60 Minutes transcript: BILLIONS wasted and unaccounted for in Iraq

[Bozita]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/09/60minutes/printable1302378.shtml

Billions Wasted In Iraq?
Feb. 12, 2006
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(CBS) The United States has spent more than a quarter of a trillion dollars during its three years in Iraq, and more than $50 billion of it has gone to private contractors hired to guard bases, drive trucks, feed and shelter the troops and rebuild the country.

It is dangerous work, but much of the $50 billion, which is more than the annual budget of the Department of Homeland Security, has been handed out to companies in Iraq with little or no oversight.

Billions of dollars are unaccounted for, and there are widespread allegations of waste, fraud and war profiteering. So far only one case, the subject of a civil lawsuit that goes to trial this week, has been unsealed. It involves a company called Custer Battles, and as 60 Minutes correspondent Steve Kroft reports, the lawsuit provides a window into the chaos of those early days in Iraq.
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[babylonsister]

1. Outrageous, isn't it? It was about time 60 Minutes gave this

story the attention it deserves, though I hear a deafening silence from any other major networks. :eyes:

[phusion]

2. So they automatically write it off as

a result of the "chaos of those early days in Iraq" instead of what is really is: intentional fraud and embezzlement by war-mongering corporatists.

[napi21]

3. Yes, I watched it last night! Throughout the whole show, I kept saying

HOLY SHIT! over and over again with each new statement. It's not that I hadn't heard most of that info before, but when someone puts it all together, including the $$ figures, and puts it on film, it's shocking all over again!

[Bozita]

7. Short-attention-span folks were likely intrigued by the video of $$$$$

I've never before seen that many US $100 bills.

NEVER!

[McCamy Taylor]

4. Another reason for Cheney to get distracted while hunting.

[Nite Owl]

5. And this story was known before the

'04 election. With all that they have done to our country there is just no accountability, none. If just one of the things that they did were done by Clinton or any dem there would be such outrage. Everytime I hear another story I just can't believe this all happening. You think it can't get worse and things just keep happening.

[HereSince1628]

6. But percentage-wise it's the lowest profiteering in several wars!

Don't panic, everything is as it should be in the Republican model of a working democracy.

They are simply moving the money which the government would only spend on make-work projects like clean streets, clean water and working sewers to the private sector where it will trickle down, thus doing the most good.

[tonkatoy57]

8. Don't forget

Cheney is such a fuck up businessman that the war is the only thing that saved Halliburton.

Deadeye Dick was responsible for Halliburton purchasing, I believe, Dresser-Rand and all of their outstanding asbestos claims. Halliburton stock was in the dumper before the Iraq war.

[Bozita]

11. "Help is on the way!" -- The asbestos immunity bill is baaaack

When passed, the true genius of Dick Cheney will be revealed.

[Ilsa]

9. I saw that. Thievery. Corruption. Sickening. eom.

[havocmom]

10. Shooting a lawyer prolly seems a small price for Cheney to keep 60 Minutes

off page one in America!

[Bozita]

12. kick

[chat_noir]

13. K&R

will have to come back later to read the transcript

[TexasLawyer]

14. RNC Slush Fund

I wonder how much of this "lost" money found its way back into the RNC coffers, either directly or indirectly.

God, I hate to think about the many ways that we-- the U.S. taxpayers-- have lavishly funded the right-wing coup.

[kaygore]

15. I wonder when the cost will finally sink in to the Republicans!