NYT: Questions are Raised on Awarding of Contracts in Iraq

[priller]

Another chapter in the continuing saga of corruption that is BushCo:
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BAGHDAD, Iraq, Oct. 3 — Last month the Iraqi Governing Council questioned why the American occupation authority had issued a $20 million contract to buy new revolvers and Kalashnikov rifles for the Iraqi police when the United States military was confiscating tens of thousands of weapons every month from Saddam Hussein's abandoned arsenals.

On Wednesday the Iraqi council, in a testy exchange with the occupation administrator, L. Paul Bremer III, challenged an American decision to spend $1.2 billion to train 35,000 Iraqi police officers in Jordan when such training could be done in Iraq for a fraction of the cost. Germany and France have offered to provide such training free.

These decisions are being questioned by Iraqi officials as Congress is also seeking to examine how the American occupation authority and the military are spending billions of dollars here. Iraqi officials and businessmen charge that millions of dollars in contracts are being awarded without competitive bidding, some of them to former cronies of Mr. Hussein's government.

"There is no transparency," said Mahmoud Othman, a Kurdish member of the Governing Council, "and something has to be done about it. "There is mismanagement right and left, and I think we have to sit with Congress face to face to discuss this. A lot of American money is being wasted, I think. We are victims and the American taxpayers are victims."

article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/04/international/middleeast/04SPEN.html

[priller]

1. And one more example

of the way business works under BushCo:

An American businessman, who would not allow his name to be used, said the occupation authority was doling out contracts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars by simply telephoning favored companies and announcing, "I have a contract for you," as he characterized a telephone call he received this week.

[LittleApple81]

2. THERE IS TRANSPARENCY. TRANSPARENT CORRUPTION.

It is so transparent that nobody wants to see it.

[Spazito]

3. Ahhh, this explains why...

the Bush Admin is now "cooling" their relationship with the head of the council, Chalabi. I guess Chalabi couldn't wait for his payoff so he is pushing the Bush admin.

[hang a left]

4. "A lot of American money is being wasted.

I think. We are the victims and the American taxpayers are victims."

There are too many victims. American troops and their loved ones. Iraqi citizens and their loved ones. I cannot believe the human suffering that has been allowed for profit. It is beyond words.

[damnraddem]

5. It's transparent to the Iraqis.

Americans are now seeing better, but they still need some vision correction. Unfortunately, the Iraqis are the ones paying for American delay in understanding what's going on, and doing something about it.

[fizzana]

6. Follow the money - this is where the real scandal is.

n/t

[gristy]

7. The KICKER here is it takes the friggin' Iraqi's to make this case!

On Wednesday the Iraqi council, in a testy exchange with the occupation administrator, L. Paul Bremer III, challenged an American decision to spend $1.2 billion to train 35,000 Iraqi police officers in Jordan when such training could be done in Iraq for a fraction of the cost. Germany and France have offered to provide such training free.

These decisions are being questioned by Iraqi officials as Congress is also seeking to examine how the American occupation authority and the military are spending billions of dollars here. Iraqi officials and businessmen charge that millions of dollars in contracts are being awarded without competitive bidding, some of them to former cronies of Mr. Hussein's government.

:wtf:

[TacticalPeek]

8. It doe$n't talk, it $wear$.

A gold mine of reporting would be available if someone put some forensic accountants on this. Pulitizers for the taking.

Nah, back to Kobe.

:mad:

[harper]

10. Boy, I agree

Some reporter's reputation would be made by exposing how our tax dollars are being doled out. Also politicians...remember the Truman Commission in WWII. But, as you say, we have more important things to talk about...J-Lo and Ben and Kobe.

[realFedUp]

9. Some smart reporter ought to ask

why USAID contracts were written and signed
last October.

[lovedems]

11. I hope this lands more press!

Since the BushCo. just asked for additional funds, let the people see that his "fiscal responsiblity" is just another lie.