Iraq War misappropriations
Encyclopedia
Iraq War misappropriations refers to allegations that billions of dollars have not been properly accounted for or misappropriated during the Iraq War from funds released by the United States Congress
for programmes, including the re-construction and re-building of Iraq
, after the war. Gag orders
from the United States Department of Justice
/White House
are preventing further inquiry into the allegations.
has 900 cases of alleged fraud by contractors to investigate. The Defense Contract Audit Agency similarly has uncovered $10 billion in questionable Iraq contracts and a US audit found that the occupation authority lost track of reconstruction funds totalling nearly $9 billion.
Henry Waxman
, Chairman of the United States House of Representatives committee on oversight and government reform, said:
"The money that's gone into waste, fraud and abuse under these contracts is just so outrageous, it's egregious. It may well turn out to be the largest war profiteering in history."
authors examined the fate of $12 billion in U.S. currency which was transported from the Federal Reserve to Baghdad in April 2003 and June 2004, where it was dispensed by the Coalition Provisional Authority
. They concluded that of this sum "at least $9 billion has gone missing".
television program Panorama
(9 June 2008) investigated claims that "as much as $23bn (£11.75bn) may have been lost, stolen or not properly accounted for in Iraq. Panorama used US and Iraqi government sources to research how much some private contractors have profited from the conflict and rebuilding.
: Iraq's Missing Billions, produced by Guardian
Films, was broadcast on United Kingdom's Channel 4
at 8 p.m. on March 20, 2006.
awarded $23 billion of Iraq money to the US-coalition to re-develop Iraq. Around $12 billion was flown to Iraq in cash, in $100 notes, because of the collapse of the banking system.
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
for programmes, including the re-construction and re-building of Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, after the war. Gag orders
Gag order
A gag order is an order, sometimes a legal order by a court or government, other times a private order by an employer or other institution, restricting information or comment from being made public.Gag orders are often used against participants involved in a lawsuit or criminal trial...
from the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
/White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
are preventing further inquiry into the allegations.
Official audits and investigations
The United States Department of JusticeUnited States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
has 900 cases of alleged fraud by contractors to investigate. The Defense Contract Audit Agency similarly has uncovered $10 billion in questionable Iraq contracts and a US audit found that the occupation authority lost track of reconstruction funds totalling nearly $9 billion.
Henry Waxman
Henry Waxman
Henry Arnold Waxman is the U.S. Representative for , serving in Congress since 1975. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He is considered to be one of the most influential liberal members of Congress...
, Chairman of the United States House of Representatives committee on oversight and government reform, said:
"The money that's gone into waste, fraud and abuse under these contracts is just so outrageous, it's egregious. It may well turn out to be the largest war profiteering in history."
Vanity Fair
In an October 2007 article, two Vanity FairVanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
authors examined the fate of $12 billion in U.S. currency which was transported from the Federal Reserve to Baghdad in April 2003 and June 2004, where it was dispensed by the Coalition Provisional Authority
Coalition Provisional Authority
The Coalition Provisional Authority was established as a transitional government following the invasion of Iraq by the United States and its allies, members of the Multi-National Force – Iraq which was formed to oust the government of Saddam Hussein in 2003...
. They concluded that of this sum "at least $9 billion has gone missing".
Panorama/BBC
BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television program Panorama
Panorama (TV series)
Panorama is a BBC Television current affairs documentary programme, which was first broadcast in 1953, and is the longest-running public affairs television programme in the world. Panorama has been presented by many well known BBC presenters, including Richard Dimbleby, Robin Day, David Dimbleby...
(9 June 2008) investigated claims that "as much as $23bn (£11.75bn) may have been lost, stolen or not properly accounted for in Iraq. Panorama used US and Iraqi government sources to research how much some private contractors have profited from the conflict and rebuilding.
Dispatches
DispatchesDispatches (TV series)
Dispatches is the British television current affairs documentary series on Channel 4, first transmitted in 1987. The programme covers issues about British society, politics, health, religion, international current affairs and the environment, usually featuring a mole in an organisation.-Awards:*...
: Iraq's Missing Billions, produced by Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
Films, was broadcast on United Kingdom's Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
at 8 p.m. on March 20, 2006.
Current government expenditure
$12 billion or more per month is currently being spent in Iraq with little accountability or oversight.Immunization of contractors and gagging orders
It has been alleged that there may also have been some "immunized foreign contractors" involved in this scandal. US gagging orders are currently preventing discussion of the allegations. The order applies to 70 court cases against some of the top US companies.Missing UN funds
At the start of the Iraq war, the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
awarded $23 billion of Iraq money to the US-coalition to re-develop Iraq. Around $12 billion was flown to Iraq in cash, in $100 notes, because of the collapse of the banking system.
External links
- Use of Iraq Contractors Costs Billions, Report Says - New York Times - The United States this year will have spent $100 billion on contractors in Iraq since the invasion in 2003, a milestone that reflects the Bush administration’s unprecedented level of dependence on private firms for help in the war, according to a government report to be released Tuesday.
- Iraq a bottomless cash pit
- Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan
- Former U.S. official admits to kickbacks in Iraq
- Parsons, Military Wasted Millions in Iraq, Inspector Bowen Says
- CNN.com - Audit: U.S. lost track of $9 billion in Iraq funds
- So, Mr Bremer, where did all the money go?
- The case of the Missing $21 Billion
- Roy H. Park School of Communications - Selection of Links and Resources on Media Coverage of the War in Iraq