Ten Years Later, The Question Remains: How On Earth Do You ‘Lose’ $6.6 Billion?

The American Spectator ^ | 11-17-14 | Gerald D. Skoning

[afraidfortherepublic]

My friend’s succinct reaction to the amazing headline was, “How do you lose $6.6 billion?” How indeed!

Despite a full decade of audits and investigations, Pentagon officials still cannot say what happened to $6.6 billion in cash that was intended for the Development Fund for Iraq.

Apparently, it just “disappeared.” Was it just misplaced in an accounting error, or was it “stolen”? Who knows? Apparently, the Pentagon has no idea. Ah, the perils of the fog of war that covers up all sorts of foul play.

It’s little wonder the money disappeared. After the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the Bush administration flooded the country with cash for reconstruction and other projects. It was a cash delivery that made the post-World War II Marshall Plan pale by comparison.

Pentagon officials determined that one giant C-130 Hercules cargo plane could carry $2.4 billion in shrink-wrapped bricks of $100 bills. They sent an initial full planeload of cash, followed by 20 other flights to Iraq by May 2004 in a $12 billion haul that U.S. officials believe to be the biggest international cash airlift of all time. The handling of the cash was haphazard at best, and totally lacking in financial controls.

According to official reports, the cash was carried by tractor-trailer trucks from the Federal Reserve currency repository in East Rutherford, New Jersey, to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, then flown to Baghdad. U.S. officials there stored the stash of cash in a basement vault at one of Hussein’s former palaces, and at U.S. military bases, and eventually distributed the money to Iraqi ministries and contractors.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

The US Post Office does it every year.

[Sherman Logan]

Analism apparently consists of asking for evidence rather than speculation.

The essence of conservatism is adding up the facts then absorbing the conclusion.

Righto.

Which is why I asked for facts supporting your claims. Sadly, you've provided none.

I doubt there are many people who dislike Bill more than I do. The only president of my life who I just couldn't stand to look at or even hear his voice.

But my dislike, or yours, does not constitute evidence of multi-billion dollar fraud and theft.

[sasquatch]

Obama’s stash.

[morphing libertarian]

Didn’t the defender of Benghazi misplace a couple of billion when she was at state

[mrsmith]

You don’t keep public records of bribes.
That would defeat the purpose of bribes LOL!

[peteyd]

I don’t know,but perhaps John Corzine could look into finding the missing money.

[Dr. Ursus]

The are a subsidiary of the House of Saud!

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

During WWII, all money in Hawaii was stamped with the words HAWAII. If the Japs had invaded and taken over such money could be declared non redeemable and no longer have value.

We should have done the same in Iraq.

[Scoutmaster]

You don’t keep public records of bribes.

But . . . but . . . if a law firm doesn't keep complete and detailed records of all criminal transactions it facilitates, then John Grisham's The Firm would have seemed ridiculous to you when it was published, as it did to me.

However, $6.6 BILLION? Nobody (nobodynobodynobody) loses $6.6 billion. Many cold-case-type forensic-accounting and other type somebodies should be looking at this seriously, and those who are able-bodied and receiving unearned government benefits should be erecting scaffolds in every public park.