Ex-Iraqi Officials Sought In $1B Theft

[Mark E. Smith]

AP

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq has issued arrest warrants against the defense minister and 27 other officials from the U.S.-backed govt of former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi over the alleged disappearance or misappropriation of $1 billion in military procurement funds, officials said Monday.

Those accused include four other ministers from Allawi's govt, which was replaced by an elected Cabinet led by Shiite parties in April, said Ali al-Lami of Iraq's integrity commission. Many of the officials are believed to have left Iraq, including Hazem Shaalan, the former defense minister who moved to Jordan shortly after the new govt was installed.

For months, Iraqi investigators have been looking into allegations that millions of dollars were spent on overpriced deals for shoddy weapons and military hardware, apparently to launder cash, at a time when Iraq was battling a bloody insurgency that still persists.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051011/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

Huh. So who do these guys think they are, Halliburton? Carlyle? Shit. Next thing you know they'll be claiming they're long lost members of the Bush family.

[MsConduct]

1. Come on! You know they are long lost bush relatives! LOL n/t

[maddezmom]

2. duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1840659