Senators Ask Where $8.8 Bln in Iraq Funds Went

[Todd33]

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6022275

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - At least $8.8 billion in Iraqi funds that was given to Iraqi ministries by the former U.S.-led authority there cannot be accounted for, according to a draft U.S. audit set for release soon.

The audit by the Coalition Provisional Authority's own Inspector General blasts the CPA for "not providing adequate stewardship" of at least $8.8 billion from the Development Fund for Iraq that was given to Iraqi ministries.

The audit was first reported on a Web site earlier this month by journalist and retired Col. David Hackworth. A U.S. official confirmed the contents of the leaked audit cited by Hackworth (www.hackworth.com) were accurate.

The development fund is made up of proceeds from Iraqi oil sales, frozen assets from foreign governments and surplus from the U.N. Oil for Food Program. Its handling has already come under fire in a U.N.-mandated audit released last month.

One of the main benefactors of the Iraq funds was Texas-based firm Halliburton, which was paid more than a billion dollars out of those funds to bring in fuel for Iraqi civilians.

The monitoring board said despite repeated requests it had not been given access to U.S. audits of contracts held by Halliburton, which was once run by Vice President Dick Cheney, and other firms that used the development funds.

Not that anyone cares where our tax money goes.

 

[dmcowen674]

Well I can assure you none of it came my way. Dasm

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: Todd33
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6022275

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - At least $8.8 billion in Iraqi funds that was given to Iraqi ministries by the former U.S.-led authority there cannot be accounted for, according to a draft U.S. audit set for release soon.

The audit by the Coalition Provisional Authority's own Inspector General blasts the CPA for "not providing adequate stewardship" of at least $8.8 billion from the Development Fund for Iraq that was given to Iraqi ministries.

The audit was first reported on a Web site earlier this month by journalist and retired Col. David Hackworth. A U.S. official confirmed the contents of the leaked audit cited by Hackworth (www.hackworth.com) were accurate.

The development fund is made up of proceeds from Iraqi oil sales, frozen assets from foreign governments and surplus from the U.N. Oil for Food Program. Its handling has already come under fire in a U.N.-mandated audit released last month.

One of the main benefactors of the Iraq funds was Texas-based firm Halliburton, which was paid more than a billion dollars out of those funds to bring in fuel for Iraqi civilians.

The monitoring board said despite repeated requests it had not been given access to U.S. audits of contracts held by Halliburton, which was once run by Vice President Dick Cheney, and other firms that used the development funds.

Not that anyone cares where our tax money goes.

Reread your own post:

"The development fund is made up of proceeds from Iraqi oil sales, frozen assets from foreign governments and surplus from the U.N. Oil for Food Program. Its handling has already come under fire in a U.N.-mandated audit released last month.

Yes, something very fishy may begoing on here, but this isn't "our tax money." This is bad enough without you trying to sneak untruths into it.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Curiously, that's the best you have to offer . . . it's not our tax dollars?!

Wolfowitz went to Congress and accused THEIR oversight as the primary reason reconstruction was not further along. Rumsfeld was less confrontational but the typical refrain from DOD was the need for more "flexibility" in spending OUR tax dollars. Obviously, it was a good thing they did not have more "flexibility".

 

[Todd33]

Ya, none of our tax money is going over there, thank God. I mis-read that part as an example of of mishandling, my bad.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
Curiously, that's the best you have to offer . . . it's not our tax dollars?!

Wolfowitz went to Congress and accused THEIR oversight as the primary reason reconstruction was not further along. Rumsfeld was less confrontational but the typical refrain from DOD was the need for more "flexibility" in spending OUR tax dollars. Obviously, it was a good thing they did not have more "flexibility".

WTF? No, that's not the "best I have to offer". I wasn't aware I had been charged with defending these actions. My only point was to make it obvious that this article was not about Iraqi ministries being in charge of and mishandling our tax money, nothing more. I do think that something very odd, and quite possibly underhanded and sinister may be going on, but I can't make any accusations either way, without more info. Chill out.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
Curiously, that's the best you have to offer . . . it's not our tax dollars?!

Wolfowitz went to Congress and accused THEIR oversight as the primary reason reconstruction was not further along. Rumsfeld was less confrontational but the typical refrain from DOD was the need for more "flexibility" in spending OUR tax dollars. Obviously, it was a good thing they did not have more "flexibility".

WTF? No, that's not the "best I have to offer". I wasn't aware I had been charged with defending these actions. My only point was to make it obvious that this article was not about Iraqi ministries being in charge of and mishandling our tax money, nothing more. I do think that something very odd, and quite possibly underhanded and sinister may be going on, but I can't make any accusations either way, without more info. Chill out.

Dude, DOD is blowing cash hand over fist in Iraq . . . granted a lot went to Kuwait and Turkey. The wasted loot cited in the article is a pittance compared to the Amazonesque flow of cash from the US Treasury into the Middle Eastern desert.

My issue comes from DOD claiming the primary reason more has not been accomplished in Iraq has been the oversight by Congress and limited "flexibility" in spending US dollars. I call BS. This article is just more proof that Iraq is a sinkhole regardless of the source of funding.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

A few billion here, a few billion there, and pretty soon you're talking about some real money . . .

 

[Darthvoy]

Originally posted by: DonVito
A few billion here, a few billion there, and pretty soon you're talking about some real money . . .

I just wanted to comment on GeneralGrievious' comment,

"Clearly the average welfare recipient is intellectually inferior (ie lacking capability in that department). Not surprising, really, given that they are so many blacks and hispanics in that category. How many employers do you know that are looking for retards for their jobs?"

Actually in my sociology class at UCLA, the majority of welfare recepients are whites. It just angers me that he would make such comment without doing some research. At that point he sounds like an ignorant hick racist who thinks whites are superior.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Originally posted by: Darthvoy

Originally posted by: DonVito
A few billion here, a few billion there, and pretty soon you're talking about some real money . . .

I just wanted to comment on GeneralGrievious' comment,

"Clearly the average welfare recipient is intellectually inferior (ie lacking capability in that department). Not surprising, really, given that they are so many blacks and hispanics in that category. How many employers do you know that are looking for retards for their jobs?"

Actually in my sociology class at UCLA, the majority of welfare recepients are whites. It just angers me that he would make such comment without doing some research. At that point he sounds like an ignorant hick racist who thinks whites are superior.

Uh OK . . . good point . . . but WTF are you talking about?

 

[Darthvoy]

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc

Originally posted by: Darthvoy

Originally posted by: DonVito
A few billion here, a few billion there, and pretty soon you're talking about some real money . . .

I just wanted to comment on GeneralGrievious' comment,

"Clearly the average welfare recipient is intellectually inferior (ie lacking capability in that department). Not surprising, really, given that they are so many blacks and hispanics in that category. How many employers do you know that are looking for retards for their jobs?"

Actually in my sociology class at UCLA, the majority of welfare recepients are whites. It just angers me that he would make such comment without doing some research. At that point he sounds like an ignorant hick racist who thinks whites are superior.

Uh OK . . . good point . . . but WTF are you talking about?

Look ar DonVito's signature...I know this is not the place for that, but I had to reply after seeing that. Here's the link.. http://www.highbeam.com/library/doc0.asp?docid=1G1:18744024&refid=ink_g5s1&skeyword=&teaser=

 

[Zephyr106]

No sh!t sherlock there's alot of poor rural whites in this country.

And the epidemic of crack whore welfare moms with a dozen children running around is overstated.

But those stereotypes of neggers sure do stick.

Zephyr

 

[conjur]

Anyone check the GOP's coffers lately?

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: DonVito
A few billion here, a few billion there, and pretty soon you're talking about some real money . . .

Even HS doesn't have money to throw around like that