Blood Money: Wasted Billions, Lost Lives, and Corporate Greed in Iraq

[RamboLiberal]

Blood Money: Wasted Billions, Lost Lives, and Corporate Greed in Iraq (Hardcover)
by T. Christian Miller



From Amazon.com:

From Booklist
The U.S. has expended dollars and lives in Iraq with little positive to show for it, according to investigative reporter Miller in this searing account of how the Bush administration has mismanaged the Iraq war and reconstruction. Miller focuses on the bungling of government spending and private contracts, some $30 billion committed to rebuilding Iraq, a greater sum than for the Marshall Plan. Miller follows the "motley assortment of retired Republican operatives, U.S. businessmen and Iraqi exiles with dubious histories and doubtful motives" who have been engaged in the rebuilding efforts. Detailing the lack of planning, as well as the greed and incompetence of contractors, Miller highlights the myriad ways that the Iraq reconstruction has failed: a former Transportation Department secretary who was fired after he negotiated to sell the state airline to a company involved in the oil for food scandal; a New York police commissioner hired to train a new Iraq police force who left when it was disclosed that he had a mistress and connections with the Mafia. Among the botched projects was the reconstruction of a pipeline at a site that proved unstable, and numerous failures to restore basic services. Readers interested in understanding the political and economic dynamics behind the faltering campaign in Iraq will appreciate this investigation. Vanessa Bush
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Book Description
It was supposed to be quick and easy. The Bush Administration even promised that it wouldn't cost American taxpayers a thing -- Iraqi oil revenues would pay for it all. But billions and billions of dollars, and thousands of lives, later, the Iraqi reconstruction is an undeniable failure. Iraq pumps out less oil now than it did under Saddam. At best, Iraqi's average all of twelve hours a day of electricity. American soldiers lack body armor and adequate protection for their motor vehicles. Increasingly worse off, Iraqi's turn against us. Increasingly worse off, our troops are killed by a strengthening insurgency. As T. Christian Miller reveals in this searing and timely book, the Bush Administration has fatally undermined the war effort and our soldiers by handing out mountains of cash not to the best companies for the reconstruction effort, but to buddies, cronies, relatives and political hacks -- some of whom have simply taken the money and run with it. Blistering, brilliant and shocking, this will be the breakout title when it comes to Iraq books, and the catalyst for national debate.