The Democrats delivered something of a bombshell with their report "The Hidden Costs of the Iraq War". In it they claim that the total cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is expected to be $1.6 trillion, double the amount President George Bush says it will cost.
The report says:
"The full economic costs of the war to the American taxpayers and the overall US economy go well beyond even the immense federal budget costs already reported."
The Whitehouse responded by saying that the Democrats were playing politics. True enough, but that's what politicians (Republicans included) do.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
Hanging Delayed
The stay of execution for Chemical Ali, and two other ex members of Saddam Hussein's inner circle, remains in place; as the US continues to hold them and will not hand them over to the Iraqis, until a legal row is resolved.
US spokeswoman Mirembe Nantongo said:
"There continue to be differences in viewpoint within the government of Iraq regarding the necessary Iraqi legal and procedural requirements for carrying out death sentences issued by the Iraqi High Tribunal.
Coalition forces will continue to retain physical custody of the defendants until this issue is resolved."
The Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki, is less than pleased with the US policy wrt this matter. On Sunday he accused the US embassy of playing an "unfortunate role" in preventing the handover of the three. He added that his government was "determined" that the executions be carried out.
However, the irresistible force appears to have met the rock in the form of Nantongo who said:
"There is still discussion within the government of Iraq over the legal requirements in this case. We are waiting for the government to come to consensus as to what their law requires before preparing a physical transfer."
Two members of the presidential council, President Jalal Talabani and Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi have refused to sign the execution orders.
This stand off is not due to end anytime soon.
US spokeswoman Mirembe Nantongo said:
"There continue to be differences in viewpoint within the government of Iraq regarding the necessary Iraqi legal and procedural requirements for carrying out death sentences issued by the Iraqi High Tribunal.
Coalition forces will continue to retain physical custody of the defendants until this issue is resolved."
The Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki, is less than pleased with the US policy wrt this matter. On Sunday he accused the US embassy of playing an "unfortunate role" in preventing the handover of the three. He added that his government was "determined" that the executions be carried out.
However, the irresistible force appears to have met the rock in the form of Nantongo who said:
"There is still discussion within the government of Iraq over the legal requirements in this case. We are waiting for the government to come to consensus as to what their law requires before preparing a physical transfer."
Two members of the presidential council, President Jalal Talabani and Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi have refused to sign the execution orders.
This stand off is not due to end anytime soon.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Father Defends Son
Former President George Bush senior defended his son, President George W Bush, in a rare interview with USA Today.
Bush senior, speaking about the Iraq war, said:
"Do they want to bring back Saddam Hussein, these critics?
Do they want to go back to the status quo ante? I don't know what they are talking about here. Do they think life would be better in the Middle East if Saddam were still there?"
That's all very well. However, when Bush senior was faced with the decision (in the earlier Gulf War) as to whether to invade Iraq or not he decided against it.
Quote:
"It would have been a disastrous decision."
Good call!
Bush senior, speaking about the Iraq war, said:
"Do they want to bring back Saddam Hussein, these critics?
Do they want to go back to the status quo ante? I don't know what they are talking about here. Do they think life would be better in the Middle East if Saddam were still there?"
That's all very well. However, when Bush senior was faced with the decision (in the earlier Gulf War) as to whether to invade Iraq or not he decided against it.
Quote:
"It would have been a disastrous decision."
Good call!
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Blix Questions US Intentions
Hans Blix, the former chief United Nations weapons inspector, fears that the United States has a secret plan to keep its troops in Iraq.
Dr Blix, speaking in Sydney, said:
"One fear I would have is that the US has a hidden thought to remain in Iraq.
One reason why they wanted in was that they felt they must leave Saudi Arabia.
After the Gulf War in 1991 they left their troops in Saudi Arabia to protect pipelines. And when they felt they could no longer stay in Saudi Arabia, Iraq was the next best place because it was more secularised than Saudi Arabia and had the second biggest oil reserves in the region."
Whilst it may be the intention of the current administration in Washington to remain in Iraq, it may not be the intention of the people of the US. In one year's time there will be a new president elect, and the true intentions of the US may then become a little clearer.
Dr Blix, speaking in Sydney, said:
"One fear I would have is that the US has a hidden thought to remain in Iraq.
One reason why they wanted in was that they felt they must leave Saudi Arabia.
After the Gulf War in 1991 they left their troops in Saudi Arabia to protect pipelines. And when they felt they could no longer stay in Saudi Arabia, Iraq was the next best place because it was more secularised than Saudi Arabia and had the second biggest oil reserves in the region."
Whilst it may be the intention of the current administration in Washington to remain in Iraq, it may not be the intention of the people of the US. In one year's time there will be a new president elect, and the true intentions of the US may then become a little clearer.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Diplomatic Rebellion
There is something of a rebellion going on the the US State Department. Hundreds of diplomatic staff and diplomats have point blank refused to be sent to Iraq, as they regard it as a death sentence.
The postings in Iraq have been voluntary up until now. However, the Secretary of State does have the legal authority to order assignments.
ABC News has a brief recording of a town meeting where the diplomats vented their spleens. Listen to it here ABC
Not much of a vote of confidence for the way things are being "managed" at the moment.
The postings in Iraq have been voluntary up until now. However, the Secretary of State does have the legal authority to order assignments.
ABC News has a brief recording of a town meeting where the diplomats vented their spleens. Listen to it here ABC
Not much of a vote of confidence for the way things are being "managed" at the moment.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Blackwater Immunity
There is more than a little confusion at the moment over the status of the Blackwater personnel, who shot dead 17 Iraqis. It is reported, albeit unofficially, that they have been granted immunity.
These reports have infuriated the Iraqi government, as they accuse the men of murder and want to try them in Iraq, and has put further strains on the relationship between Iraq and the US.
The Iraqi government has been demanding that the Blackwater guards be handed over for trial, since the deaths on 16th September.
State department spokesman, Sean McCormack, has refused to confirm the reports of the immunity deal. However, he said that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had tried to ensure "in as much as we are able, that if people broke the rules or broke the law, that they're held to account".
The Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri Maliki, is not mincing any words on the matter; he has described the shooting as a "criminal act". To pour further petrol on the fire, an inquiry by the Iraqi interior ministry concluded the security guards were "100% guilty".
The head of Blackwater denies the killings were unprovoked, insisting his men had been fired upon.
A mess by anybodies standards.
These reports have infuriated the Iraqi government, as they accuse the men of murder and want to try them in Iraq, and has put further strains on the relationship between Iraq and the US.
The Iraqi government has been demanding that the Blackwater guards be handed over for trial, since the deaths on 16th September.
State department spokesman, Sean McCormack, has refused to confirm the reports of the immunity deal. However, he said that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had tried to ensure "in as much as we are able, that if people broke the rules or broke the law, that they're held to account".
The Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri Maliki, is not mincing any words on the matter; he has described the shooting as a "criminal act". To pour further petrol on the fire, an inquiry by the Iraqi interior ministry concluded the security guards were "100% guilty".
The head of Blackwater denies the killings were unprovoked, insisting his men had been fired upon.
A mess by anybodies standards.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
The Blame Game
With the descent of Iraq into chaos and bloodshed, the British and US administrations are now playing the blame game in order to salve their troubled consciences.
The BBC's John Ware concludes in "No Plan, No Peace" that both the British and American governments got just about everything wrong in their assumptions about what would follow the fall of Saddam Hussein.
The people of Iraq and the US/UK soldiers on the ground are now paying the price of their failure.
The BBC's John Ware concludes in "No Plan, No Peace" that both the British and American governments got just about everything wrong in their assumptions about what would follow the fall of Saddam Hussein.
The people of Iraq and the US/UK soldiers on the ground are now paying the price of their failure.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Audit Suspended
The State Department has had to publicly humiliate itself, by admitting that it does not know what it received for a billion dollar contract with security firm DynCorp International to provide training services for Iraqi police.
The Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) has had to suspend its audit of the DynCorp contract, after administration officials admitted that they had no confidence in their own accounting records.
The list of problems are very familiar to auditors who have worked with companies in total disarray. Duplicate invoices, payments for equipment (eg a $1.8M scanner) that was never used and expense payments ($387K for hotels) that were unnecessary.
Needless to say, all of the above issues are red lights to professional accountants and auditors as they indicate the very real possibility of fraud.
The agency responsible for the contract was the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). SIGIR castigates them, and is quoted by Reuters:
"INL does not know specifically what it received for most of the $1.2 billion in expenditures under its DynCorp contract for the Iraqi Police Training Program. INL's prior lack of controls created an environment vulnerable to waste and fraud."
Although the audit may well resume in January 2008, it is expected that it will take up to five years to complete it. Needless to say by that time the people responsible for this mess, ie the Bush administration, will have long since left office.
Mission accomplished!
The Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) has had to suspend its audit of the DynCorp contract, after administration officials admitted that they had no confidence in their own accounting records.
The list of problems are very familiar to auditors who have worked with companies in total disarray. Duplicate invoices, payments for equipment (eg a $1.8M scanner) that was never used and expense payments ($387K for hotels) that were unnecessary.
Needless to say, all of the above issues are red lights to professional accountants and auditors as they indicate the very real possibility of fraud.
The agency responsible for the contract was the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). SIGIR castigates them, and is quoted by Reuters:
"INL does not know specifically what it received for most of the $1.2 billion in expenditures under its DynCorp contract for the Iraqi Police Training Program. INL's prior lack of controls created an environment vulnerable to waste and fraud."
Although the audit may well resume in January 2008, it is expected that it will take up to five years to complete it. Needless to say by that time the people responsible for this mess, ie the Bush administration, will have long since left office.
Mission accomplished!
Monday, October 22, 2007
Jailer Jailed
Lieutenant Colonel William Steele, a former US commander at the jail that held Saddam Hussein, was jailed on Friday for two years after a court martial found him guilty of illegally possessing classified documents.
Lieutenant Colonel Steele was also dismissed from military service, and will forfeit all pay and allowances. However, his sentence will be cut by 229 days as he has already served that in detention in Kuwait awaiting trial.
Steele was acquitted on the more serious charge of aiding the enemy by supplying an unmonitored mobile phone to an inmate.
The judge, Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Grammel, also found him guilty of having an inappropriate relationship with an Iraqi interpreter and failing to obey an order.
Lieutenant Colonel Steele was also dismissed from military service, and will forfeit all pay and allowances. However, his sentence will be cut by 229 days as he has already served that in detention in Kuwait awaiting trial.
Steele was acquitted on the more serious charge of aiding the enemy by supplying an unmonitored mobile phone to an inmate.
The judge, Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Grammel, also found him guilty of having an inappropriate relationship with an Iraqi interpreter and failing to obey an order.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Execution Wrangle
The political wrangling over the death sentences against Saddam's cousin "Chemical Ali" al-Majid, Defence Minister Sultan Hashim Ahmad al-Tai and Hussein Rashid Mohammed, former deputy operations director of the Iraqi armed forces, continues.
The three are currently being held in US custody, and will not be handed over until questions over the legality of the death warrants are resolved.
The three are currently being held in US custody, and will not be handed over until questions over the legality of the death warrants are resolved.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)