Contract leaves Pentagon with poorly armored cars, little recourse

[tocqueville]

By Seth Borenstein, Knight Ridder Newspapers
Mon Oct 24, 6:42 PM ET

WASHINGTON - When the Pentagon went shopping for seven armored cars for senior Iraqi policemen, U.S. officials turned to an Iraqi supplier to provide them with some hardened Mercedes-Benzes.

After spending nearly $1 million, here's what they got: Six vehicles with bad armor and run-down mechanics. They also were a little more than slightly used: The newest model was a 1996; the oldest a 1994.

According to the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, the seventh auto is missing.

In a report released Monday, the inspector general said the Pentagon couldn't get its money back because it did such a bad job negotiating the no-bid deal.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/krwashbureau/20051024/ts_krwashbureau/_usiraq_armoredcars