Retired judge Arthur Brennan, a former senior US official in Iraq, has accused the State Department of misleading Americans over the true situation in Iraq.
Judge Brennan also alleged that poor performance by the department had led to the loss of billions of dollars, and warned that some of the money could be funding outlaws and insurgents, including the Mehdi Army.
Brennan made his allegations during testimony at a Senate Democratic Policy Committee hearing on Monday.
Quote:
"The actual policies and performance of the State Department in Iraq were not what they are represented to be.
The Department of State has negligently, recklessly and sometimes intentionally misled the US Congress, the American people and the people of Iraq.
In a sense, the Department of State has contributed to the killing and maiming of US soldiers, the deaths of thousands of Iraqi civilians; the bolstering of illegal militias, insurgents and Al-Qaeda.
Billions of US and Iraqi dollars have been lost, stolen and wasted, it is likely that some of that money is financing outlaws and insurgents such as the Medhi Army."
James Mattil, chief of staff for the Office of Accountability and Transparency in Baghdad between October 2006 and October 2007, accused the Administration of failing to demand meaningful action from the Iraqi government on fighting corruption.
"It seems reasonable to conclude that the reasons are either, gross incompetence, willful negligence or political intent on the part of the Bush administration and more specifically, the Department of State."
Doubtless history will ultimately judge just how badly thought through and executed the decision to invade and occupy Iraq really was.
Unfortunately by the time that happens, many more people will have died a lot more money will have been wasted and those responsible for the decision and execution will have long since retired and/or died.
