(GAO) Report: War Sympathy Payments Plunge

[sabra]

Source: AP

Congressional investigators have issued a new report that says the Pentagon has paid almost $31 million to Iraqis or Afghans who have suffered as a result of U.S. combat operations.

However, according to the Government Accountaility Office, the number of payments made in 2006 dropped 66 percent compared with those in 2005.

Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., requested the assessment. He said the report raises serious concerns about the fairness and uniformity of the payments.

"It's surprising that the level of these payments has plunged in the past years," Kennedy said in a statement.

"Innocent Iraqi civilians are bearing an immense burden in this misguided war, and the administration has the responsibility to ensure that its condolences policy is fair and is seen to be fair by the Iraqi people and the world," he said.


Read more: http://www.wsbtv.com/news/13427340/detail.html

[acmavm]

1. More pocketing of the taxpayers money by crooked politicians

and military?

[EFerrari]

2. There is no depth these people won't sink to. n/t

[jamesinca]

3. Since they have the Sympathy money not paid

why does this idiot president need a supplemental. Since they have overcharging by Halliburton/KBR, can't they refuse to pay them until that bill is even? Use all of that money to make the sympathy payments and fund the war. Wait that is right, the bible that Bush reads talks about screwing the poor and really sticking it to the orphans and widows. No wonder he is such a religious man.

[maddezmom]

4. repulsive

the pitiful amount that we were paying before and now we can't even cough it up. Please bring our troops home now. :(