Iraq Quietly Dismisses Its Anticorruption Officials

[FreeStateDemocrat]

Source: NYTimes


By JAMES GLANZ and RIYADH MOHAMMED
Published: November 17, 2008
BAGHDAD — The government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki is systematically dismissing oversight officials who were installed to fight corruption in Iraqi ministries by order of the American occupation administration, which had hoped to bring Western standards of accountability to the notoriously opaque and graft-ridden bureaucracy here.

The dismissals, which were confirmed by senior Iraqi and American government officials on Sunday and Monday, come as estimates of official Iraqi corruption soar. One Iraqi former chief investigator recently testified before Congress that $13 billion in reconstruction funds from the United States has been lost to fraud, embezzlement, theft and waste by Iraqi government officials.

The moves have not been publicly announced by Mr. Maliki’s government, but word of them has begun to circulate through the layers of Iraqi bureaucracy as Parliament prepares to vote on the long-awaited security agreement. That pact sets the terms for continued American presence here after the United Nations mandate expires Dec. 31, but also amounts to a framework for a steady reduction in the scale of that presence. Such a change will undoubtedly lessen American oversight of Iraqi institutions.

Each of Iraq’s 30 cabinet-level ministries has one inspector general, supported by varying budgets and staffing.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/18/world/middleeast/18maliki.html?_r=1&hp

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American style democracy in action.

[JJ]

1. Freeing up jobs for the Bush Admin.

They know way better how to fleece a Treasury, and hide it.

[Turbineguy]

2. 13 billion?

These guys need to take lessons from the Bush Administration.

For more information call: 1-800-FUC-KTHE ext. USTAXPAYER

[ConcernedCanuk]

3. Think about it - "Western standards of accountability" ??????

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"installed to fight corruption in Iraqi ministries by order of the American occupation administration"

this may be a GOOD thing the Iraqis are doing . .

let's wait and see.

that "Western standards of accountability" might leave a wee bit to be desired.

[Solly Mack]

4. "...to bring Western standards of accountability ..."

For to laugh

[bluesmail]

5. Just like here. They must ALL get ready, just in case

I'm wearing tinfoil, so I'll say it. In case their numerous other moves/plans put them in deeper jeopardy. I still do not trust ANYTHING or ANY MOVE they make. Here's the official :tinfoilhat: similie!

[fascisthunter]

6. so our soldiers are dying for corruption

No way! :sarcasm: