Billions And Billions
So it turns out that $6 billion worth of contracts to provide support for American warfighters in Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq -- twice as much as previously known -- are under review by a criminal investigator for evidence of fraud, waste and abuse.
Those details emerged at a House Armed Services Committee hearing last Thursday that turned into a political fracas of sorts, as members of both parties asked why the Pentagon had not implemented reforms suggested by Congress two years ago.
The New York Times quoted one Defense Department official acknowledging the difficulties providing oversight.
''In a combat environment, we didn't have the checks and balances we should have in place,'' Shay D. Assad, director of defense procurement and acquisition policy, was quoted by the Times as saying. ''So people who don't have ethics and integrity are going to be able to get away with things.''
Pentagon witnesses attributed the corruption to bad apples and expressed revulsion. "This sickens me, when there is even one case of an officer or a noncommissioned officer who is involved in case of fraud or accepting a bribe," Lt. Gen. N. Ross Thompson, a top Army acquisition official, is quoted by the the Associated Press as saying.
The investigations, needless to say, continue. Stay tuned.
By Robert O'Harrow |
September 21, 2007; 7:02 AM ET
iraq
Previous: Blowing The Whistle |
Next: Calling Telecom: Let's Begin The Overhaul
Posted by: umaa | September 25, 2007 7:52 PM
What the hell are you trying SO feebly to say?
GET GRAMMAR!
Posted by: LALA | September 26, 2007 1:11 AM
Actually, LALA, it would be ". . . to say SO feebly," as your current construction is a split infinitive. Just saying...
Posted by: TJ | September 26, 2007 9:38 AM
"it would be ". . . to say SO feebly," as your current construction is a split infinitive. Just saying..."
Lala's phrase was "trying SO feebly to say." The infinitive there is "to say," which is not split. A split infinitive would be "to feebly say."
Or "to erroneously correct."
Posted by: Petard Watcher | September 26, 2007 11:01 AM
My, my, split infinitives and all that high level intelligence!!! Seems to me a common "What?" would not only be sufficient but also more polite and profaneless.
Posted by: Ken Bonnell | September 26, 2007 1:35 PM
Everyone in this country has the right to free speech. However, the word "speech" is the problem. Sad as it is, we must recognize that a large percentage of our population is undereducated...and have no desire to better themselves. Then again, we have those who are incapable of learning. Our Government continues to allow these people to be placed on the Welfare system (taxpayer money)and perpetuate the problem by producing sub-standard intelligence. Civil Rights is the issue here. In mental institutions residents are allowed to reproduce as we cannot take away their Civil Rights. Why are the rest of our citizens forced to pay taxes to allow this travesty? Isn't there anyone in our Government who has the fortitude to step up to the plate, be honest, and address these problems which are undermining our nation's achievement levels?
Posted by: Ottochild | September 27, 2007 11:53 AM
ALL WE GET IS EXCUSES AND LIES. IT WON'T BE ENOUGH TO CLEAN HOUSE IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE, WE WILL HAVE TO CLEAN OUT ALL OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH DEPARTMENTS
Posted by: Richard Jagielski | September 28, 2007 11:45 AM
The excuse from the Dept of Defence is that:
"In a combat enveronment we didn't have the checks and balances we should have in place"
Where in hell did they think a war was going to be fought, if not in a combat environment?
Posted by: can't believe it | October 1, 2007 7:05 PM
I'm not sure what question, OTTOCHILD was addressing, but it appears that he/she was able to slip in some "bigotry" cloaked in the guise of "Civil Rights"! As for someone in government stepping forward, one only needs to remind OTTOCHILD, that he/she IS part of the government!
IRT the statements by the DOD's Mr. Assad, I see them as self-serving, without providing the requisite answer(s), he just reframed the question.
As the investigations go forward, I feel quite confident, that this will not be the ONLY case where "twice as much as previously known ", will be found. After all (to paraphrase, I believe Everett Dirkson (spl?), "billions & billions, pretty soon it will be real money"!
Posted by: Ray B | October 3, 2007 4:16 PM
Dear Sir,
Am Mr, Mark Gray Kwame native of Ghana West Africa.
Am contacting you on behalf of my Community which comprises of mainly local Gold
miners to represent and as well look for a prospective buyer for the bulk of Gold mined locally in our Community.
My Community in conjunction with the Village heads has in their possession this article (Gold Dust)
1. 750 Kg
2. 22 carat plus
3. 96.6% purity
4. $ 8500 USD for one Kg.
The Community as well as the right to go into any contact of extraction or mining with any interested person or company depending on the discussion reached between both parties concerned.
If you are interested I would be glad to see you in Accra Ghana to sign an agreement before you can carry the Gold dust based on 50% payment.
All the documents will be provided both for exportation and Analyst from the laboratory.
I remain to hear from you soonest
Regards.
MR , Mark Gray Kwame
Gold Workers Association of Morila
No, 14 kings way Accra Ghana.
Accra Ghana, West Africa.
E-mail :-makdiamond@yahoo.com
Tel:- +233207678058
Fax 223 673 65 90
Posted by: Mark Kwame | October 3, 2007 5:36 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
hi to want to send robert f kennedy that in 1960s-1968. and john f kennedy 1940-1963
thank you