Posted on 05/01/2006 10:11:52 AM PDT by Crackingham
A US Congressional inspection team set up to monitor reconstruction in Iraq has published a scathing report on failures by contractors to carry out projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars. In one case, the inspectors found that three years after the invasion only six of 150 health centres proposed for Iraq have been completed by a US contractor, in spite of 75 per cent of the $US186 million allocated having been spent.
The report says: "Fourteen more will be completed by the contractor, and the remaining facilities, which are partially constructed, will have to be completed by other means." The inspectors blame the failure in this instance on management problems and security concerns.
The report on work projects in Iraq is by Stuart Bowen, the special inspector-general for Iraq reconstruction (Sigir). Mr Bowen's office was set up after Congress expressed concern about the slow rate of reconstruction and the misuse of funds on a massive scale. The US allocated $US21 billion for reconstruction, of which 67 per cent has been spent. The report says Mr Bowen's inspection team is investigating 72 cases of alleged fraud and corruption, and is pursuing leads not only in the US but in Europe and the Middle East. In March, investigators conducted a successful sting operation that led to the arrest of a contractor who offered a bribe to one of its undercover agents.
The report says "there exists a gap between US project outputs and the delivery of essential services to Iraqis".
While progress has been made in the construction of schools and police stations, many Iraqis still have no access to clean water, and electricity supplies in Baghdad are still below pre-invasion levels. The inspectors say that economic recovery is being hampered by the failure to restore Iraq's oil production to levels before 2003.
The inspectors audited Task Force Shield, established in September 2003 to build Iraq's capacity to protect its oil, gas and electrical infrastructure, and found significant shortcomings. The report concludes the project "failed to meet its goals because it was burdened by a lack of clear management structure and poor accountability. There were also indications of potential fraud, which are now under review by Sigir investigators."
Until last month, Washington had invested more than $US265 million to improve the protection of energy infrastructure across Iraq.
In a separate section, the report notes a former contractor and former senior staff member of the now defunct US-led coalition government are facing jail sentences of 30 to 40 years on corruption charges. The contractor will have to pay $US3.6 million in restitution and forfeit $US3.6 million in assets.
It's Cheney and Halliburton's fault.
Well, if the Iraqis will dedicate 1 or 2 oil well to just financing their Hospitals, they can build all they want with $$ to spare!
Sounds like the Feds have a big fat refund coming to them (to squander elsewhere).
And to think that some people believe that everything would be dandy if the government were in charge of health care. It's incredible.
No mention that anti-Iraqi terrorists are destroying the infrastructure.
Probably nothing. This poster has posted lots of acticles for a newbie, but only one post to an existing thread. That was only a link to additional informantion, but no comment of their own.
I misread the posters sign up date. He/She a yearling not a newbie.
Hard to focus on draining the swamp when you're up to your ass in alligators.
Why couldn't we ship the 11 million illegal immigrants to Iraq to finish up the contracts? Then when we bring them home the ship can dock in a Mexican port.
Crackingham only starts threads, never finishes them.
This is UN level of corruption here.
Surprise surprise..
Huge fraud is exposed in Domestic Contracts, regularly..
With Federal, State, County, and local givernment contracts..
Socialism attracts and makes corruption permanent..
Thats what socialism IS... bribery..
Well, it would be if it were a complete statement. In a writing about that particular a few months ago, it was pointed out that the centers were a particular target of bombings, and thus even when the people brought there to work on them were able to actually do so, they had to redo quite a bit of work due to damage.
That is pretty much my take on it also.
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