State Dept Censured For Handling Of Private Contractors

New York Times:

Over the past four years, the amount of money the State Department pays to private security and law enforcement contractors has soared to nearly $4 billion a year from $1 billion, administration officials said Tuesday, but they said that the department had added few new officials to oversee the contracts.

It was the first time that the administration had outlined the ballooning scope of the contracts, and it provided a new indication of how the State Department's efforts to monitor private companies had not kept pace. Auditors and outside exerts say the results have been vast cost overruns, poor contract performance and, in some cases, violence that has so far gone unpunished.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[lthuedk]

10:30 AM on 10/24/2007

http://www.light-to-dark.com/blackwater_jesus_at_republican_mecca.html

[Maxbyte]

09:50 AM on 10/24/2007

I'm still trying to get used to the idea that Bush has been using mercenaries to beef up the number of troops on the ground in Iraq. Did we use mercenaries in Vietnam? I doubt it. We had a draft then.

There is something un-American about using mercenaries to fight wars. Particularly so-called 'preemptive' wars that fly in the face of the Constitution out of the gate. Having said that, I know we welcomed foreign fighters to help kick King George III's Brits back where they belonged during the Revolution.

We need to put this in school books so that our future leaders can begin to appreciate the ugly parts of America, as well as the good. Perhaps they will learn better ways, such as 'just say no' to wars that do not directly and immediately threaten us.

Condi should have left Washington with Rove and the rest of the flag waving Chicken Hawks when she had the chance. She is quickly making her predecessor look good again. That's OK. Colin Powell was manipulated and set up by Bush/Cheney, but remains one of the finest Americans to have served this nation in any capacity in recent decades.

After reading the entire article, I have to say I did not find "censure". I may have missed it and will do another read. These days I think of Congress as having exclusive rights to censure actions, but of course I know that is not the case.

[helonias]

09:39 AM on 10/24/2007

I bet it will take many years and billions of dollars to find out how these billions were squandered by this open and transparent admnistration.

[Budnacho]

09:41 AM on 10/24/2007

Eh...we'll do it on a budget....

Rendition flight followed by water boarding

[Budnacho]

09:35 AM on 10/24/2007

Wow, censure...Im sure Erik Prince is going to take steps to reign in his men after this stunning defeat.

I mean, its a CENSURE resolution people, followed immediately by a Nun rapping Prince on his knuckes with a ruler.

Oh yeah baby, the Democrats are BACK!!!

I don't think we can ever whine about the French in WW2 for being so pathetic anymore, we have a new standard.

Stop all this useless support for all Incumbents. The new motto is "2008 - Incumbents meet their fate!"

[javagirl322]

09:31 AM on 10/24/2007

This makes me feel sick... What is wrong with the Dems in Congress? The Bush administration continues to steal money and say they can't find it...it's lost, unaccounted for or whatever excuse they feel like giving. It is scandalous and should not be tolerated. It is becoming more and more obvious why Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Powell, Wolfowitz and all the usual suspects REALLY wanted to invade Iraq...it is actually a gravy train....take whatever you want.

[hootie1fan]

09:28 AM on 10/24/2007

Insufficient or nonexistent?

[ProudAmericanLiberal]

09:15 AM on 10/24/2007

So Rice doesn't trust the U.S. Marines to protect our diplomats.

[frappe]

09:01 AM on 10/24/2007

It is absolutely outrageous the extent to which the American taxpayer is being swindled out of their money by the Bush administration and their corporate friends. We are talking about tens of billions of dollars, an amount that would have paid for the S-CHIP program and then some.

If the Democrats don't fully expose the extent of the graft and corruption that has gone on since Bush and his minions have occupied the White House, then they are complete fools. They should magnify it in all of their campaign ads so that people fully realize the extent to which the so-called "fiscally responsible" party (Republicans) have pulled the wool over the American taxpayers' eyes.

[Ammobob]

09:00 AM on 10/24/2007

MORE GOOD NEWS OUT OF IRAQ- the QUAGMIRE (heh)

CAMP TAJI — The Sheiks Conference Center’s grand opening took place Oct. 18 near Taji, with sheiks of many tribes, Iraqi Police, Army, security volunteers, government representatives and troops of the 1st “Ironhorse” Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, gathering with one common goal – reconciliation.

“The gathering is immense,” said Lt. Col. Kevin MacWatters, commander, 1st Squadron 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div. “It’s another progressive step.”

During the grand opening ceremony, Sunni and Shia greeted, sat together, conversed and feasted. For many this was the first time they had ever done so. These simple acts symbolized their strong desire for unity.

Reporting to you what HuffPo choses not to.

[MWAnderson]

09:07 AM on 10/24/2007

Reporting propaganda for BushCo is more like it....

[smartstuart]

09:08 AM on 10/24/2007

....AND NOTHING WAS RESOLVED AT THIS US?/IRAQI PHOTO OP!!!!....SO>>>WHAT,IF ANYTHING WAS RESOLVED???? WHAT DID THEY "CONVERSE" ABOUT?? GET lost, idiot!!!

[leftLibertarian]

08:59 AM on 10/24/2007

No surprise here. The State Dept gave a wink wink to any war profiteer associated with Bush and Cheney

[Ammobob]

08:55 AM on 10/24/2007

OOO, that really hurts. Think this will have any impact at all on their credit rating???

[smartstuart]

09:30 AM on 10/24/2007

No, just YOUR credibility,stooge!!!

[jdfast]

08:50 AM on 10/24/2007

What State Department? The one we should have or the one that Cheney runs. Do we have a Sec. of State? The last one that I know of rolled over for Bush and made a mountain out of a mole hill to do the bidding of the necons. I haven't heard if we have another. If we do, why have't they been in the news trying to solve the problems in Africa, in Central America, in the Middle East, or for that matter here with Mexico. Do we have a Secretary of State now?

[Purple Girl]

08:22 AM on 10/24/2007

The State Dept is plying the same- 'Oops did we do that?" BS. They know exactly what is going on with the contractors- they are directing and generoulsy compensating them for their deeds. Censure my ass- it's called corruption and probably a good dose of treason,Condi- time to get fitted for your orange jumpsuit.
Congress has blood one it's hands, theyre co- conspirators whos job it is to keep US distracted and blow smoke up our asses from time to time to keep the agenda moving forward as planned.
'yellow bellied sap sucker, Son of Trickie Dickies..trying to soft soap me' ( para- JL)
Cave Adsum

[Ipanema]

08:19 AM on 10/24/2007

I always get a laugh when I read in the MSM how intelligent Condi Rice is and about her having been the Provost of Stanford University and an ex-Exxon executive with a tanker named after her. However, has anyone ever noticed that she craps up everything she gets involved with: National Security Agency and the State Department. This lady is another idiot idealogue, devoid of much intelligence and ability to reason clearly and logically.

[smartstuart]

09:12 AM on 10/24/2007

Exactly correct,Ipanema! When will this failed political suck-up go to jail or get fired. What a treasonous bitch. What she does best is...go shopping for designer shoes!!!

[abbiehoffmansghost]

09:24 AM on 10/24/2007

More truth. Did you ever see one of those 'brilliant' students in school who got straight A's because they could remember everything that was handed them to read but could never think outside the box or make decisions on their own.

[Not Blind]

08:18 AM on 10/24/2007

This began with the lies as an excuse to begin this war: WMD's, and then regime change. The true reason for this war was to control oil fields between the Persian Gulf and Caspian Sea. That's why we're now targeting Iran.
The next mistake began with Rumesfeld, who did not heed military commanders' requests for additional troops and better strategy BEFORE beginning the ground war. Instead, Bush & Co. wanted to hire their friends (private contractors) to take care of matters in Iraq: security, training of police and military (after dismantling the standing Iraqi military), as well as rebuilding the infrastructure. It's a wonder that while utilities to homes, hospitals, schools and businesses are either non-existant or shoddy, those in and around the oil fields are secure and stable.
Sarcasticennui has hit the nail on the head with this war: Socialize the cost and privatize the profit.
We had a $2-trillion national debt when Reagan came to office. After 8 years of tax cuts and excessive spending, we ended up with a $4.5 trillion debt. Everything was de-regulated, and the S&L scandal which cost tax payers billions now seems paltry by comparison. Under Clinton the debt went down to $4-trillion. Under Bush & Co., the debt is over $9-trillion and climbing steadily. Of course, there were new tax cuts and loopholes for the wealthiest, and gargantuan spending bills to fund the war.
Our troops don't have proper equipment or training, much less adequate "down-time" between rotations, adequate benefits or pay. All the money is going to those private contractors: Blackwater, Haliburton, Hunt Oil, the Carlysle Group, etc. in which Bush, Cheney and others in the administration and congress have personal financial interests.
Republican or Democrat, the entire administration and Congress are making a killing off the backs of taxpayers and more so the brave men and women in uniform.
The erosion of civil and legal rights in this country, no checks & balances, no accountability has made our own government more a terrorist organization than Al-Qaeda.

[smartstuart]

09:21 AM on 10/24/2007

Very accurate! I would add that when Chimpy McCokespoon declared "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" on that aircraft carrier he WAS RIGHT!HIS mission WAS accomplished: Cause enough chaos so a trillion dollars could be stolen from US taxpayers by his pals in the military-industrial complex AND keep Iraqi oil OFF the world market, thus doubling the price of gasoline while helping his Arab pals in Saudi Arabia to make another trillion. The mission remains a total FAILURE for America,of course....but that failure and all those ruined lives and deaths is simply "collateral damage" for these murdering war criminals! And the bitch, CONDI RICE is implicit it all of this!!!!!!

[smartstuart]

09:23 AM on 10/24/2007

Yes, what you describe is not "morning in America".....it's "FASCISM IN AMERICA"!!!