Too much money spent in Iraq for too few results

[Jon311]

http://news.yahoo.com/too-much-money-spent-iraq-131139041.html

What a surprise!

"In his final report to Congress, Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Stuart Bowen's conclusion was all too clear: Since the invasion a decade ago this month, the U.S. has spent too much money in Iraq for too few results."


"To date, the U.S. has spent more than $60 billion in reconstruction grants to help Iraq get back on its feet after the country that has been broken by more than two decades of war, sanctions and dictatorship. That works out to about $15 million a day."


"Overall, including all military and diplomatic costs and other aid, the U.S. has spent at least $767 billion since the American-led invasion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. National Priorities Project, a U.S. research group that analyzes federal data, estimated the cost at $811 billion, noting that some funds are still being spent on ongoing projects."

 

[jmdrake]

And Ann Coulter is dumb enough to think Iraq was the "good war".

 

[HOLLYWOOD]

There's ton's of spending in Iraq... and for a long time.

here's a little 2011 snack from the NATO/OTAN propaganda webpage: http://www.arrc.nato.int/training_mission_iraq/page16850753.aspx

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Michael Ferriter: http://www.armymwr.com/UserFiles/file/Commander/BIO_LTG_Michael_Ferriter.pdf

Vice Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army, General Lloyd J. Austin, III :http://www.defense.gov/bios/biographydetail.aspx?biographyid=334

Lt. Gen. Caslen assumes command of NTM-I, leads OSC-I to strengthen ISF

BAGHDAD – U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen Jr. assumed command of the NATO Training Mission –Iraq from U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Michael Ferriter in a change of command ceremony at Forward Operating Base Union III Oct. 1. The ceremony also marked a transfer of authority for the Deputy Commanding General - Advising and Training and the official activation of the Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq.

[TABLE="width: 100%"]
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[TD]

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[TD] The OSC-I will continue the security assistance and cooperation responsibilities with Iraq to assist the Government of Iraq with advising, training, assisting and equipping their security forces.

"We welcome a significant milestone in our Iraq campaign by activating the OSC-I,” said U.S. Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commander, United States Forces - Iraq and reviewing officer of the ceremony.
"As we continue to honor the security agreement by drawing down our security forces, OSC-I will become the core of our enduring military-to-military relationship with Iraq over the years to come,” he added.
"Today's establishment of the Office of Security Cooperation –Iraq and the transfer of the NATO Training Mission marks a significant transition and the progress of our mission in Iraq as well as the commitment of the United States and the NATO partner countries for a strategic and enduring relationship with the government of Iraq and its people,” said Caslen.[/TD]
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[TD]BAGHDAD - U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen Jr. (left) assumed command
of the NATO Training Mission-Iraq from U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Michael Ferriter

(center) in a change of command ceremony led by U.S. Army General Lloyd J.
Austin III (right), United States Force-Iraq Commanding General, at Forward
Operating Base Union III, Oct. 1. The ceremony also marked the official
activation of the Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq. The OSC-I will continue
the security assistance and cooperation relationship with Iraq to assist the
Government of Iraq with advising, training, assisting and equipping their
security forces.(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joseph Vine)[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

During the symbolic and time-honored tradition of the passing of colors to represent the transfer of responsibility of the mission, Ferriter handed the NTM-I colors to Austin, passing over his command of NTM-I and his duty as the DGC (A&T).
Austin presented the colors to Caslen, the new NTM-I commander.
Caslen then returned the NTM-I colors to acting NTM-I Senior Enlisted Advisor, Sgt. Maj. Emanuele Salvagnin, to return to the color bearer, completing the symbolic change of command.
After the passing of the NTM-I colors, Austin spoke highly of Caslen and addressed the challenges ahead.
"Lieutenant General Caslen's proven talents as a leader, trainer and educator make him extremely well suited for this important assignment,” said Austin.
"The task ahead will be challenging but I know that you are more than capable,” said Austin to Caslen. "I cannot think of a better person to lead this organization into the next phase of our military leadership with Iraq.”
"You are the right person at the right place, at the right time,” he added.
Caslen, takes command with multiple responsibilities as the commander of the NTM-I, USF-I deputy commanding general (advising and training) and the chief of OSC-I, to continue the training and advising mission as U.S. Forces – Iraq withdraws from Iraq by the end of this year in accordance with the security framework agreement signed in 2008 between the U.S. and Iraq governments.
"I am honored to serve as commander of the NATO Mission as we orchestrate training and professional military education for Iraq's leaders and its security forces,” said Caslen.
As the ceremony drew to a close, Caslen highlighted the role of NTM-I and OSC-I and their importance to the development of Iraq and the Middle East.
"Iraq's partnership with NATO is significant, this relationship not only provides Iraq with superb trainers and educators, but it also provides legitimacy among the 28 NATO nations in a unique status within the Middle East region as a partner in the international community of nations,” said Caslen.
"It is clear that a stable, secure and self-ran Iraq is not only important for Iraq, but for the entire region,” he said. "I recognize the importance of both NTM-I and OSC-I to assist Iraq in developing the necessary defense capabilities to secure this great nation.”
"To the people and leaders of Iraq, I am honored to serve alongside each of you in this incredibly important mission not only for the sake of Iraq but also for this region,” said Caslen. "We must succeed and we will succeed.”
The ceremony also marked the departure of Ferriter, who completed his third combat tour in Iraq, to include his first two tours as a Deputy Commanding General (Operations), Multi-National Corps - Iraq and the most recent one as the Deputy Commanding General (Advising & Training).
"It is indeed fortunate to have General Ferriter in our team for the past 10 months,” said Austin. He is a seasoned Iraq campaign veteran whose inspired leadership has led to remarkable gains and capabilities of the Iraqi Security Forces.”
During his ten-month tenure as the commander of NTM-I and DCG (A&T), Ferriter witnessed the Iraqi Security Forces make significant improvements to their military capabilities through training and more than $8B in Foreign Military Sales.


The most recent success is the Government of Iraq's purchase of F-16 multi-role fighter aircrafts, along with the associated training, maintenance and sustainment packages, which represents a significant advancement for the Iraqi Air Force and the enduring relationship between the U.S. and Iraqi governments.


"Lieutenant General Ferriter and his team have flawlessly managed one of the most robust foreign military sales programs in the world,” said Austin. "From M1A1 tanks to patrol boats and transport aircrafts, they delivered the total package of instruction maintenance and support necessary for the Iraqi Security Forces.”

"The remarkable accomplishments of your team under your inspired leadership have strengthened relationships with our Iraqi, NATO, and U.S. Embassy partners and have set the conditions for our continued professionalization of the ISF,” said Austin.
Since the NATO Training Mission began in 2004 at the request of the Iraqi interim government, in accordance with UN resolution 1546; 23 NATO member countries and one partner country have contributed to the training effort of the Iraqi Security Forces, either inside or outside of Iraq, and through financial contributions or donations of equipment.

 

[kcchiefs6465]

The man Congress put in charge of auditing the billions of dollars dumped on Iraq after Saddam Hussein was toppled has told the Los Angels Times he can't rule out the possibility that $6.6 billion in cash sent from the U.S. was stolen.

Special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction Stuart Bowen told the Times the missing money may represent "the largest theft of funds in national history."

It was not, it is crucial to note here, U.S. tax-payer dollars which have gone missing in Iraq. The money came from a special fund set up by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York with Iraq's own money -- funds which were withheld from the nation during a decade of harsh economic sanctions under Saddam.

Now, and here's the real kicker, Iraq wants it's money back. The Los Angeles Times says some officials in Baghdad have threatened to take the U.S. government to court to reclaim the missing loot. The last known holder of the funds, before they mysteriously disappeared into the dusty oblivion of post-war Iraq, was the U.S. government.

"Congress is not looking forward to having to spend billions of our money to make up for billions of their money that we can't account for, and can't seem to find," Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) told the Times. Waxman was head of the House Government Reform Committee which held hearings on U.S. waste, fraud and abuse in Iraq about six years ago.

Bowen has been a harsh critic of the way the U.S. government spent money in Iraq following the ouster of Saddam.


Speaking to CBS News correspondent Lara Logan in July 2009, he warned that "billions of dollars were wasted in the Iraqi reconstruction enterprise," and said a whole new approach was needed in Afghanistan.


Waste, fraud plague Iraq reconstruction

As for the missing $6.6 billion, Bowen did not tell the Times whom he believed might have made off with the tremendous sum of neatly packaged blocks of $100 dollar bills.

For almost a decade, when audits and reports surfaced about money being misspent or wasted in post-war Iraq, the finger has generally been pointed first at the generic "corrupt Iraqi officials," of which there are no-doubt many. But as the Times points out in its report Tuesday, "some U.S. contractors were accused of siphoning off tens of millions in kickbacks and graft during the post-invasion period."

The money in question was literally air-lifted into Iraq by the George W. Bush administration, which flew it into Baghdad aboard C-130 military cargo planes. Bush White House officials were worried in the immediate aftermath of Saddam's fall that Iraqis would revolt if salaries weren't paid and services deteriorated. In total, the Times says $12 billion in cash was flown into Iraq in 21 separate C-130 flights by May 2004.
hxxp://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503543_162-20070981-503543.html

Anyone know what happened in this case? I stumbled upon it when looking for an article about the 500M that was missing. I can't remember if the 500M was from Afghanistan or Iraq, but do remember watching the Congressional hearing on it. Some people get rich, some people get dead.