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Wed, 18 Jan 2007 01:06:13 GMT

posted by The_Zimbio_Team
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Pay First, Ask Questions Later

Fri, 24 May 2008 13:00:00 GMT

posted by timotjb
The US military's reliance on private contractors to perform most functions of the Iraq occupation, including combat, is well-documented, as is the favored status of KBR, a company with ties to Dick Cheney. The program is far from a success, with embarassing revelations ranging from the inane to the outrageous. Despite the obvious violations of logic and competency, the Bush administration had tried to slip wording into legislation that would have granted immunity to contractors committing fraud in the performance of overseas contracts.

Now, a recently-concluded Pentagon audit of roughly $8 billion spent on contractors in Iraq found that "none of the payments followed federal rules and...in some cases, contracts worth millions of dollars were paid for despite little or no record of what, if anything, was received."

In one case, according to documents displayed by Pentagon auditors at the hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, a cash payment of $320.8 million in Iraqi money was authorized on the basis of a single signature and the words “Iraqi Salary Payment” on an invoice. In another, $11.1 million of taxpayer money was paid to IAP, an American contractor, on the basis of a voucher with no indication of what was delivered.

It was hard to comprehend paying a 22-year-old for Cold War-era, degraded ammunition to supply the Afghans. It is much harder to comprehend that money is being given to anyone with a hastily-written IOU in their hands and asking nothing more.

The Pentagon report covered the money of the US tax payers, but the government proved equally adept and proficient at wasting the Iraqis' money, too.

The disclosure that $1.8 billion in Iraqi assets was mishandled comes on top of an earlier finding by an independent federal oversight agency, the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, that United States occupation authorities early in the conflict could not account for the disbursement of $8.8 billion in Iraqi oil money and seized assets.

That $1.8 billion consisted of seized Iraqi assets and is currently unaccounted for. Doled out in cash, but to where nobody knows.

Our American Heroes

Tue, 28 Nov 2007 05:36:00 GMT

posted by jzpennington
I just wanted to write about something that I hold near and dear to my heart in this post. There are thousands of Americans fighting for our freedom in different parts of the world right now. I get upset when I see my beloved left wing radical liberals attacking our brave men and women who are serving our country. My Grandpa fought in World War II. He was in the battle of the bulge. He served his country bravely. He was really my dad, because he raised me along with my grandma and mom. He was my hero, and will always be. Part of the reason he ended up raising me is because of the problems my dad had after he served in the Army in the Vietnam war. I dont have much of a relationship with my father, because I never met him until I was 16. We have had an on again off again relationship since then. But, despite it all, I respect him for what he did for his country. Some people dont understand the amazing sacrifice that these people make. Some come back without limbs, and terrible injuries. Some have been disfigured, burned, and some may look fine on the outside, but they are emotionally torn apart by what they saw, and the battles that they were in and deal with it every day for the rest of their lives. And of course, some pay the ultimate price in death. I recently went with my wife to the Marine Corp ball in Cincinatti, Ohio. It was a great experience to see the pride on these young men and women's faces, and to see how much they love their country. My brother in law, Jay, is a United States Marine. He already put in his 4 years, and then re-enlisted. We kid around, and he gives me a hard time a lot, but I think the world of him because he serves our country, and is a great man. I worry about him possibly having to go to Iraq, but I know that is why he signed up, to defend his country. I appreciate everyone man and woman who serves in every branch of our armed forces. When I see a person in uniform back here in the states, I try to make it a point to go and shake their hand and thank them for their service. You can tell that they appreciate it very much, so next time you see someone in uniform, stop and talk to them, or at least tell them thank you. It is because of them, and the men and women who served before them that we are able to live in a great country and be free.