Originally published Monday, February 19, 2007 at 12:00 AM
Editorial
Iraq, the money pit
For a moment, forget the politics of Iraq votes in Congress, incompetent civilian leadership, dubious military advice and cherry-picked...
For a moment, forget the politics of Iraq votes in Congress, incompetent civilian leadership, dubious military advice and cherry-picked intelligence reports. Choke back the anger about spilled blood, and focus on epic sums of wasted money.
One can hardly imagine so much treasury being squandered without a certain amount of premeditated effort. Simply shoveling so much cash down a rat hole would take a measure of planning. Congress was told at least $10 billion of $57 billion for Iraq reconstruction contracts has been squandered by contractors or has disappeared without explanation. Federal auditors caution the figure is likely to go higher. The Associated Press reported the figure is nearly triple the amount of waste reported by the Government Accountability Office last fall.
Here is the witheringly naive question that no doubt brings tears to the eyes of number-crunchers who know how to cook a nice set of books: How could this happen? The numbers are big, but why is there no expectation of results and receipts in this setting?
This rip-off brings to mind Paul Bremer's riposte to querulous congressmen about the fate of $12 billion in cash disbursed by his Coalition Provisional Authority. There are no perfect solutions in a war zone, Bremer said. He and his minions let 363 tons of money in shrink-wrapped blocks of $400,000 skitter through their fingers with barely a fare-thee-well.
Giving away pallets of cash in a war zone pretty well defines the level of American civilian expertise in post-invasion Iraq.
The malfeasance described to Congress last week is an entirely different variety of insult. The $10 billion that went missing was doled out to Halliburton, the oil-services company, and other major contractors from whom taxpayers have every right to expect and receive accountability.
The financial debacle of Iraq is a scandal all its own, and is wholly worthy of the full, bipartisan attention of Congress.
Copyright © The Seattle Times Company
Leonard Pitts Jr. / Syndicated columnist: New York terror trials will restore faith in rule of law
Charles Krauthammer / Syndicated columnist: New York trial a propaganda coup for terrrorists

Real Salt Lake wins MLS Cup
Real Salt Lake defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy with penalty kicks after 120 minutes of play at Qwest Field in Seattle.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Tugboat sinks at Seattle waterfront pier
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
- Craigslist adoption ad: A plea by young mother-to-be? A scam?
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
- Woman stabbed by stranger in North Seattle
- Snow piles up on Cascade slopes
- Denny Triangle gains skyline, but tenants slow to come
- Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
148 - Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
132 - Palin excitement builds in Tri-Cities
129 - Tight Senate vote launches health care over hurdle
124 - Cutting through breast-cancer confusion
100 - Illegal workers quietly let go
99 - Historic health care bill clears Senate hurdle
90 - Game thread
70 - New York terror trials will restore faith in rule of law
69 - Climate change speeds up since 1997 Kyoto accord
45
- Sprouts, raw fish on attorney's 'do not eat' list
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Rediscovering Moab, 'the most beautiful place on Earth'
- Food-safety lawyer's wish: Put me out of business
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Tattoos at Mill Creek church pierce skin, soul
- Banff: powder, peaks & purity





