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What About Fraud?
Finishing up, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) asked what's standing in the way of continued contracting fraud in Iraq. Neither Gen. Petraeus nor Amb. Crocker had much in the way of a detailed answer, but both singled out the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, Stuart Bowen, as a key bulwark against waste, fraud and abuse.
Given that Petraeus wants to speed up weapons purchases by Iraq under the Pentagon's Foreign Military Sales programs, maybe those safeguards should be looked at in greater detail.
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Comments (6)
sailmaker wrote on September 11, 2007 9:14 PM:Agreed. Additionally maybe the safeguards should be in place not only before Petraeus gets more money so the Iraqis can go buy their own weapons, but maybe he should not get more money until he can explain where the 200,000 weapons went that disappeared on his watch. I'm tired of the 'fog of war' excuse for slipshod accounting practices, particularly with weapons. Four years is long enough to get a handle on the accounting.
Anonymous wrote on September 11, 2007 9:29 PM:Petreaus and arms dealers in Iraq. Google Dale Stoffel.
drv wrote on September 11, 2007 10:47 PM:Ha, ha, that's a good one. Bush fired Bowen last year. Only after the Dems won majorities in 2006 did the position get reinstated. It really is hilarious to hear Crocker credit Bowen for helping fight corruption in Iraq. I'll bet he gets a call from Dick tonight to make sure he re-reads the talking points before he gives the wrong story again.
d
anon, too wrote on September 12, 2007 2:19 AM:Has anyone transcribed Crocker's comments - without the uhs and uhms.
Like this:
"on the security function, much of our security, most of our security, is provided by contractors.
[Privatization, anyone?]
"It is overseen by diplomatic security officers, er, er, foreign service officers but, er, but there is simply no way, at all, that the State Department’s diplomatic security services could ever have enough full time personnel to staff a full time security function in Iraq.
"There is no alternative except through contracts. And I would have to say that the capability and courage of the individuals who provide security under contract is worthy of respect of all Americans."
So, Mister Crocker, is the service that is provided by our military personnel not worthy of equal respect?
Please.
Richard L. Adlof wrote on September 12, 2007 10:32 AM:Will all the arms sold to Iraq be stamped:
Hecho in china
? ? ?
molly wrote on September 12, 2007 6:04 PM:Democracy Now @ 6p on link tv has an excellent program today about where the missing billions went in Iraq...2 Pulitzer prize winning reporters from Vanity Fair found out where the money went..as it turns out republican operatives got it. I told the ending but it's still worth watching.