The Mother Of All Heists
More than half a billion dollars earmarked to
fight the insurgency in Iraq was stolen by people the U.S. had entrusted to run
the country’s Ministry of Defense before the 2005 elections, according to
Iraqi investigators.
More than half a billion dollars earmarked to fight the
insurgency in Iraq was stolen by people the U.S. had entrusted to run the
country’s Ministry of Defense before the 2005 elections, according to
Iraqi investigators.
Iraq’s former minister of finance says coalition members like the U.S. and Britain are doing little to help recover the money or catch suspects, most of whom fled the country. The 60 Minutes investigation also turned up audio recordings of a suspect who seems to be discussing the transfer of $45 million to the account of a top political adviser to the interim defense minister.
“We have not been given any serious, official support from either the United States or the U.K. or any of the surrounding Arab countries,”” says Ali Allawi, who was confronted with the missing funds when he took over as Iraq’s finance minister last year.
He thinks he knows why Iraqi investigators have gotten little help. “The only explanation I can come up with is that too many people in positions of power and authority in the new Iraq have been, in one way or another, found with their hands inside the cookie jar,” says Allawi, who left his post when a new Iraqi government was formed earlier this year. “And if they are brought to trial, it will cast a very disparaging light on those people who had supported them and brought them to this position of power and authority”.
At least we know the people with “real power” are doing their job. Why, just this weekend, our politicians and generals spent a lot of important time — talking and talking and talking. Do you think this topic came up at all?
Iraq’s former minister of finance says coalition members like the U.S. and Britain are doing little to help recover the money or catch suspects, most of whom fled the country. The 60 Minutes investigation also turned up audio recordings of a suspect who seems to be discussing the transfer of $45 million to the account of a top political adviser to the interim defense minister.
“We have not been given any serious, official support from either the United States or the U.K. or any of the surrounding Arab countries,”” says Ali Allawi, who was confronted with the missing funds when he took over as Iraq’s finance minister last year.
He thinks he knows why Iraqi investigators have gotten little help. “The only explanation I can come up with is that too many people in positions of power and authority in the new Iraq have been, in one way or another, found with their hands inside the cookie jar,” says Allawi, who left his post when a new Iraqi government was formed earlier this year. “And if they are brought to trial, it will cast a very disparaging light on those people who had supported them and brought them to this position of power and authority”.
At least we know the people with “real power” are doing their job. Why, just this weekend, our politicians and generals spent a lot of important time — talking and talking and talking. Do you think this topic came up at all?
Posted: Mon - October 23, 2006 at 03:50 PM