$8.8B : MIA in Iraq

We’ve all overdrawn our checking account and there are times when we can’t account for a few dollars here or there. It’s no surprise to anyone that we seem to be shelling out more and more money each year for more or less the same things. But explain to me how you lose 9 billion dollars! That’s right I said billion, with a B! The U.S. occupation authority in Iraq was unable to keep track of nearly $9 billion it transferred to government ministries. These ministries lacked financial controls, security, communications or adequate staff. No one is really sure who got what or how much. 9 billion dollars people! Auditors learned that we paid 8,206 guards at one ministry, but only 602 could be accounted for. At another ministry U.S. officials found 1,417 guards on the payroll, but could only confirm 642, and that’ just two examples. Supposedly millions were also paid out in bribes to Iraqi officials. Bribery, corruption, graft, greed, incompetence Yes we are teaching the Iraqis about the American way of life or at least the way we do business.