Officers Charged Over Iraq Reconstruction Scam

Staff / Truthdig Feb 8, 2007 Three Army Reserve officers and two civilians have been indicted for funneling $8 million worth of contracts over two years to a construction company in exchange for luxury items and cash. The officers oversaw some $26 billion in reconstruction funds while they were in Iraq. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Tens of Millions Wasted in Iraq

Staff / Truthdig Jan 31, 2007 The latest report from the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction says tens of millions of dollars have been wasted because of failure and fraud. Among other abuses, the report cites a never-used $48.3-million housing facility, complete with an Olympic-size swimming pool. If Willie Sutton were alive today, he'd head straight to Baghdad. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

U.S. Pledges Support for Lebanon

Staff / Truthdig Jan 25, 2007 Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced a $770-million aid package to help with Lebanon's reconstruction. The war-ravaged nation is hoping to raise $9 billion in aid. Meanwhile, a Hezbollah-backed general strike and mass protests continue to threaten the tenure of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Billions Wasted in Iraq

Staff / Truthdig Nov 9, 2006 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. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Iraq Oversight Agency Silenced

Staff / Truthdig Nov 3, 2006 An obscure provision inserted at the last minute into a military authorization bill signed by President Bush has closed the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. The oversight agency had repeatedly embarrassed the administration by exposing corruption, exploitation and negligence in the reconstruction effort in Iraq. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Lebanon Pledge Drive a Major Success

Staff / Truthdig Sep 1, 2006 Donors attending a conference in Sweden have pledged $940 million for Lebanon's reconstruction, almost twice as much aid as organizers had hoped for. Although he said his country had sustained billions of dollars in damage, Lebanese Prime Minister Siniora expressed his "great appreciation" of the donors' support. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Actions Speak Louder Than Empty Promises

Staff / Truthdig Aug 27, 2006 A year after the levees broke, Bush has again acknowledged his government's failure to protect and rescue the citizens of New Orleans, promising "the federal government will learn the lessons of Katrina." Although the president pledged $110 billion for reconstruction, one of Louisiana's senators has criticized the slow progress of rebuilding: "Countless neighborhoods appear as if the hurricanes were just yesterday, and they serve as harsh reminders of how our nation was so unprepared." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Hezbollah Leads Lebanon Reconstruction

Staff / Truthdig Aug 16, 2006 Hezbollah, flush with cash from Iran, has already begun the work of reconstruction in Lebanon, enhancing its reputation in the country. Hezbollah?s leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, promised a year?s rent to anyone who lost their home during the conflict, and hundreds of Hezbollah members have been spotted surveying and clearing damaged property. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Andy Borowitz: U.S. to Send One Troop to Iran

Andy Borowitz / Truthdig Apr 14, 2006 The political satirist reports on Rumsfeld's plan to punish the government of Iran for its nuclear ambitions by sending the one troop to Tehran. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

U.S. Project to Build Iraqi Hospitals Falls Badly Short

Staff / Truthdig Apr 3, 2006 After two years and roughly $200 million expended, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expects to complete only 20 out of 142 primary health centers. The World Health Organization's rep calls it "shocking." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

America: Iraq on Its Own to Rebuild

Staff / Truthdig Mar 25, 2006 The U.S. has apparently just told Iraq that it should no longer expect American dollars to aid in the country's reconstruction--rather, Iraq must rely on its own revenues. Did anyone know this was coming? Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Halliburton Wins Contract to Reconstruct Cheney’s Reputation

Andy Borowitz / Truthdig Feb 18, 2006 The $42-billion contract represents the first time that the company has been employed to put its reconstruction expertise to work on one embattled human being. (satire) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )