Crackdown pledged on Iraq building fraud (AP)

[Eugene]

Tuesday, March 20, 2007 · Last updated 2:15 p.m. PT
Crackdown pledged on Iraq building fraud

By LOLITA C. BALDOR
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

WASHINGTON -- Defense Department investigators said Tuesday they are going
to be more aggressive suspending or barring companies from doing U.S. contract
work in Iraq if they are involved in war profiteering there.

Stuart Bowen, special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, said taking
such action is an effective tool, particularly when auditors are struggling to
come up with enough detailed evidence for criminal prosecutions.

Bowen's comments came in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee,
as lawmakers complained that assessing fines is not enough to stop the billions
of dollars in waste, fraud and abuse plaguing Iraq reconstruction projects.
Auditors last month told Congress that about $10 billion has been squandered
by the U.S. government on Iraq reconstruction aid because of contractor
overcharges and unsupported expenses.

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Full article: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1153AP_US_Iraq_Fraud.html