Fraud and Corruption
Iraq has been a cash cow for government contractors like Cheney’s Halliburton. They are collecting tens of millions of taxpayer dollars, but aren't doing the work.
The Bush regime contracted to have a prison built for 4,400 prisoners, at a of cost of $45 million. The taxpayers ended up paying $48 million for a prison a third of the size. In another case, the our government paid the contractor $200 million to complete 142 health clinics, but only six were completed.
Half of the $18 billion in Iraq reconstruction funds are unaccounted for. The special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction has opened up 40 new investigations of alleged fraud and corruption. The money wasted on government contracts comes directly out of our pockets. Nevertheless, our Justice Department has not brought a single civil or criminal case to recover taxpayers money for contracting fraud in Iraq.
North Dakota Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan said: “it's almost unbelievable that the oversight and the accountability is not there, and no one seems to give a damn.” The Democratic Policy Committee held a hearing, which accused congressional Republicans of not investigating rampant waste and abuse.
A former Halliburton worker Julie McBride testified that Halliburton employees obtain luxuries that are not afforded the troops. One example of this was a Super Bowl party for Halliburton employees at taxpayer expense, in which Halliburton requisitioned a big screen TV and lots of food for the private use of their employees.
Iraq and Afghanistan army veteran Patrick Campbell says troop morale is suffering. He complains: “Soldiers don't have a whole lot when they're sitting in a 20-man tent, and see Halliburton employees driving around in their personal vehicles, and eating better food than them, it just totally drives you down.”
Halliburton says that it is allowed to provide for the morale of its employees, but there clearly is a significant discrepancy in the way Halliburton has been treating its employees versus some of the services that our troops have been receiving.
The Bush regime contracted to have a prison built for 4,400 prisoners, at a of cost of $45 million. The taxpayers ended up paying $48 million for a prison a third of the size. In another case, the our government paid the contractor $200 million to complete 142 health clinics, but only six were completed.
Half of the $18 billion in Iraq reconstruction funds are unaccounted for. The special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction has opened up 40 new investigations of alleged fraud and corruption. The money wasted on government contracts comes directly out of our pockets. Nevertheless, our Justice Department has not brought a single civil or criminal case to recover taxpayers money for contracting fraud in Iraq.
North Dakota Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan said: “it's almost unbelievable that the oversight and the accountability is not there, and no one seems to give a damn.” The Democratic Policy Committee held a hearing, which accused congressional Republicans of not investigating rampant waste and abuse.
A former Halliburton worker Julie McBride testified that Halliburton employees obtain luxuries that are not afforded the troops. One example of this was a Super Bowl party for Halliburton employees at taxpayer expense, in which Halliburton requisitioned a big screen TV and lots of food for the private use of their employees.
Iraq and Afghanistan army veteran Patrick Campbell says troop morale is suffering. He complains: “Soldiers don't have a whole lot when they're sitting in a 20-man tent, and see Halliburton employees driving around in their personal vehicles, and eating better food than them, it just totally drives you down.”
Halliburton says that it is allowed to provide for the morale of its employees, but there clearly is a significant discrepancy in the way Halliburton has been treating its employees versus some of the services that our troops have been receiving.
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