Can't account for nearly half of the $4 billion the war costs per month

[papau]

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/6803855.htm

Kennedy says case for Iraq war was fraud

By STEVE LeBLANCAssociated PressBOSTON

....Kennedy also said the Bush administration has failed to account for nearly half of the $4 billion the war is costing each month. He said he believes much of the unaccounted-for money is being used to bribe foreign leaders to send in troops.....Kennedy said a recent report by the Congressional Budget Office showed that only about $2.5 billion of the $4 billion being spent monthly on the war can be accounted for by the Bush administration."My belief is this money is being shuffled all around to these political leaders in all parts of the world, bribing them to send in troops," he said.Of the $87 billion in new money requested by President Bush for the war, Kennedy said the administration should be required to report back to the Congress to account for the spending."We want to support our troops because they didn't make the decision to go there ... but I don't think it should be open-ended. We ought to have a benchmark where the administration has to come back and give us a report," he added.

Kennedy said the focus on Iraq has drawn the nation's attention away from more direct threats, including al-Qaida, instability in Afghanistan or the nuclear ambitions of North Korea. <snip>"

[TacticalPeek]

1. Ah yes, 'The Enterprise'

is what snagged many Iran-Contra crooks. May the circle be unbroken.

Follow the money.

[papau]

5. Only if the media defends the Constitution will Bush suffer for the theft

Iran Contra had treason and impeachment on the ramp - instead we name a Ship for Bush41, an airport for Reagan, give Ollie a gig as official Fox patriot

and add the gang of 30 to the payroll under Bush43.

Not that our media is right wing controlled - or do not understand that the Pres can only spend money on what is authorized by Congress - they just act that way.

[Jacobin]

2. And to think that all those Smirk supporters are against any kind of

"foreign aid".

Guess bribery doesn't count

[Skittles]

3. Check Dick's pockets

f***ing thief

[realFedUp]

9. Republican WAM

a little walking around money...check W's pockets.

[PurityOfEssence]

4. Hey, petty cash, man

Ya can't expect us to cough up every receipt.

Hell, the Art Department alone's working around the clock.

Who do you have to plook to get off this picture...er, war?

[fizzana]

6. go get 'em

If this can be proved Bush is truly sunk.

[denverbill]

7. Oddly, Halliburton can't account for $2 billion in profits that month.

Would anyone be surprised? I wouldn't.

[whirlygigspin]

8. how about the full article?

BOSTON - The case for going to war against Iraq was a fraud "made up in Texas" to give Republicans a political boost, Sen. Edward Kennedy said Thursday.


In an interview with The Associated Press, Kennedy also said the Bush administration has failed to account for nearly half of the $4 billion the war is costing each month. He said he believes much of the unaccounted-for money is being used to bribe foreign leaders to send in troops.

He called the Bush administration's current Iraq policy "adrift."

The Massachusetts Democrat expressed doubts about how serious a threat Saddam Hussein posed to the United States in its battle against terrorism. He said administration officials relied on "distortion, misrepresentation, a selection of intelligence" to justify their case for war.

"There was no imminent threat. This was made up in Texas, announced in January to the Republican leadership that war was going to take place and was going to be good politically. This whole thing was a fraud," Kennedy said.

[leftofthedial]

10. don't forget cheney's Bu$hco severance package

That's about $2B isn't it?

[kayell]

11. And you can bet that any time

a bunch of covert bribery is going on, that at least 1/2 that money is siphoned off here and there. The war in Iraq is an excellent method of transfering the nations wealth into the pockets of the nations wealthy.