Nine years in the making, a special Inspector General has
released his final report, an “appalling” tally of the waste, fraud and
mismanagement in the $60 billion U.S. reconstruction effort in Iraq after the initial
war and throughout the Iraqi insurgency.
released his final report, an “appalling” tally of the waste, fraud and
mismanagement in the $60 billion U.S. reconstruction effort in Iraq after the initial
war and throughout the Iraqi insurgency.
The report from the Special Inspector General for
Iraq Reconstruction, Stuart Bowen, documents everything from a $40 million
half-finished prison no one wants to expensive medical equipment no one was
ever trained to use, according to The Hill.
Iraq Reconstruction, Stuart Bowen, documents everything from a $40 million
half-finished prison no one wants to expensive medical equipment no one was
ever trained to use, according to The Hill.
How bad was it? The work by IG Bowen and dozens of U.S. auditors
and investigators resulted in 82 criminal convictions for fraud or similar
charges. We also suffered a death toll: 719 people were killed while working on
reconstruction-related projects in areas plagued by snipers and explosives.
and investigators resulted in 82 criminal convictions for fraud or similar
charges. We also suffered a death toll: 719 people were killed while working on
reconstruction-related projects in areas plagued by snipers and explosives.
An estimated $8 billion of tax dollars
was misspent and average Iraqis see no benefit from the American-funded projects. Many
projects were delayed for years and were burdened by Iraqi corruption.
was misspent and average Iraqis see no benefit from the American-funded projects. Many
projects were delayed for years and were burdened by Iraqi corruption.
The top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee said Wednesday that the report was “appalling.”
Committee said Wednesday that the report was “appalling.”
“The extent of waste and abuse in the $60 billion of Iraq
reconstruction funds, coupled with the instability still evident in Iraq, is
appalling and highlights real failures of planning and execution that must be
corrected to make U.S. foreign assistance a more effective tool for advancing
the national interests of our country,” Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee said.
reconstruction funds, coupled with the instability still evident in Iraq, is
appalling and highlights real failures of planning and execution that must be
corrected to make U.S. foreign assistance a more effective tool for advancing
the national interests of our country,” Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee said.
The U.S. spent more than $100 million each on
construction of three water treatment plants. The result? While the amount of
drinking water available rose significantly, the quality of the water is still
poor, failing to meet worldwide standards. The $195 million treatment plant in
Falluja ran 457 percent over budget and will take 114 months to complete, in
contrast to the original 18-month estimate.
construction of three water treatment plants. The result? While the amount of
drinking water available rose significantly, the quality of the water is still
poor, failing to meet worldwide standards. The $195 million treatment plant in
Falluja ran 457 percent over budget and will take 114 months to complete, in
contrast to the original 18-month estimate.
A contractor who was awarded a $300 million contract to
operate and maintain two warehouses could not sufficiently account for 40
percent of the costs billed to Uncle Sam. The government was charged $80 for a four-inch-long
piece of PVC pipe that is typically priced at $1.41, a 5,574 percent mark-up.
Many similar examples of the misuse of tax dollars were found.
operate and maintain two warehouses could not sufficiently account for 40
percent of the costs billed to Uncle Sam. The government was charged $80 for a four-inch-long
piece of PVC pipe that is typically priced at $1.41, a 5,574 percent mark-up.
Many similar examples of the misuse of tax dollars were found.
While Corker blames the State Department and U.S. AID, the
report repeatedly demonstrates how unprepared the Bush administration was for a
lengthy occupation and reconstruction. Paul Bremer, the top U.S. civilian administrator
in Iraq, suffers a big black eye from the inspector general’s conclusions.
report repeatedly demonstrates how unprepared the Bush administration was for a
lengthy occupation and reconstruction. Paul Bremer, the top U.S. civilian administrator
in Iraq, suffers a big black eye from the inspector general’s conclusions.
The Hill wrote today that Iraqi officials interviewed for
the report leveled three main criticisms, according to the report: insufficient
U.S. consultation with Iraqi authorities when planning the reconstruction
program; corruption and poor security fundamentally impeding progress
throughout the program; and limited positive effects from the overall
rebuilding effort.
the report leveled three main criticisms, according to the report: insufficient
U.S. consultation with Iraqi authorities when planning the reconstruction
program; corruption and poor security fundamentally impeding progress
throughout the program; and limited positive effects from the overall
rebuilding effort.
“The Iraq reconstruction program,” the report
concludes, “provided a plethora of lessons about what happens when
stabilization and reconstruction operations commence without sufficient
systemic support in place.”
concludes, “provided a plethora of lessons about what happens when
stabilization and reconstruction operations commence without sufficient
systemic support in place.”
