Investigators: Millions in Iraq contracts never finished, Associated Press
The audit released Sunday by Stuart Bowen Jr., the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, provides the latest snapshot of an uneven reconstruction effort that has cost U.S. taxpayers more than $100 billion. It also comes as several lawmakers have said they want the Iraqis to pick up more of the cost of reconstruction.
The special IG's review of 47,321 reconstruction projects worth billions of dollars found that at least 855 contracts were terminated by U.S. officials before their completion, primarily because of unforeseen factors such as violence and excessive costs. About 112 of those agreements were ended specifically because of the contractors' actual or anticipated poor performance.
In addition, the audit said many reconstruction projects were being described as complete or otherwise successful when they were not. In one case, the U.S. Agency for International Development contracted with Bechtel Corp. in 2004 to construct a $50 million children's hospital in Basra, only to "essentially terminate" the project in 2006 because of months long delays.
SIGIR Information
SIGIR website - http://www.sigir.mil
PDF of the report is available here - INTERIM REPORT ON IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TERMINATIONS April 25, 2008
But of course
It took us four years to even begin to provide decent armor and protection for our armed forces.
Oversight & Accountability
Voted down along party lines for the first three supplementals.
Just saying. The Republican leadership wanted it this way. Guess $100 billion in reconstruction contracts is one of those 'self regulating' things that 'pro-business' groups like to go on about.
Second report
is up as well on the effort to transfer contracts to the Iraqis. Not going well. Here is a link to SIGIR Audit Reports.
Thank you
Much appreciated.