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Foreign Service Union Calls on State IG to Resign
I'm late in noticing this, but last week the American Foreign Service Association -- the foreign-service officers' union -- took a look at Rep. Henry Waxman's accusations that State Department Inspector General Howard "Cookie" Krongard obstructed corruption investigations into contracting for Iraq and Afghanistan. AFSA came to a pretty severe judgment: Krongard's got to go.
From a statement by AFSA chief John K. Naland:
"The worse-case scenario in corruption is when it endangers lives. The worse-case scenario in public service is when the watchdog becomes the suspected violator. Both of these allegations have been leveled against Mr. Krongard. As long as he maintains day-to-day control, his office’s ability to do its vital job with full credibility will be compromised. He should step down until the allegations are resolved one way or another."
The statement also says that several "concerned former State Department employees with direct knowledge of some of the events in question" have come to AFSA with their Krongard-related tales of mismanaged corruption inquiries. Waxman will hold a hearing on Thursday into Iraq-related corruption, with or without Krongard's appearance.
Comments (3)
Ugh wrote on September 24, 2007 5:54 PM:Waxman will hold a hearing on Thursday into Iraq-related corruption, with or without Krongard's appearance.
Per Waxman's original letter, Mr. Krongard was asked to appear before the committee on October 16th (or thereabouts), so I'm not sure what his appearance or lack thereof on Thursday is supposed to indicate.
Plus I don't read AFSA's statement as a call for resignation, but more akin to a leave of absence until the questions are resolved (although perhaps that's a distinction without a difference).
All that being said, keep up the good work on this issue.
anonymouse wrote on September 24, 2007 6:06 PM:Mr. Krongard... you are the latest to have been found guilty of corruption.
Your penalty will be as harsh as everyone else's. Oh, and can I get an autographed copy of your new book?
Carl lee wrote on September 24, 2007 9:29 PM:There are way too many krony-guards in this administration.
The fascists were the first to realize that if the people don't get the facts, then beliefs and opinion carry more weight. You can't rightly act without good information.