Billions (18) in Afghanistan aid dollars unaccounted for: audit

[unhappycamper]

Billions in Afghanistan aid dollars unaccounted for: audit
By Agence France-Presse
Thursday, October 28th, 2010 -- 11:02 pm

WASHINGTON — Nearly 18 billion dollars earmarked for reconstruction in Afghanistan remain unaccounted for, snagged in a "labyrinth" of contract bureaucracy, a sweeping US government audit has shown.

The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said 17.7 billion dollars was obligated over three years to nearly 7,000 contractors, but the Pentagon, State Department and US Agency for International Development were unable to say how much money has been spent.

The audit addresses fiscal years 2007 through 2009, but the problems go back to 2002 when the United States began funding Afghan reconstruction, because "much of the data available from the agencies prior to 2007 was too poor to be analyzed," the report said.

And years into the reconstruction there is still no central government database to monitor the projects from various US agencies and departments, SIGAR found in its report, which was seen Thursday by AFP.

"Prior to this audit report there was no comprehensive study on contractors and the money the US is spending through contractors on Afghan reconstruction," said special inspector general Arnold Fields in the first such snapshot of the reconstruction contracting environment in war-torn Afghanistan.

[Solly Mack]

1. SSDDDW K&R

...just substitute Afghanistan for Iraq.

Story doesn't change....just the location. Same shit. Different day. Different war.

[depakid]

2. Impressive, isn't it?

I'm not sure what anyone would have expected in a 21 month climate of no accountability.

What, were fraudsters, corrupt public officials and corporate criminals just supposed to up and say: "Oh we have a nice, new president. Let's all behave ourselves?"

Apparently so.

[billlll]

3. the principles of accounting were not known to humans

Way back in 2002. Only this week did they become known.

[Solly Mack]

4. I honestly don't think it's registering with most people...

just how much these news stories are the same. (Iraq/Afghanistan)


I've pointed it out before - just change the country name and the story is identical.


You're right ....the lack of accountability only serves to enable more corruption and crime.

[w8liftinglady]

5. Well..someone got rich fom the war.