U.S. Can’t Account for Billions Spent in Afghanistan

[mudplanet]

By DAVID FRANCIS, The Fiscal Times

KANDAHAR CITY -- In its bid to win the hearts and minds of Afghanistan’s teeming population, the United States has spent more than $55 billion to rebuild and bolster the war-ravaged country. That money was meant to cover everything from the construction of government buildings and economic development projects to the salaries of U.S. government employees working closely with Afghans.

Yet no one can say with any authority or precision how that money was spent and who profited from it. Most of the funds were funneled to a vast array of U.S. and foreign contractors. But according to a recent audit by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), there is no way of knowing whether the money went for the intended purposes."

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Issues/Budget-Impact/2010/12/27/US-Cant-Account-for-Billions-Spent-in-Afghanistan.aspx

And I thought conservatives wanted the government to be run like a business. Ohh, that kind of business.

But when it comes to education and health care, we can't just throw money at the problem.

[Skittles]

1. fuck

think about this Afghanistan money when you hear repuke bastards squealing about "fiscal responsibility" and "entitlement reform"

[Amonester]

4. I am afraid we will hear the same talking points in the SOTU address.

If the 1% rulers want them in there, they will win that other one too.

They own and control the paperless voting machines, after all, and if the President wants to have a 'chance' for a second term, he will go along to get along.





The http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1296155071179146825#">future* of hundreds of millions of us starts at 1:00:00


* Soylent Green

[Skittles]

6. aw hell, he is bought and paid for

any thinking person can see that

[Amonester]

8. also, big chunks of those 'disappeared' billions went to Dubai

many 'new' Dubayers (ex-afghanis) live the 'good' condo-beach life there now, but they're still real scum-corrupt bastuds.

[jeanpalmer]

13. Plus how can Obama or any other politician complain

when they're receiving boatloads of payoff money from Wall Street and other special interests?

[Bozita]

2. Captain Renault: "I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!"

At that same moment, a croupier hands Renault a pile of money.

[mudplanet]

5. "Your winnings, sir."

[EFerrari]

3. Gee, what a surprise!

[Zax2me]

7. K&R nt

[Foo Fighter]

9. Hell, it's only money. No biggie. After all, it's "war" money and deficits don't

matter.

OTOH, SS and Medicare need to be cut. Even though they don't contribute to the national debt.

It's all about austerity and learning to live within your means so that the top 1% can live larger.

Shit, have you SEEN what they have to deal with? One day, they have the largest yacht and the next day, their neighbor shows up with one that's bigger! Hell, who among us could live with that type of humiliation?

Everyone in this country needs to make sacrifices but can anyone be expected to make THAT kind of sacrifice? A smaller yacht than what your neighbor has?! That's going to far. Obviously the "little people" aren't contributing their fair share in order to ensure that those at the top are fairly rewarded for all the "hard work" they do.

Hey, being an heir is a damn tough job. Just ask Paris Hilton.

[IScreamSundays]

10. The wholesale theft and corruption in this country

defies reason. They don't even try to hide it anymore. It is straight-up in your face, "what are you gonna do about it", fraud.

[krabigirl]

11. wow....

[jeanpalmer]

12. Shouldn't be surprised at corruption

when the US seeks out and props up the most corruptible people. It's the US's MO, everywhere. Karzai and his crew were picked because they are crooks. No upright person truly interested in the welfare of his country would ever allow the US to wreak this kind of destruction on his fellow citizen.

[Paper Roses]

14. Same old, same old. Every time we turn around, millions or

billions more are 'unaccounted for'. If we handle our lives in the same manner as Uncle Sam, we'd all be in the poor house.

How many 'unaccounted for money' stories have we heard in these last few years? Too many to count.

[malaise]

15. Maybe they should check all the suitcases

:shrug:

[Xicano]

16. How About This For Accountability?

The last person who signed for it is responsible for it - period. Don't have enough money to pay it back you say? Well then its off to jail where you can start paying it off in prison. With the amount you're responsible for; count on being in prison for a long, long, long, long time.

How much do you wanna bet money wouldn't get misplaced if these were the rules and they were strictly enforced?

[mudplanet]

19. Accountability is for the liberals and the poor. Conservatives and fascists

are forgiven accountability due to the "patriotism factor." Just as Ollie North.

[xchrom]

17. gasp! nooooo -- really?

who could have predicted such a thing?:eyes:

[felix_numinous]

18. No, it's Social Security and Medicare

and social programs that are draining the economy!!!!

[Octafish]

20. The company's name is Mob.

Know your BFEE: Scions of the Military Industrial Complex

They want to keep We the People ignorant, impoverished and in fear of terror. It's the only way despots can rule democracies.