Senator: Waste, fraud, neglect hurting U.S. soldiers

[maddezmom]

Source: CNN

(CNN) -- Tens of billions in taxpayer dollars have been lost, wasted or remain unaccounted for in Afghanistan and Iraq, and some of those funds -- and some missing weapons -- have landed in insurgents' hands, a U.S. senator alleged Wednesday.


Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia, leveled the accusations before the Appropriations Committee he chairs. He is calling for arrests and speedy trials for any contractors accused of bilking the U.S. and Iraqi governments.

In a statement released before Wednesday's hearing, Byrd said the military's inability to oversee its myriad contracts adequately has indirectly killed soldiers.

He did not elaborate except to say, "As a result of this lack of oversight, billions of dollars have been lost or wasted, bad contractors have been rewarded, and shoddy workmanship -- some of which has resulted in the deaths of our soldiers -- has gone uncorrected."

Critics have "rightfully" blamed the Bush administration for the misconduct, Byrd said, but culpability extends beyond the executive branch.

"Army commanders, as well as those in the other services, also deserve serious criticism for failing to grasp the strategic situation in Iraq and for not properly planning to implement the massive logistical requirements associated with sustained combat and post-combat operations," Byrd said in his opening statement.



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/23/contractor.hearing/?iref=hpmostpop