traditional America and its Free allies must find a way to liberate Jesusland from this oppressive element.
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tjohn
Citizen
Username: Tjohn
Post Number: 2765
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 - 1:12 pm: |
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The Civil War was precipitated by Northeastern Evangelical Christian fanatics who couldn't abide slavery. |
Parkbench87
Citizen
Username: Parkbench87
Post Number: 1616
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 - 1:21 pm: |
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Actually the Civil War was precipated by Southern slaveowners who couldn't abide the idea that all men are created equal. |
Robert Livingston
Citizen
Username: Rob_livingston
Post Number: 543
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 - 1:22 pm: |
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Actually, it was the South's desire for slavery, and their attempt to secede from the Union, that forced the North's hand.
In addition, the North wanted to increase the federal goverment's powers, and to use that power for internal improvements such as the building of roads, railways and canals. The North wanted to improve banking and the country's currency system. Basically, the North wanted to make this county a better place to live, while the South wanted to wallow in the status quo, with a healthy does of bigotry and hatred mixed in. Oh how times have changed... |
notehead
Citizen
Username: Notehead
Post Number: 1775
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 - 1:27 pm: |
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Tjohn -- I really liked the excerpt from the Butler speech! |
Robert Livingston
Citizen
Username: Rob_livingston
Post Number: 545
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 - 2:04 pm: |
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Here's what's really going on in Iraq. Lots of interesting info here in the Iraq Log, a collection of thoughts and insights from Iraqi citizens, US Troops and international contractors courtesy of the BBC.
Seems like they'd rather have Saddam than Bush, and who can blame them...
Here's an excerpt from Rana Imad, an Iraqi citizen.
"I was thinking about how I felt the day that Saddam was captured. I was very happy. I remember dancing, and we were all very optimistic that everything would be better soon. I hated him so much. But you know, in spite of everything, I began to admire him—he managed to take control again in the country after the first Gulf war within a few months. We never had such anarchy as we have now—killing in the streets, car bombs, explosions every day. He really had control. In the past, we had only one enemy to avoid: Saddam and his men. Today, we don't know our enemy—there are so many groups divided up."
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Robert Livingston
Citizen
Username: Rob_livingston
Post Number: 546
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 - 2:07 pm: |
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Oops, forgot to post link.
BBC Iraq Log |
Matthew
Citizen
Username: Basketball1127
Post Number: 94
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 - 4:15 pm: |
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You know what channel I watch? That's odd... |
themp
Citizen
Username: Themp
Post Number: 1243
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 - 5:39 pm: |
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Speaking of the South, here's part of Bush's mandate:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/columnist/wickham/2004-12-06-wickham_x.htm |
Face
Citizen
Username: Face
Post Number: 458
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 9:58 am: |
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Bill Clinton pardoned Mark Rich. Now it is coming out that soon after being pardoned Rich was in the Middle East becoming one of Saddam's partners in defrauding the American people and starving his own people. Do you think that Clinton will ever be brought to task for this particular pardon? Or will he be chosen to replace Kofi? |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 7004
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 10:02 am: |
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Clinton's behavior when leaving office, including some of his pardons, did more to tarnish his heritage than Monica ever did.
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Michael Janay
Citizen
Username: Childprotect
Post Number: 1370
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 12:36 pm: |
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Seems like they'd rather have Saddam than Bush, and who can blame them...
Statements like that show how hopeless the leftists are and how they are moving in to irrelevancy.
Mussolini made the trains run on time too...
Thanks for the daily laugh.
PS. DEAN for DNC Chair!!!!!! |
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