Billions wasted in Iraq, says US audit

Somebody is getting rich in Iraq; these reports show how corrupt the-socalled 'help' is.
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Billions wasted in Iraq, says US audit
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Projects behind schedule despite massive outlay
Roadside bomb kills 3 contractors, wounds 2
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Monday May 1, 2006
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A US congressional inspection team set up to monitor reconstruction in Iraq today publishes a scathing report of failures by contractors, mainly from the US, to carry out projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
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In one case, the inspection team found that three years after the invasion only six of 150 health centres proposed for Iraq had been completed by a US contractor, in spite of 75% of the $186m allocated having been spent.
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The report says: "Fourteen more will be completed by the contractor, and the remaining facilities, which are partially constructed, will have to be completed by other means." The inspectors blame the failure in this instance on management problems and security concerns.
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The report says Mr Bowen's inspection team is investigating 72 cases of alleged fraud and corruption, and is pursuing leads not only in the US but in Europe and the Middle East.
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Congress has approved $21bn for reconstruction since the invasion, of which 67% has been allocated. Precisely how much has been squandered is not known.
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1765048,00.html