WASHINGTON -- A pair of U.S. senators investigating reports of waste, fraud and mismanagement in defense contracts in Iraq reported from Baghdad Saturday that they see some improvement but the military has a long way to go. Sens. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., and Tom Carper, D-Del., were in Iraq meeting with Pentagon officials to discuss reports of waste, fraud and mismanagement in defense contracts. Uncountable billions of dollars have been squandered, McCaskill said, but there has been improvement in centralizing contracting oversight and increasing the number of fixed-price contracts containing incentives not to pad costs. That's a departure from the early days of the war when reconstruction money and other aid to Iraq was shoveled into the country with little oversight. She said criminal charges may be filed in some cases and that the government might get at least a little of its money back.
Sens. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., and Tom Carper, D-Del., were in Iraq meeting with Pentagon officials to discuss reports of waste, fraud and mismanagement in defense contracts.
Uncountable billions of dollars have been squandered, McCaskill said, but there has been improvement in centralizing contracting oversight and increasing the number of fixed-price contracts containing incentives not to pad costs.
That's a departure from the early days of the war when reconstruction money and other aid to Iraq was shoveled into the country with little oversight.
She said criminal charges may be filed in some cases and that the government might get at least a little of its money back.
Uncountable billions of dollars have been squandered
q.v. 'business-friendly programmes' as above.
