U.S. compensated Iraqis, Afghans nearly $31 million for killing civilians, GAO says

[NNN0LHI]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003730363_iraqpay01.html

WASHINGTON — The Department of Defense spent nearly $31 million in three years in condolence payments to civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan, but it didn't track how it doled out the money, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found.

The report, released Thursday, is the most detailed public study of compensation payments in the two wars. It found, for example, that the Defense Department paid $26 million to settle 21,450 claims, or an average of $1,212 a claim.

The military makes condolence payments for killing or injuring a civilian or for damaging property. Generally, Iraqis and Afghans received up to $2,500 for property damage or death. In April 2006, military officials in Iraq raised the maximum payment to $10,000. In addition, U.S. officials began paying the relatives of Iraqi soldiers and police who were killed because of U.S. operations, the report states.

But the department doesn't indicate how many of those payments went for killed civilians, injured civilians or property damage. U.S. officials have never released statistics on how many civilians have been killed by U.S. troops.

[Supersedeas]

1. a price taxpayers must pay to ensure Oil Company profits in the future?

[indepat]

2. And there I was thinking the occupiers viewed life as having no value: silly me