Iraq: The Missing Billions

[skunk]

BBC uncovers lost Iraq billions
By Jane Corbin
BBC News

A BBC investigation estimates that around $23bn (£11.75bn) may have been lost, stolen or just not properly accounted for in Iraq.

For the first time, the extent to which some private contractors have profited from the conflict and rebuilding has been researched by the BBC's Panorama using US and Iraqi government sources.

A US gagging order is preventing discussion of the allegations.

The order applies to 70 court cases against some of the top US companies.

War profiteering

While George Bush remains in the White House, it is unlikely the gagging orders will be lifted.

To date, no major US contractor faces trial for fraud or mismanagement in Iraq.

The president's Democrat opponents are keeping up the pressure over war profiteering in Iraq.

Henry Waxman who chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform said: "The money that's gone into waste, fraud and abuse under these contracts is just so outrageous, its egregious.

"It may well turn out to be the largest war profiteering in history."

In the run-up to the invasion one of the most senior officials in charge of procurement in the Pentagon objected to a contract potentially worth seven billion that was given to Halliburton, a Texan company, which used to be run by Dick Cheney before he became vice-president.

Unusually only Halliburton got to bid - and won.

Missing billions

The search for the missing billions also led the programme to a house in Acton in West London where Hazem Shalaan lived until he was appointed to the new Iraqi government as minister of defence in 2004.

He and his associates siphoned an estimated $1.2 billion out of the ministry.
They bought old military equipment from Poland but claimed for top class weapons.

Meanwhile they diverted money into their own accounts.

Judge Radhi al-Radhi of Iraq's Commission for Public Integrity investigated.

He said: "I believe these people are criminals.

"They failed to rebuild the Ministry of Defence , and as a result the violence and the bloodshed went on and on - the murder of Iraqis and foreigners continues and they bear responsibility."

Mr Shalaan was sentenced to two jail terms but he fled the country.

He said he was innocent and that it was all a plot against him by pro-Iranian MPs in the government.

There is an Interpol arrest out for him but he is on the run - using a private jet to move around the globe.

He stills owns commercial properties in the Marble Arch area of London.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7444083.stm
Any chance of this going anywhere?

[Teh Don Ditty]

Honestly, why am I not surprised about this?

It's just one atrocity after another with this administration.

[mactastic]

Any chance of this going anywhere?
Not for at least another 7 months. But even then I'd give it slim odds. The GOP obstructionists in Congress will surely see to that.

[SMM]

A gagging order, why? I would give George the bird and report it anyway. Preventing the story from being investigated and reported, is damn close to obstruction and/or censorship. I guess he does not want to embarrass his corporate buddies. Too damn bad a$$hole.

I cannot believe the **** we are allowing these criminals get away with.

[Macky-Mac]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7444083.stm
Any chance of this going anywhere?

maybe........after all, a few scapegoats need to be punished at some point and the politicians would prefer it be somebody other then themselves

[themadchemist]

A gagging order, why? I would give George the bird and report it anyway. Preventing the story from being investigated and reported, is damn close to obstruction and/or censorship. I guess he does not want to embarrass his corporate buddies. Too damn bad a$$hole.

I cannot believe the **** we are allowing these criminals get away with.

If it's a gag order, then you'd be giving the courts the finger and face criminal charges...

Also, why would any of the parties involved talk? If you're the one suing, then going and blabbing about it will hurt your case in court. If you're the one being sued, then you're complicit, and you're glad of the gag order.

[SMM]

If it's a gag order, then you'd be giving the courts the finger and face criminal charges...

Also, why would any of the parties involved talk? If you're the one suing, then going and blabbing about it will hurt your case in court. If you're the one being sued, then you're complicit, and you're glad of the gag order.

Sometimes, you have to stand-up for what is right. The gag order was not the decision of any court. It is just Bush, trying to quash a story. But, $23,000,000,000 dollars of missing taxpayer money is NOT something we have to simply ignore, just because the criminal President says so.

[themadchemist]

Sometimes, you have to stand-up for what is right. The gag order was not the decision of any court. It is just Bush, trying to quash a story. But, $23,000,000,000 dollars of missing taxpayer money is NOT something we have to simply ignore, just because the criminal President says so.

Ah, well, that it's the administration that applied it makes things slightly different. But still, there isn't much incentive to break the gag order for the parties involved, is there? If we expect everyone to act altruistically, then we'll be very disappointed indeed. As for the missing taxpayer money--you're right, it shouldn't be ignored. That's why Congress is going to hold hearings. And that's why you should vote in November!!

[Gray-Wolf]

Even if the possibility is slim, it must be considered. What if there is a reason its missing, that can't be told yet, due to investigations, that the offenders can be caught? There are always possibilities.

[edesignuk]

1. Go to war
2. Do dodgy deals with dodgy companies/people
3. ????
4. Profit!!

:rolleyes: :(

[skunk]

Even if the possibility is slim, it must be considered. What if there is a reason its missing, that can't be told yet, due to investigations, that the offenders can be caught? There are always possibilities.The words "grasping", "at" and "straws" spring to mind.

[remmy]

Even if the possibility is slim, it must be considered. What if there is a reason its missing, that can't be told yet, due to investigations, that the offenders can be caught? There are always possibilities.

Maybe that would be true of a couple of million, even 10 million but 23 billion?

[.Andy]

What if there is a reason its missing, that can't be told yet, due to investigations, that the offenders can be caught?
Like this (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=497133)?

[themadchemist]

Even if the possibility is slim, it must be considered. What if there is a reason its missing, that can't be told yet, due to investigations, that the offenders can be caught? There are always possibilities.

Here's the deal. If someone steals your wallet, it's his fault. If he steals your house, it's a little bit yours. If he steals billions, it's probably mostly your fault.

There aren't too many ways to lose billions of dollars that don't come back down to gross mismanagement or outright duplicity in the end.

We already know that Halliburton's no-bid and cost-plus contracts caused raging, rampant inefficiency and fraud. It's probably a good bet that much of this money went in that direction.

Now, if this is "aid" to Iraqi officials to keep them with us, I understand that, although I doubt it'll be very effective. If it's done in the semi-legit way we usually do it, we should able to release those figures. If it's more sketchy, there are numerous problems, but if that is what's going on, it probably should be revealed at least to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

[atszyman]

1. Go to war
2. Do dodgy deals with dodgy companies/people
3. ????
4. Profit!!

:rolleyes: :(

Do you even need step 3 in that model?

[hotzenplotz]

What a surprise :rolleyes:
This administration and their corporate overlords will be brought to justice one day soon.

[Klaxons2012]

Everyone that voted and supported this man deserves everything that's going on right now. Period.

[mactastic]

Everyone that voted and supported this man deserves everything that's going on right now. Period.
Problem is, the rest of us don't deserve it. ;)