Billions Wasted in Iraq
Stuart Bowen of the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction says billions of dollars of Iraq's national income are lost annually to corruption, with public funds often ending up in the hands of insurgents. Bowen's oversight office is set to close due to legislation passed by the Republican Congress.
Stuart Bowen of the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction says billions of dollars of Iraq’s national income are lost annually to corruption, with public funds often ending up in the hands of insurgents. Bowen’s oversight office is set to close due to legislation passed by the Republican Congress.
AS CHAOS UNFOLDS, FIND SOLID GROUND…BBC:
Stuart Bowen told the BBC that Iraq was facing a second insurgency of corruption and mismanagement.
He said Iraqi government corruption could amount to $4 billion a year, over 10% of the national income, with some money going to the insurgency.
Many government workers also lack the skills to manage funds, Mr. Bowen said.
“This money that’s stolen doesn’t merely enrich criminals,” Mr. Bowen said.
“(It) frequently goes out to fund criminal militias or insurgents. That means lost lives for U.S. troops.”
In this time of unprecedented challenges, independent journalism is more vital than ever. At Truthdig, we expose what power wants hidden and give you the clarity to make sense of it all.
Your donation helps ensure that truth telling continues.
Environment
Experts fear the president will replace the fired inspectors general with loyalists who will overlook corruption.
The final proposal by the post-2016 Unity Reform Commission was rejected.
Disturbing signs of the time-tested “strip and flip” strategy for stealing elections have already surfaced in 2016. Will they ultimately decide the outcome, as they have in too many recent elections?
In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states and local governments with a history of discrimination no longer needed to submit new voting laws for federal approval. Now, voting rights advocates are trying to put them back under oversight using the courts and Congress.
In what is being hailed as the biggest bid to change financial regulation since Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal, the House of Representatives on Friday passed the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009. In a press conference after the vote, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi proclaimed, "We are sending a clear message to Wall Street: The party is over."In what is being hailed as the biggest bid to change financial regulation since FDR's New Deal, the House on Friday passed the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009.
You need to be a supporter to comment.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.