Clearly the American people don't give two shits about what goes on in their own country and with its leadership. The story of the waste and fraud occurring during the is illegal, immoral invasion and occupation of Iraq has been tantamount to the biggest boondoggle in American history, yet is barely glanced upon in the mainstream media, and virtually ignored by congress.Did you know of the nearly 1/2 a trillion war dollars spent, 88 BILLION dollars of "contractor money" is under investigation for fraud? Did you realize the 630 private companies are under contract to the US government to deliver "services" to Iraq? Jeremy Scahill, author of Blackwater:The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army, sat in on a DOD authorization hearing and listened to representative after representative ask scores of military and government officials,"How many contractors do we have? What are they doing? How much are they being paid? What nations are they drawn from? The answers were, 'I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know' ". Would you let ANYONE spend your money like this?
Bill Moyers does a great intense round-up of the national treasure wasted on this futile exercise called the Global War on Terror. Best of the Left compiles a podcast "best of" moments from around the blogosphere about the discussion. All the while the republicans can't fund health care for children which amounts to 40 days in Iraq spending.
Preaching to the choir I guess, but I wonder when people will be angry enough to act.
6 comments:
Bill Moyers is da bomb. He should be required viewing by the freaking Congress.
I don't know when Americans will start to care, but I suspect it won't happen until the TV news starts to cover what's really going on. "What's really going on"? I sound like one of those crazy people.
The "services" thing has been a growing trend in the defense industry. One thing it's accomplished is to transfer many of the technical jobs that used to be civil service posts into contractor jobs. Contractors do much of the technical work now, and the government increasingly relies on them for both work and advice on how that work should be done. Civil service is increasingly about managing contractors doing work the government doesn't understand very well.
I think this is a dangerous trend, and it would be even if it weren't reaching new heights in Iraq.
And for new wars in Iran... Cujo you are so correct. I never expected to become one of the people that say, "you have no idea what's really going on..." Who knew the MSM would put up the 'test pattern' for America's viewing pleasure. The fires in my California maybe the push we need to see we HAVE to focus our attention at home.
So nice to see you...
The rape of Iraq by contractors in line with free-market philosophy, a key postulate of which is that outsourcing government services yields higher efficiency through less "frictional" regulation.
In other words, organized crime with government complicity. The ultimate revenge on FDR for those high tax brackets, which even forced the embattled rich to form those complicated Foundations to keep control over their fortunes.
The rich will be more than happy to ride around in armored cars and live behind forts with guard towers. It's what they do.
And by the way, Hope, you have excellent tastes in weapons. The PPK is a personal favorite.
Hope is a deep student of Americana. You can't get any attention in this once great country of mine until you pull out a gun.
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