BernieHund: The Political Watchdog

The War in Iraq (2nd) began on March 18, 2003 with the fireworks display commonly referred to as Shock and Awe.  It’s been almost five years since we invaded.  And now…

On January 30, 2008, Senator Byron Dorgan (D) of North Dakota introduced the following resolution (SRES 437 IS):

RESOLUTION

Establishing a special committee of the Senate to investigate the awarding and carrying out of contracts to conduct activities in Afghanistan and Iraq and to fight the war on terrorism.

Whereas the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have exerted very large demands on the Treasury of the United States and required tremendous sacrifice by the members of the Armed Forces of the United States;

Whereas Congress has a constitutional responsibility to ensure comprehensive oversight of the expenditure of United States Government funds;

Whereas waste and corporate abuse of United States Government resources are particularly unacceptable and reprehensible during times of war;

Whereas the magnitude of the funds involved in the reconstruction of Afghanistan and Iraq and the war on terrorism, together with the speed with which these funds have been committed, presents a challenge to the effective performance of the traditional oversight function of Congress and the auditing functions of the executive branch;

Whereas the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program, popularly know as the Truman Committee, which was established during World War II, offers a constructive precedent for bipartisan oversight of wartime contracting that can also be extended to wartime and postwar reconstruction activities;

Whereas the Truman Committee is credited with an extremely successful investigative effort, performance of a significant public education role, and achievement of fiscal savings measured in the billions of dollars;

and Whereas the public has a right to expect that taxpayer resources will be carefully disbursed and honestly spent….

If this bill is being introduced at this time, I guess I have a few questions.  First of all, who has been minding the store for the past five years?  And, with all the reported no-bid contracts that have been awarded wouldn’t we think that someone should have been interested enough to take a look before now?  At least Senator Dorgan woke up… well, sorta.

According to the bill the committee will begin work on November 5, 2008 and have two years to complete the task.  Do you think it’s a little late?  Seriously, I’m an old southern girl, but I know that once the horse is out of the barn, there’s not much need to close the door.  By November, 2010 all the culprits will be out of Washington, sitting fat and sassy, sipping Margaritas and listening to Jimmy Buffet singing “Let’s Get Drunk and Screw”.  The only thing is, by then, we will have been screwed.

So, while the House and Senate and Dick and The Decider have been complaining that we don’t have money to fund programs like No Child Left Behind or healthcare for children, we have such a vast checkbook that we can write unlimited checks to over 150 companies with contracts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

For example, in 2003 Halliburton (largely through subsidiary Kellogg, Root & Brown), received contracts from the Department of Defense worth $4.3 billion, while in the previous five years it obtained less than $2.5 billion from the military, according to an analysis by the Center for Public Integrity.

Additionally from the CPI:

Of the more than 150 American companies that together have received U.S. government contracts potentially worth more than $51 billion for postwar work in Afghanistan and Iraq, Halliburton is by far the largest recipient of contracts awarded in the two countries.

According to CPI, Abt Associates, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation received a government contract worth millions:

On April 30, 2003, USAID awarded Abt Associates a contract worth an initial $10 million to “ensure the rapid normalization of health services in Iraq while strengthening the overall health system in the country.” The contract could be worth up to $43.8 million over 12 months. According to USAID, the “Health System Strengthening Contract” will assist and support Iraqi initiatives in addition to reforming the Iraqi Ministry of Health. Abt will also coordinate with other organizations, including the World Health Organization and UNICEF, which already are on the ground in Iraq.

If Dick and The Decider and those who voted for the War in Iraq had not decided to democratize a theocracy, wouldn’t that $43.8 million have been sufficient to fund health care for America’s children? 

And, someone please explain why we would go back to a well of poison water to get a second drink.  While Abt admitted no wrongdoing they did agree to repay the government $1.9 million as part of a settlement in 1999, accused of billing prematurely between the late 1980’s into the 1990’s. 

Abt Associates, Inc. is just one company.  If the money paid to this single company for one year would pay for the children’s health care program in America for the same period of time, could someone remind Congress and the President and the Puppeteer that charity starts at home.  Of course, the Decider would prefer to veto healthcare for our children so he can continue to break and rebuild other countries.

As far as Senator McCain wanting to know where the Democrats are going to get the money for all their “entitlement” programs, well stop the damned war and bring our men and women home.  I haven’t read Wealth of Nations lately, but it doesn’t take a mental giant to figure this one out. 

As for Congress, for continuing to fund this War with blindfolds on, shame on you.  It’s a disgrace and an injustice to the American people to throw away our hard earned tax dollars without any accountability whatsoever.  There’s a child in America that needs medical attention tonight but has no insurance.  There’s a veteran sleeping on the street tonight who needs health care and housing.  There are senior citizens who can’t pay the fuel bills to heat their homes.  There are people in America who are going to bed hungry tonight… and, Congress is writing blank checks to unknown entities for unknown services in foreign countries.

Ah… and what was that line from the Resolution? 

Whereas Congress has a constitutional responsibility to ensure comprehensive oversight of expenditure of United States government funds.

Folks, that’s not a sometimes job or an occasional job.  And, five years after the fact… well, maybe it’s time for change.  That seems to be our only hope.

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