Iraq’s Missing Billions

Posted by Helen on: 06.19.2006 /

My Dad asked me if I’d write about the documentary Iraq’s Missing Billions. You can watch it online here.

Here’s a quote from a summary of the documentary:

What happened to the billions of dollars of Iraqi reconstruction money entrusted to the American Coalition? In just fourteen months, the CPA burned its way through nearly $20 billion. But no-one can account for where it all went. Iraq’s infrastructure is worse than ever before. Operating theatres are flooded with sewage. New-born babies are dying for lack of basic equipment. In this shocking “Dispatches’ investigation, Iraqi doctor Ali Fadhil goes in search of the missing money. He uncovers a horrific story of fraud, incompetence and corruption.

Here’s an article also discussing mishandling of money designated to improve Iraq’s infrastructure: So, Mr Bremer, where did all the money go?

Have you already heard what’s in the video or article?
Do you consider the information in them to be accurate and trustworthy?
If so, is there something we can do to prevent such things happening in future?

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3 Responses to "Iraq’s Missing Billions"

Comment by: Peter Walker
1 06/20/06 8:49 PM | Comment Link |
I had not heard this news before (surprise!). I have no doubt that the information is true, regardless of whether it has “CNN” or (lofty) “Fox News” credentials.

I don’t know that there is a way for we-the-people to prevent this kind of manifest-destiny takeover and abuse. At least, not without a broader public outcry. And there’s the problem. The Christian “middle” of America has been usurped by an extreme-right political agenda to the degree that they are willing to turn their blinders on for the sake of supporting a supposedly “evangelical” president… or as most of the Christian Bookstore books declare: “A praying president.”

It is stories like this that re-affirm my belief in a separation of church and state. Nations and governments of men (and women) will always be corrupt in some way or another. That’s humanity. But when we pretend to be a Christian nation… in fact a nation DEFINED by Christianity (don’t deny it!) … then we inevitably become very BAD witnesses, and all the church suffers for the sins of the powerful. Constantinian Rome.
Comment by: Peter Walker
2 06/20/06 8:51 PM | Comment Link |
Forgive the harsh tone of that last quote. I didn’t mean to sound so angry. The world and this website don’t need another angry religious guy ;)
Comment by: Helen M.
3 06/21/06 5:38 AM | Comment Link |
The Christian “middle” of America has been usurped by an extreme-right political agenda to the degree that they are willing to turn their blinders on for the sake of supporting a supposedly “evangelical” president… or as most of the Christian Bookstore books declare: “A praying president.”

I don’t think it helps that the extreme right political agenda is to care more about things like not letting gay people get married than serious mismanagement of billions of dollars intended to improve the infrastructure in Iraq - which is a matter of life and death, unlike gay marriage.

Each person has to decide for themselves how involved to get. It’s easier not to get involved, that’s for sure. And I don’t have much idea how I could get meaningfully involved.

But, evidently one more person knows about this since I posted the video. Perhaps that’s a start.