Reagan's NSA Head: Iraq "the greatest strategic disaster in U.S. history" - Bush History, 8/3

President Reagan's top man at the National Security Agency, Lt. General William Odom, says that the invasion of Iraq will prove to be "the greatest strategic disaster in U.S. history". Also in the news on this date, auditors report to Congress on wasted millions of taxpayer dollars to American contractors in Iraq.

Read the details ...

http://poorgeorgesalmanac.com/?p=356

Today's categories: Incompetence, Iraq, Revolt of the Generals






Click here for the dirt -> http://poorgeorgesalmanac.com/?p=356
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That's what I do for a living. Accounting. All day, every day. I'm a bean counter. And I always say, "You Get the Bean Counter You Deserve." That's my motto.

As a bean counter for a public school, I'm am subject to an audit each and every year. I have to be able to account for every single dollar that comes in and goes out. I have to submit my financial data to the state each year, and if it varies by more than ONE DOLLAR, my data is kicked back until I fix the "error". There is no "materiality" for me.

I have independent auditors who come in for several weeks each summer. They analyze all the financials, check the bank recs against actuals, and also test the federal grants to make sure we're using the funds according to the correct federal rules. If we're out of compliance, we get a letter that goes straight to the State Auditor's office, to the superintendent and the Board of Education. Within a few months, we have to either pay the money back, or show how we were in compliance.

And yet, time after time after time, I keep reading how the feds can't account for . . . not one dollar . . . not $10,000 . . . but MULTIPLE MILLIONS of dollars! Over and Over and Over again. I just don't understand it. All the harping on how schools waste money, how we spend too much on administration (and I'd like to see how much THEY spend on admin. when they have to be audited every year). And yet, I can account for every penny. And they just "misplace" millions and millions constantly.

I just don't understand it.

Where could it have gone? How many millions or billions do you need to be happy? How much power? Think about it. Put yourself in their place and try to picture what you could possibly do with all that money that cannot be accounted for. Remember, we haven't seen the books for the past 8 years.

Beyond that, how were they allowed to grant all of these no-bid contracts and get by with it year after year after year? New Orleans has a major disaster and one of the first remedies they come up with? Buy out the rooms on cruise ships? I haven't been able to lift my lower jaw from that one, yet!

I believe the banks must alert the IRS if we make a deposit over $10K, or whatever the reporting level is. Suppose they notified the IRS? Since foreign banks don't go by our rules, you can almost figure out where that money is sitting.

Some day we will surely know the answer.

had it not been for that strategic decision, the war with Iraq and many other disasters which have occurred over the past almost eight years wouldn't have.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/searchresults.html?q=12%2F12%2F00&sitesearch=democraticunderground.com&sa=Search&domains=democraticunderground.com&client=pub-7805397860504090&forid=1&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&cof=GALT%3A%23008000%3BGL%3A1%3BDIV%3A%23336699%3BVLC%3A663399%3BAH%3Acenter%3BBGC%3AFFFFFF%3BLBGC%3A336699%3BALC%3A0000FF%3BLC%3A0000FF%3BT%3A000000%3BGFNT%3A0000FF%3BGIMP%3A0000FF%3BFORID%3A11&hl=en

I have a flag pole where I proudly fly the American flag year round.

But on December 12th each year, I bring down Old Glory and fly my Democratic "Donkey" flag.

I will never forget.

Never - ever forget.

:thumbsup:

:P

He was an intelligent and honorable man. I feel privileged to have known him briefly.