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There was no Oversight. NONE
Author: Raine
Date: 02/02/2009 13:16:10
Who could have seen this one coming?
While I appreciate the desire for the new administration to look forward, this kind of ongoing waste needs to be addressed. These contractors are still operating in Iraq and Afghanistan, with little or no oversight. That is your free market republicanism for you, no regulations, no oversight.
100 billion dollars to contractors, couple that with the statistics our own TriSec gives us every Tuesday. Today it's at $593,482,761,609. My Goodness, that is almost 2/3 of the entire economic Package being bandied about in DC these past few weeks. Republicans think restoring the National Mall is wasteful? Are you kidding me? We are still bleeding Money into a rabbit hole in Iraq, and they think family planning is excessive? With '154 open criminal investigations into allegations of bribery, conflicts of interest, defective products, bid rigging and theft stemming from the wars', I personally can't NOT look back. The money that has been wasted and stolen is just astounding.
People need to be held accountable for this theft. I don't want to listen to Republicans telling the rest of the country about how to be fiscally responsible, then they let this abysmal mess happen in the first place.
It's time to pull contracts, put the thieves in jail and stop the bleeding. Personally I believe that money could be put to better use - what they can still find of it.
:peace: and
Raine
A new commission examining waste and corruption in wartime contracts is getting a grim report from government watchdogs who say poor planning, weak oversight and greed combined to soak U.S. taxpayers and undermine American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Stuart Bowen, the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, says U.S. taxpayers have paid nearly $51 billion for a wide array of projects in Iraq — from training the Iraqi army and police to rebuilding the country's oil, electric, justice, health and transportation sectors.
Some of these projects succeeded, Bowen informed the Wartime Contracting Commission at its first public hearing, according to his written testimony, but many did not. Violence in Iraq along with constant friction between U.S. officials in Washington and Baghdad were also major factors that undercut progress.
The U.S. government "was neither prepared for nor able to respond quickly to the ever-changing demands" of stabilizing Iraq and then rebuilding it, Bowen said in his written testimony. "For the last six years we have been on a steep learning curve."
A lengthy study by Bowen's office, "Hard Lessons: The Iraq Reconstruction Experience," reviews the problems in an effort the Bush administration initially thought would cost $2.4 billion.
Overall, the Pentagon, State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development have paid contractors more than $100 billion since 2003 for goods and services to support war operations and rebuilding projects in Iraq and Afghanistan.
100 billion dollars to contractors, couple that with the statistics our own TriSec gives us every Tuesday. Today it's at $593,482,761,609. My Goodness, that is almost 2/3 of the entire economic Package being bandied about in DC these past few weeks. Republicans think restoring the National Mall is wasteful? Are you kidding me? We are still bleeding Money into a rabbit hole in Iraq, and they think family planning is excessive? With '154 open criminal investigations into allegations of bribery, conflicts of interest, defective products, bid rigging and theft stemming from the wars', I personally can't NOT look back. The money that has been wasted and stolen is just astounding.
People need to be held accountable for this theft. I don't want to listen to Republicans telling the rest of the country about how to be fiscally responsible, then they let this abysmal mess happen in the first place.
It's time to pull contracts, put the thieves in jail and stop the bleeding. Personally I believe that money could be put to better use - what they can still find of it.
:peace: and
Raine
Comments:
Order comments Newest to Oldest Refresh Comments
Comment by 
BobR on 02/02/2009 13:33:34
BobR on 02/02/2009 13:33:34
Further proof that the "free market" the Republicans espouse does not work.
Comment by 
wickedpam on 02/02/2009 13:36:07
wickedpam on 02/02/2009 13:36:07
Morning :hug:
Ya know the brief glimpse I got from Mom working for a defense contractor recently its a wonder we aren't more in debt
Ya know the brief glimpse I got from Mom working for a defense contractor recently its a wonder we aren't more in debt
Comment by BobR on 02/02/2009 13:42:02
BobR on 02/02/2009 13:42:02
When I worked for a military contractor in the early 80's, it was just after the "space shuttle scandal", and EVERYONE had to account for which product they were working on and how much time they were working on it on their timecards. Reagan was the president at the time.
My how times (and the Rep. party) have changed...
My how times (and the Rep. party) have changed...
Comment by 
Raine on 02/02/2009 13:46:10
Raine on 02/02/2009 13:46:10
Comment by wickedpam on 02/02/2009 13:52:18
wickedpam on 02/02/2009 13:52:18
pssst...either way, still 6 more weeks of winter ;)
Comment by 
Scoopster on 02/02/2009 13:57:51
Scoopster on 02/02/2009 13:57:51
:hug: Morning all! I hope everyone's weekend was enjoyable..
And that was quite the game yesterday. Much more entertaining than was expected!
And that was quite the game yesterday. Much more entertaining than was expected!
Comment by Raine on 02/02/2009 13:58:23
Raine on 02/02/2009 13:58:23
So Where is bill press? I am listening to Rach right now?
Comment by BobR on 02/02/2009 14:04:10
A short descrption of this is buried deep in here:
I think TriSec would enjoy reading this (here's part 2)
BobR on 02/02/2009 14:04:10
Quote by BobR:
When I worked for a military contractor in the early 80's, it was just after the "space shuttle scandal", and EVERYONE had to account for which product they were working on and how much time they were working on it on their timecards. Reagan was the president at the time.
My how times (and the Rep. party) have changed...
A short descrption of this is buried deep in here:
The second weird thing was that recently Rockwell had been "suspended"
from selling stuff to the military due to incidents of time card fraud
in Texas, and management was EXTREMELY OBSESSIVE about having us fill
out time cards correctly. We had to attend mandatory training
sessions. But nobody was concerned about what work we did, with what
goals and milestones, or how fast, on what schedule, or how effective
or efficient we were. That's because Rockwell sold our time to the
government with a markup, and the longer we took, the more they made.
(That's where "cost overruns" come from.)
I think TriSec would enjoy reading this (here's part 2)
Comment by Raine on 02/02/2009 14:12:22
It's nice to know Cost Plus has been around since then... not... :angry:
Raine on 02/02/2009 14:12:22
Quote by BobR:Quote by BobR:
When I worked for a military contractor in the early 80's, it was just after the "space shuttle scandal", and EVERYONE had to account for which product they were working on and how much time they were working on it on their timecards. Reagan was the president at the time.
My how times (and the Rep. party) have changed...
A short descrption of this is buried deep in here:The second weird thing was that recently Rockwell had been "suspended"
from selling stuff to the military due to incidents of time card fraud
in Texas, and management was EXTREMELY OBSESSIVE about having us fill
out time cards correctly. We had to attend mandatory training
sessions. But nobody was concerned about what work we did, with what
goals and milestones, or how fast, on what schedule, or how effective
or efficient we were. That's because Rockwell sold our time to the
government with a markup, and the longer we took, the more they made.
(That's where "cost overruns" come from.)
I think TriSec would enjoy reading this (here's part 2)
Comment by 
TriSec on 02/02/2009 14:12:38
TriSec on 02/02/2009 14:12:38
So, did Punxsatawny Pouchlick Perambulate under his Penumbra this morning?
Comment by Raine on 02/02/2009 14:15:04
Raine on 02/02/2009 14:15:04
How is THIS not sedition?
and tell me, WHY is he allowed to be aired on Armed forces Radio?
RUSH: Hey, Bob? The only thing bipartisan was the people who voted against it. The American people do want to see their economy rebound. It's just it's not going to happen with your plan. And one thing, Mr. Gibbs -- and I understand you're the best press secretary they ever had up there. That's what the Drive-Bys told us before you got the gig, I understand that, but you "don't want leaders from either party listening to just one person rather than listening to millions of voices." Don't you understand, Mr. Gibbs? Certainly by now you do. My voice is the voice of millions of God-fearing American conservatives. That's why I'm listened to. It's because my voice equals millions. It isn't just me. I'm not going it alone here. I have an army. I'm the general, but I have an army.
Comment by BobR on 02/02/2009 14:29:01
Can't say - but here in the south General Beauregard Lee did not see his shadow.
BobR on 02/02/2009 14:29:01
Quote by TriSec:
So, did Punxsatawny Pouchlick Perambulate under his Penumbra this morning?
Can't say - but here in the south General Beauregard Lee did not see his shadow.
Comment by TriSec on 02/02/2009 14:32:40
TriSec on 02/02/2009 14:32:40
*snort*.
So what is it, if he sees his shadow, we get spring in six weeks, but if he doesn't, we have a month and a half more winter?
And for bonus points, name the other "cross-quarter" days without checking the Wiki.
So what is it, if he sees his shadow, we get spring in six weeks, but if he doesn't, we have a month and a half more winter?
And for bonus points, name the other "cross-quarter" days without checking the Wiki.
Comment by Raine on 02/02/2009 14:35:16
Raine on 02/02/2009 14:35:16
Mushrooms are being recalled... A recall has been issued for enoki mushrooms produced by Phillips Mushroom Farms in Pennsylvania.
They seem to cause "listeria"
They seem to cause "listeria"
Comment by wickedpam on 02/02/2009 14:37:44
other way around either way spring equinox is still 6 weeks away ;)
wickedpam on 02/02/2009 14:37:44
Quote by TriSec:
*snort*.
So what is it, if he sees his shadow, we get spring in six weeks, but if he doesn't, we have a month and a half more winter?
And for bonus points, name the other "cross-quarter" days without checking the Wiki.
other way around either way spring equinox is still 6 weeks away ;)
Comment by Raine on 02/02/2009 14:37:55
Raine on 02/02/2009 14:37:55
I have never seen a Tax cut Build a bridge. :modbat:
Comment by Raine on 02/02/2009 14:50:20
Raine on 02/02/2009 14:50:20
:metal: BRUUUUUUCE!
Comment by BobR on 02/02/2009 14:51:18
but but...
tax cuts put more money in rich people's hands, and they magically create new jobs out of the kindness of their hearts, and then the people working these new jobs pay taxes, and then the taxes they pay can be used for building bridges.
See? It all makes sense!
BobR on 02/02/2009 14:51:18
Quote by Raine:
I have never seen a Tax cut Build a bridge. :modbat:
but but...
tax cuts put more money in rich people's hands, and they magically create new jobs out of the kindness of their hearts, and then the people working these new jobs pay taxes, and then the taxes they pay can be used for building bridges.
See? It all makes sense!
Comment by Raine on 02/02/2009 14:52:48
Raine on 02/02/2009 14:52:48
:rolleyes2:
Comment by Raine on 02/02/2009 14:56:25
Raine on 02/02/2009 14:56:25
Get this....
The president of the peanut company linked to a nationwide salmonella outbreak serves on an industry advisory board that helps the U.S. Department of Agriculture set quality standards for peanuts.
Stewart Parnell, president of Peanut Corp. of America, based in Lynchburg, Va., was first appointed to the USDA’s Peanut Standards Board in July 2005 and was reappointed in October for a second term that runs until June 2011, according to the USDA.
Comment by 
velveeta jones on 02/02/2009 15:02:33
velveeta jones on 02/02/2009 15:02:33
Depressing post Raine. But I do agree, this administration must investigate...... a lot of things.
Comment by Raine on 02/02/2009 15:04:23
Raine on 02/02/2009 15:04:23
Why good Morning Ms. Jones!
Comment by TriSec on 02/02/2009 15:06:40
But...the GOP!....uh, Boehner.....umm....Guantanamo? 9/11! 9/11! 9/11!!!
TriSec on 02/02/2009 15:06:40
Quote by Raine:
I have never seen a Tax cut Build a bridge. :modbat:
But...the GOP!....uh, Boehner.....umm....Guantanamo? 9/11! 9/11! 9/11!!!
Comment by TriSec on 02/02/2009 15:09:59
Who could have imagined that anything bad would have come out of foxes guarding the henhouse?
I said it last week; it's time for a two-tier system again. The GOP and their supporters can buy from deregulated free-market suppliers. After they get sick and die, they won't buy anymore products, and the plant will go out of business, thus solving the problem the way they want it done.
The rest of us can buy things from regulated and inspected factories.
TriSec on 02/02/2009 15:09:59
Quote by Raine:
Get this....
Who could have imagined that anything bad would have come out of foxes guarding the henhouse?
I said it last week; it's time for a two-tier system again. The GOP and their supporters can buy from deregulated free-market suppliers. After they get sick and die, they won't buy anymore products, and the plant will go out of business, thus solving the problem the way they want it done.
The rest of us can buy things from regulated and inspected factories.
Comment by Raine on 02/02/2009 15:13:29
Raine on 02/02/2009 15:13:29
:rofl:
Comment by Raine on 02/02/2009 15:16:33
Raine on 02/02/2009 15:16:33
How DARE He not Wear a JACKET! 
Comment by 
livingonli on 02/02/2009 15:25:19
livingonli on 02/02/2009 15:25:19
Good morning everyone. 
Just a quick hit and run since I have a 11 AM doctor's appointment.
Just a quick hit and run since I have a 11 AM doctor's appointment.
Comment by livingonli on 02/02/2009 15:28:03
Rachel's show has been to the moved early AM so some stations may have adjusted their schedules to accomodate it.
livingonli on 02/02/2009 15:28:03
Quote by Raine:
So Where is bill press? I am listening to Rach right now?
Rachel's show has been to the moved early AM so some stations may have adjusted their schedules to accomodate it.
Comment by Raine on 02/02/2009 15:28:17
good luck with that liv!
Raine on 02/02/2009 15:28:17
Quote by livingonli:
Good morning everyone.
Just a quick hit and run since I have a 11 AM doctor's appointment.
Comment by TriSec on 02/02/2009 15:28:41
TriSec on 02/02/2009 15:28:41
Punxsatawny Phil sees shadow; angry mob storms den and renders him to Guantanamo.
Comment by Raine on 02/02/2009 15:28:54
Interesting.
Raine on 02/02/2009 15:28:54
Quote by livingonli:Quote by Raine:
So Where is bill press? I am listening to Rach right now?
Rachel's show has been to the moved early AM so some stations may have adjusted their schedules to accomodate it.
Interesting.
Comment by livingonli on 02/02/2009 15:30:32
Because only the little people pay taxes.
livingonli on 02/02/2009 15:30:32
Quote by BobR:Quote by Raine:
I have never seen a Tax cut Build a bridge. :modbat:
but but...
tax cuts put more money in rich people's hands, and they magically create new jobs out of the kindness of their hearts, and then the people working these new jobs pay taxes, and then the taxes they pay can be used for building bridges.
See? It all makes sense!
Because only the little people pay taxes.
Comment by livingonli on 02/02/2009 15:32:14
:rofl:
livingonli on 02/02/2009 15:32:14
Quote by TriSec:
Punxsatawny Phil sees shadow; angry mob storms den and renders him to Guantanamo.
:rofl:
Comment by Scoopster on 02/02/2009 15:33:28
Hehe here's one I can handle, courtesy of my dabbling in Wicca.. The cross-quarters are normally the last day of the month following (or more accurately the first day of the month before) an equinox or solstice month. The dates by the gregorian calendar would be Feb 1/2, May 1, August 1 and November 1. Though to be accurate, the dates should actually change according to the lunar calendar.
In Wicca and the pagan religions of old these dates along with the equinox & solstice days marked festivals to nature or to various goddesses. Which leads to MY bonus points question - without looking it up can you give either the common or Wiccan names for these eight festivals?
Scoopster on 02/02/2009 15:33:28
Quote by TriSec:
*snort*.
So what is it, if he sees his shadow, we get spring in six weeks, but if he doesn't, we have a month and a half more winter?
And for bonus points, name the other "cross-quarter" days without checking the Wiki.
Hehe here's one I can handle, courtesy of my dabbling in Wicca.. The cross-quarters are normally the last day of the month following (or more accurately the first day of the month before) an equinox or solstice month. The dates by the gregorian calendar would be Feb 1/2, May 1, August 1 and November 1. Though to be accurate, the dates should actually change according to the lunar calendar.
In Wicca and the pagan religions of old these dates along with the equinox & solstice days marked festivals to nature or to various goddesses. Which leads to MY bonus points question - without looking it up can you give either the common or Wiccan names for these eight festivals?
Comment by BobR on 02/02/2009 15:35:59
The only ones I can remember are Sahmain (sp?) and Yule.
BobR on 02/02/2009 15:35:59
Quote by Scoopster:
Hehe here's one I can handle, courtesy of my dabbling in Wicca.. The cross-quarters are normally the last day of the month following an equinox or solstice month. The dates by the gregorian calendar would be Feb 1/2, May 1, August 1 and November 1.
In Wicca and the pagan religions of old these dates along with the equinox & solstice days marked festivals to nature or to various goddesses. Which leads to MY bonus points question - without looking it up can you give either the common or Wiccan names for these eight festivals?
The only ones I can remember are Sahmain (sp?) and Yule.
Comment by Raine on 02/02/2009 15:40:12
Raine on 02/02/2009 15:40:12
:yadda:
Comment by wickedpam on 02/02/2009 15:42:07
Phil looks pissed - I advocate him biting that guy
wickedpam on 02/02/2009 15:42:07
Quote by TriSec:
Punxsatawny Phil sees shadow; angry mob storms den and renders him to Guantanamo.
Phil looks pissed - I advocate him biting that guy
Comment by BobR on 02/02/2009 15:44:35
Groundhog Day combined with Football....
"Toss him my way - I'm open!"
BobR on 02/02/2009 15:44:35
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by TriSec:
Punxsatawny Phil sees shadow; angry mob storms den and renders him to Guantanamo.
Phil looks pissed - I advocate him biting that guy
Groundhog Day combined with Football....
"Toss him my way - I'm open!"
Comment by wickedpam on 02/02/2009 15:49:08
wickedpam on 02/02/2009 15:49:08
oh I remember that
Comment by wickedpam on 02/02/2009 15:58:12
wickedpam on 02/02/2009 15:58:12
Comment by Raine on 02/02/2009 15:59:28
It's gonna be 8 years of that claptrap.
Raine on 02/02/2009 15:59:28
Quote by wickedpam:
It's gonna be 8 years of that claptrap.
Comment by Scoopster on 02/02/2009 16:00:37
:thumbsup: That's two.. Yule is pretty easy to remember, since we still use the word today in association with Christmas. Yule is a norse word meaning "wheel".
Samhain is Oct31/Nov1, is known as Hallows Eve/Day or just Halloween these days, and thanks to the RC church All Saints Eve/Day. It's also considered to be the eve of the Celtic New Year, with the first day of the year and first day of winter being Nov 1.
Scoopster on 02/02/2009 16:00:37
Quote by BobR:
The only ones I can remember are Sahmain (sp?) and Yule.
:thumbsup: That's two.. Yule is pretty easy to remember, since we still use the word today in association with Christmas. Yule is a norse word meaning "wheel".
Samhain is Oct31/Nov1, is known as Hallows Eve/Day or just Halloween these days, and thanks to the RC church All Saints Eve/Day. It's also considered to be the eve of the Celtic New Year, with the first day of the year and first day of winter being Nov 1.
Comment by wickedpam on 02/02/2009 16:06:01
yeah I know just would like the chance to see if things work before people start bitching
wickedpam on 02/02/2009 16:06:01
Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
It's gonna be 8 years of that claptrap.
yeah I know just would like the chance to see if things work before people start bitching
Comment by wickedpam on 02/02/2009 16:10:00
wickedpam on 02/02/2009 16:10:00
thats the only part of the game I saw and still didn't care :shrug:
Comment by Raine on 02/02/2009 16:12:27
I love you anyway.
Raine on 02/02/2009 16:12:27
Quote by wickedpam:
thats the only part of the game I saw and still didn't care :shrug:
I love you anyway.
Comment by TriSec on 02/02/2009 16:12:39
Well, then their bailout allotment should be cut by 3x that amount.
TriSec on 02/02/2009 16:12:39
Quote by Raine:
BoA had a superbowl party. :waiting:
Well, then their bailout allotment should be cut by 3x that amount.
Comment by wickedpam on 02/02/2009 16:15:53
lol - it's televised sports just can't get into it.
Then again - I don't get the game and the rules and then I just get pissed off at overpaid players crying cause they lost or won a game. Overthinking I know.
Only thing good about football - football pants
wickedpam on 02/02/2009 16:15:53
Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
thats the only part of the game I saw and still didn't care :shrug:
I love you anyway.
lol - it's televised sports just can't get into it.
Then again - I don't get the game and the rules and then I just get pissed off at overpaid players crying cause they lost or won a game. Overthinking I know.
Only thing good about football - football pants
Comment by wickedpam on 02/02/2009 16:19:09
wickedpam on 02/02/2009 16:19:09
"yamwow" *snort* 
:rofl:
:rofl: