Kucinich Demands Investigation Of Missing $9 Billion In Iraq

[sarahlee]

Mon Jan 31st, 2005 at 18:26:13 CST
Ranking Member on National Security Oversight Committee Calls For Federal Grand Jury Investigation and Congressional Hearings

WASHINGTON -- January 31 -- Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH), the Ranking Member on the House Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, today demanded a broad investigation of the $9 billion in missing reconstruction funds in Iraq, including a criminal investigation and Congressional hearings.

Kucinich will send two letters today calling for a full investigation into the missing $9 billion in funds in Iraq. One letter will be sent to Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT), Chairman of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, requesting an immediate Congressional hearing. The second letter will be sent to United States Attorney General-designate Alberto Gonzales demanding a criminal investigation, including a grand jury, by the United States Department of Justice.

"In view of this Administration's tendency for covert or secret operations, there is no assurance that these funds were not misused for illegal or unauthorized activities," stated Kucinich. "The Administration, the Department of Defense, and Coalition Provisional Authority must be held directly responsible for this staggering lack of accountability of $9 billion. If ever there was a reason for a grand jury to start asking questions of high ranking federal government officials, this is it."

Kucinich's actions followed a report issued yesterday, by the special inspector general (IG) for Iraq, Stuart Bowen Jr., which stated the U.S. occupation authority in Iraq was unable to keep track of nearly $9 billion in funds it transferred to government ministries between October 2003 and June 2004.

"It is simply not believable that the Administration lost track of every dime of the funds. The Administration willfully turned a blind eye and allowed the misuse of funds, and now must be held accountable," continued Kucinich.

http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0131-11.htm

IG report on Iraq funds
http://www.democrats.reform.house.gov/Documents/20050131142335-51836.pdf


Now... let's see... the corporate feudalists have been whining about the UN loosing some money over the years of the Oil For Food program... seems like turn around is fair play....

[Goldeneye]

1. Oh Kucinich, I love you.

"In view of this Administration's tendency for covert or secret operations, there is no assurance that these funds were not misused for illegal or unauthorized activities," stated Kucinich. "The Administration, the Department of Defense, and Coalition Provisional Authority must be held directly responsible for this staggering lack of accountability of $9 billion. If ever there was a reason for a grand jury to start asking questions of high ranking federal government officials, this is it."

[genius]

9. Time to start the Kucinich for President 2008 campaign.

[kcass1954]

29. I was mistaken during the primaries last year...

By the time we got around to Florida, Kucinich was so far out of it that it really didn't matter what happened here. I didn't bother to learn anything about him - a HUGE mistake on my part.

[govegan]

68. Definitely!!!

Last Sunday Dennis was in Tacoma and Seattle, where he gave a detailed presentation about Social Security and uncovering the right-wing lies, along with Seattle Congressman Jim McDermott.

Kucinich's presidential campaign website (www.kucinich.us) is being retooled in the next few weeks to focus on the Social Security issues. This promises to be a great resource for confronting the disinformation campaigns of the right.

Kucinich for President in 2008 (if we are so blessed as to survive four more years of the neofascist morons).

[Tigress DEM]

87. Where was Kucinich in August of 2004?

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article6776.htm
<snip>
08/19/04 -- WASHINGTON (Reuters) - At least $8.8 billion in Iraqi funds that was given to Iraqi ministries by the former U.S.-led authority there cannot be accounted for, according to a draft U.S. audit set for release soon
<snip>
Three Democratic senators -- Ron Wyden of Oregon, Tom Harkin from Iowa and Byron Dorgan of North Dakota -- demanded an explanation from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld over the use of the funds by the CPA, which handed over authority to the Iraqis in June.

``The CPA apparently transferred this staggering sum of money with no written rules or guidelines for ensuring adequate managerial, financial or contractual controls over the funds,'' said the letter sent by the senators on Thursday.

[Tigress DEM]

88. I honestly don't know. Was he in a position to address this then?

[rodeodance]

15. he wants to hold the Adm. accountable--many have tried but no

success thus far. Good luck!!

[cthrumatrix]

52. clearly Dennis "hates mericans" for wanting the truth

[porkrind]

80. Kucinich is a hero!

"In view of this Administration's tendency for covert or secret operations, there is no assurance that these funds were not misused for illegal or unauthorized activities"

Wonderfully said. This criminal bullshit has got to stop! You would think this would make all the papers tommorrow, but it won't. We have propaganda instead of news.

[paineinthearse]

2. Remember the thanksgiving video

where * made lite of finding the missing WMD's in his office behind the curtain? Perhaps he'll do a sequil.

[sarahlee]

4. Hummm

Maybe the new puppy ran off with it.

[frankly_fedup2]

61. Now THAT is funny (thanx cause if I don't laugh I'd be crying) nt

nt

[Betsy Ross]

3. We were in a hurry.

They don't understand western accounting. We never saw the money.

I just chased down a missing nine cents in my checkbook. Maybe I could help out.

[fliesincircles]

5. I wonder if

Bremmer has already sold his medal on ebay.

[AwakeAtLast]

6. That is stupendous!

Nominated for homepage. This needs to get out!

:bounce:

[sarahlee]

8. Thanks!

n/t

[Sperk]

7. ya think? If this isn't a "no brainer", I don't know what is.

A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon you're talking real money.

[Bleys]

10. Awesome

The country needs more people in Congress like Kucinich and Conyers. Willing to fight the machine rather than be a part of it.

-josh
mockriot - news discussion

[gizmo1979]

11. What's 9 billion among friends?

I would imagine that's the tip of the iceberg.When that much money is flying around there is no telling where it all went.

[xultar]

12. I LOVE YOU DENNIS!!!!! n/t

[dweller]

13. Kickin for Kucinich!

:kick:


kool...
dp

[rodeodance]

14. no small change is it!!

[sarahlee]

16. Waxman and Lantos Call for Hearings on Iraq Funds Mismanagement

The rest of the calvery coming in:

Reps. Waxman and Lantos Call for Hearings on Iraq Funds Mismanagement

Today Rep. Waxman and Rep. Lantos called for investigative hearings on the Administration's mismanagement of nearly $9 billion from the Development Fund for Iraq. The text of the letter to Chairman Davis follows.

January 31, 2005

The Honorable Tom Davis
Chairman
Committee on Government Reform
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. Chairman:

We are writing to request that the Committee or an appropriate subcommittee hold investigative hearings on the Bush Administration's mismanagement of the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI). In particular, we request that the Committee review in detail a report issued yesterday by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction finding that the Administration failed to properly account for over $8.8 billion in DFI funds disbursed to Iraqi government ministries.<1> This monumental sum represents two-thirds of the total amount of Iraqi funds expended by the Bush Administration during its tenure as sovereign of Iraq.<2>

http://blog.dccc.org/mt/archives/002044.html

[Sparkly]

17. I suggest we write to our own representatives in support of this

We should write to our representatives urging them to investigate, in support of Kucinich and Waxman.

Also maybe email Shays and Davis. Who else is on that committee?

I'm off to write!!

[me b zola]

19. Yes, I agree we should write to our Congress to demand an investigation

We should also write to editors so that this story will not just be another footnote of the sham of this administration. Also, if writing op-ed pieces, please put in context of the neocons talking points about fiscal responsibility, etc.

[Sparkly]

22. Here's a site where you can write to your representatives and a sample

http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/cgi-bin/mailform2.cgi?site=ctc

Here's what I sent:

Dear ****:
I'm writing to urge you to support thorough investigations into the
missing $8.8 billion that was disbursed to Iraqi government ministries.
According to the report of the Special Inspector General for Iraq
Reconstruction, the Bush administration failed to properly account for
these funds.

I hope you'll join Congressman Kucinich, Congressman Waxman and others
in pressing for investigation of this matter, and holding accountable
anyone who misused the funds.

Thanks very much!

Sincerely,

****

[jenn1977]

63. Thanks for the website

It'll save me time when writing letters, so now I can write even MORE.

[elshiva]

81. Thanks for the Website, Sparkly!

I sent out the letter using your text (I hope you don't mind!) Great site wrote it down for future use.
Marry me Dennis!

[me b zola]

18. Hardly a peep from the MSM

I've been wondering all day if this is going to get swept under the rug along with the other thousand or so criminal scandels of this administration.

This, from a party that preaches fiscal responsibility to the poor & disenfranchised??? Every one of them were so frickin glad to get their taxes cut (never mind that almost all of that $$ benifited the wealthiest 1%). What's their motto...it's our $$, we should spend it the way we want to.

Thank You, Mr. Kucinich, for demanding an investigation & acountability for this matter. I say not one more frigging dime to line the pockets of the wealthy or to fund illegal operations.

[sarahlee]

25. Great Idea

and great letter! Off to write some myself...

[DUBYASCREWEDUS]

59. OF COURSE!

The Media is too busy covering such "important" issues as the Michael Jackson trial! Disgusting.
By the way, Kucinich is from my hometown! Go, Dennis, Go!

[frankly_fedup2]

62. I hate to sound stupid but what is MSM? (nt)

[me b zola]

65. Main stream media eom

[EVDebs]

20. As a Dem he has no power. He should demand the Inspector General

of the Iraq CPA and/or the DoD to do their jobs ! That may take some doing as the DoD can't account for a missing $2.3 TRILLION

see War on Waste
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/01/29/eveningnews/main325985.shtml

""According to some estimates we cannot track $2.3 trillion in transactions," Rumsfeld admitted."

[Disturbed]

21. Is this part of the $18 Billion ...

that went missing?

[LWolf]

79. Dennis spoke about this the first time I went to hear him speak.

Early in the primaries. He actually talked at length about it. It was the first I'd heard of it, and he is still the only politician I've ever heard mention it. There may have been others talking; I don't do tv, so I could have missed it.

But 2.3 TRILLION; you'd think someone would mention it once in awhile.

[leesa]

23. One of the few with cajones. Dennis, Waxman and the entire Black Caucus,

heroes all!

[sarahlee]

33. and our

honorable Senator Boxer. They give me hope.

[StephanieMarie]

24. Can we impeach him yet?

[Just Me]

26. As should every RESPONSIBLE "representative",...

,...regardless of their "party" affiliation!!!!!

[no name no slogan]

27. Keep on fighting Dennis!!!!!

Thank you Rep. Kucinich for staying true! We're behind you 100%!

[burythehatchet]

28. boy, Fox has been reporting on this missing money NON-STOP

just like they did the oil-for-food "scandal"

:eyes:

[frankly_fedup2]

89. Strange, but they may have a new rogue reporter who doesn't . . .

understand how they usually report things on that network.

[burythehatchet]

90. sorry frank

my sarcasm knows no bounds

[Capn Sunshine]

30. Dennis the K is on the case!

How I wih the axe grinders would drop thier flame wars and unite behind this man's efforts to get at the truth!

But nooooooo, it seems they have to stop Dean ----again.

[dpbrown]

31. DId Oil for Food lose $8 billion?

DK, kicking ass for real people. I love that guy.

[RaleighNCDUer]

54. That's about the number I heard --

of course, that was over a 12 year period, not 15 months.

[dweller]

32. another k k k k ...

:kick: for the Kooch!


kickass DK.
dp

[KnowerOfLogic]

34. Hey, it's unpatriotic to investigate that! nt

[Tinoire]

35. What good news for a change. Every little dent! n/t

[zulchzulu]

36. Go Dennis Go!

Let's start the impeachment trials BEFORE 2006.

[Cha]

37. That's our tax money!

Thanks, Dennis for not rolling over!

From what I saw on DU this morning..katie couric accepted bremer's explanation of what happened with a "thank you"?!

[Pepperbelly]

38. He's absolutely right. I don't know why I didn't think of it.

Very good, Dennis. Very good.

[IndianaGreen]

39. Go Dennis, go!

You just don't lose $9B unless it went into someone's pockets, shall we spell A-L-L-A-W-I, and his pals.

[RaleighNCDUer]

55. Well, a good part of it probably went to Chalabi --

and since Chalabi was working for Iran, that means, in effect, it went to Iran.

That's why * is so hot for war on Iran -- he just wants to get our money back!

[Pepperbelly]

40. kick

:kick:

[OneTwentyoNine]

41. Hum...paid to Halliburton for asbestos lawsuits? Go look at their books...

Might find something real interesting....

[LWolf]

42. Early morning kick

:kick:

:thumbsup:

[Red State Rebel]

43. After 15 mil went missing from Dept. of Ed. years back I've given up

on financial accountability. Money is thrown at problems that are never solved and we are the ones footing the bill.

[sarahlee]

45. and the Pentegon

is missing money.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has lost a lot of the tribes' money that they are supposed to hold/manage in trust.

But hey... just you try singing the same song to the IRS.

[Red State Rebel]

46. You are right, - I forgot about those...

We just finished dealing with the IRS with our business - you don't have to say another word!

[RaleighNCDUer]

57. Dealing with the IRS, it's safest not to... nt

[leesa]

44. Look in Cheney's pockets.

[daydreamer]

47. Can you imagine

what the Repuges would have done if Clinton gave BILLIONS to a foreign government with $9 BILLIONS unaccounted for?

[Mist]

48. On C-SPAN this morning Bill Krystal framed it as

"Iraqis do business in a very different way from us--they don't keep track of funds the way we do." Nope, no accountability for *'s maladministration - it's "Iraqi business practices."

[Lydia Leftcoast]

49. Yeah, right, 9 billion dollars worth of

baksheesh? That's a lot of palms greased. :eyes:

[sarahlee]

50. Thanks lulu

Re: "Iraqis do business in a very different way from us--they don't keep track of funds the way we do."

I missed that. Great that Krystal cleared it up. I guess they keep financial accounting records the same way they kept account of the WMDs.</sarcasim>

Was Krystal saying we just turned the money over with no oversight?

Now, bad as it is, the other Govt. agencies BIA, Pentegon, etc.) that seem to have misplaced a ton of money (no doubt it comes from employees taking home pens and paperclips) had years and years to "misplace" and loose their amounts. The Iraq invasion hasn't been going on all that long.

Ya know, when they are talking about lowering social security benefits, cutting veterans benefits, etc., etc. then I gotta say, "loosing" that about of money when it could have gone to helping our vets and elderly and provided more teachers for our children .... well, I can't just brush it off that easily.

[sacxtra]

51. here's a thought. . .

I post this as humor, but think how much MIGHT be saved.


Maybe another 790 billion dollars should be used to create domestic
security by placing camera's and installing some other security
devices AT the government, it's offices, it's supplies, it's leaders
(If they want biometric chips next, then THEY GOTTA WEAR em now! and
they GOtta wear the OneS WE Put in there!), and our money in REAL
TIME RUN BY PUBLIC, so that the leaders and thug life friends of our country
can't rip us off.

I post this as humor, but think how much MIGHT be saved.

They'd probably still rip us off by trying to fly the money and stuff
out.

damn

[Q]

53. It seems the Bush government does business in a very different way...

...than is required for tax dollars spent from the US treasury.

This is fraud on a grand scale. They only way they can get away with it is if Kucinich is left alone to fight this by himself.

[RaleighNCDUer]

58. Funny, I thought that the lack of accounting for WMDs was

proof of fraud and evil intent, and they were obviously lying to us. But lack of accounting for this money is just business as usual?

[ernstbass]

56. Marry me Dennis!

[frankly_fedup2]

60. On Crossfire yesterday Begala brought it up and Mr. Novak, . . .

the reporter who can oust a CIA agent and have nothing else said to him about it said the following,

BEGALA: The special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction has issued a scathing report on alleged financial mismanagement of Iraqi reconstruction funds. The report says that, under Paul Bremer, the Coalition Provisional Authority did not monitor the spending of $8.8 billion, opening the door to charges of potential corruption.

The report, for example, claims that one ministry, which had just 602 guards, had enough money to pay 8,206 guards. Similarly, hundreds of millions were spent by ministries without even so much as a budget. Mr. Bremer, safe in America now while American soldiers die in Iraq, was given the Medal of Freedom by President Bush despite providing -- presiding, that is, over this debacle of an occupation. Perhaps Mr. Bremer reminds President Bush of one of his closest friends, someone who was accused of being a little funny with the money, former Enron CEO Kenny-boy Lay. So that's maybe why he likes him so much.

NOVAK: Paul, you know, the -- Mr. Bremer has said that you couldn't expect that, on the wake of this war, to have American standards of accounting in looking at what was going on. Nobody is accused of corruption. It just isn't perfect accounting. And there is absolutely no similarity, and you know that, to the Enron ripoff, not at all.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0501/31/cf.01.html

Let's see, my husband and myself are going to owe an additional $1100 this year in federal taxes alone (because during the year we did not deduct the monthly taxes from my disability check. Yeah, I get disability, but I am suppose to pay taxes out of it). I wonder, would the IRS accept a note from us when we send in our taxes that we think it's just an error somewhere that we cannot find? Hell no . . . they'd be coming after our home, cars, whatever they could get.

I'm tired of this government not having to follow the law of the land. Are we going to have to write up different laws for our legislators because, obviously, they do not have to answer to anyone. Maybe we need to add a commission of ordinary people (kind of like when a jury is selected). Stop the "showy" committee hearings that get us nowhere. That is OUR F***ing money and they need to tell us where it is going. We should be able to access that information whenever we please.

I'm so sick of government period. Everything about it is corrupt. From the White House down to the local school board in this country.

Then I read yesterday that both Kerry and Bush spent over $600 million for this presidential run. Now that's okay, but the Republicans dare (FRIGGIN DARE) to call Social Security Retirement "welfare" for the elderly. I don't know about you all, but I have paid into that trust fund all my life. They can just give me my money back, and then they can call it anything they want.

fed up, fed up, fed up!

Sorry for the long rant . . . I just cannot digest this BS anymore. Yet, I do not know what to do about it, or what anyone can do about it????

[cthrumatrix]

71. double standards.... the eilite are never questioned

[katinmn]

64. Contact Dennis and let him know you're behind him.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=106&topic_id=14673&mesg_id=14673

[sarahlee]

82. You can also write to

[e-mail] or post a note on the Kucinich forums.

[RetroLounge]

66. Go Dennis!

Wish more Dems were like he is...

RL

[Dread Pirate KR Read]

67. USN Halliburton

Aiye, been looking fer'the blasted, US Neocon Halliburton cross the blogosphere! ...its belly be laden with plastic turkeys, ..but its the stuffing that holds the booty....aiye! ;)

[goodhue]

69. excellent

[Dinger]

70. Hats Off To The Big Dog - Dennis!

Luv ya honey!

[googly]

72. A Billion here, a Billion there, pretty soon it adds up to real money

quote from sen Dirksen of Illinois, from long ago.

[sasquatch]

73. It's pretty sad when the only fighting Democrat is a Vegan

Nothing against Vegans BTW. It's just facinating to me that a guy that doesn't eat meat fights like a caged carnivore.

[goodhue]

74. kick

"It is simply not believable that the Administration lost track of every dime of the funds. The Administration willfully turned a blind eye and allowed the misuse of funds, and now must be held accountable," continued Kucinich.

[V Lee]

75. He wants to hold someone RESPONSIBLE????

What's he thinking? Is he MAD?

They don't do responsibility in the Bush administration!

[justa]

84. They don't have to hold any one accountable, They have a mandate!

[hippywife]

76. Another Kick For Dennis!!

He's my real President!

Anyone else sitting out the State of De'lusion tomorrow night?

[ScreamingMeemie]

77. GO DENNIS!!!

:bounce:

[w4rma]

78. This is a mainstream issue. Kucinich should not be the only elected Dem

working on this. It's a major scandal if Dems would make it a major scandal.

[Desertrose]

83. Dennis promised he'd fight for us and he KEEPS his word!!

We are so lucky to have a man of his word and courage to speak it ....wish there were more!!!

Dennis SO ROCKS!!!!!!
:yourock::yourock::yourock::yourock::yourock::yourock::yourock::yourock:

Thank goddess for Dennis!!!:loveya:


Kucinich for Pres in 08!!!!!!! Seriously....he will still be a strong voice the next 4 years and definitely a man to contend with!!!!

Thank you, Dennis!!!!! :loveya:
DR

[cidliz2004]

85. I really like this guy

He was so on target with what he said in the Primaries. If only he had a chance at the WH!

[Tigress DEM]

86. This news also posted in August/Sept 2004

No offense to Kunnich fans, I'm glad he's jumping up and down on this, but the real hero is Retired Col David Hackworth who broke the story first. And 3 Democratic Senators stood up in August 2004.

http://www.atsnn.com/story/80901.html

<snip>
Posted by: Valhall
On: Fri September, 17 2004 @ 01:56 GMT
A recent CPA audit of the books kept under the Coalition Provisional Authority which ran Iraq until the end of June of this year, has shown that 9 Billion dollars of Iraqi oil revenue cannot be accounted for.

Where did 9 Billion Dollars Go?
Senators ask Where Money Went.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article6776.htm
<snip>
Three Democratic senators -- Ron Wyden of Oregon, Tom Harkin from Iowa and Byron Dorgan of North Dakota -- demanded an explanation from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld over the use of the funds by the CPA

http://www.atsnn.com/story/80901.html
<snip>
Retired Col. David Hackworth appears to be the one that first broke this story, by leaking the information from the audit on his website www.hackworth.com. The leaked information was later confirmed to be accurate.

<snip>
Included in the major benefactors of the development fund is, of course, Halliburton

RE: Halliburton
original news source:

www.usatoday.com
U.S. authorities in Iraq didn't know how much oil Iraq was producing and selling because its oil facilities lack proper metering equipment. In addition, unknown quantities of Iraqi oil were smuggled abroad or bartered to Syria in exchange for electricity.

? High turnover and ill-defined responsibilities at the CPA contributed to weak finance controls, along with inadequate accounting systems and record keeping.

? Iraqi ministries that received oil money kept poor records and deviated from approved bidding procedures in hiring contractors