US spending in Iraq ignored rulesAn audit of some $8bn (£4bn) paid to US and Iraqi contractors has found that almost every payment failed to comply with US laws aimed at preventing fraud.
In one instance, $11m was paid to a US company without any record of what goods or services were provided, the US defence department audit said.
US spending of another $1.8bn in seized Iraqi assets was also poorly handled.
The findings, covering the period from 2001 to 2006, will fuel anti-war Democrats' claims of mismanagement.
They accuse the Bush administration of relying too heavily on contractors to run the Iraq war and paying too little attention to problems of corruption and fraud.
Continues:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7416253.stmAnd this one from the host of the documentary has some interesting info too...
BBC uncovers lost Iraq billionsA BBC investigation estimates that around $23bn (£11.75bn) may have been lost, stolen or just not properly accounted for in Iraq.
The BBC's Panorama programme has used US and Iraqi government sources to research how much some private contractors have profited from the conflict and rebuilding.
A US gagging order is preventing discussion of the allegations. The order applies to 70 court cases against some of the top US companies.
While Presdient George W Bush remains in the White House, it is unlikely the gagging orders will be lifted.
=snip=
Missing billionsThe search for the missing billions also led the programme to a house in Acton in west London where Hazem Shalaan lived until he was appointed to the new Iraqi government as minister of defence in 2004.
He and his associates siphoned an estimated $1.2bn out of the ministry. They bought old military equipment from Poland but claimed for top-class weapons.
Meanwhile they diverted money into their own accounts.
Judge Radhi al-Radhi of Iraq's Commission for Public Integrity investigated.
He said: "I believe these people are criminals.
"They failed to rebuild the Ministry of Defence, and as a result the violence and the bloodshed went on and on - the murder of Iraqis and foreigners continues and they bear responsibility."
Mr Shalaan was sentenced to two jail terms but he fled the country.
He said he was innocent and that it was all a plot against him by pro-Iranian MPs in the government.
There is an Interpol arrest warrant out for him but he is on the run - using a private jet to move around the globe.
He stills owns commercial properties in the Marble Arch area of London.
From:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7444083.stmIt was posted on DU lat year but didn't get a lot of replies...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3558190The question this raises is, when will President Obama lift the gagging order?
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