$1 billion missing
September 19, 2005News & Politics
Laura Rozen writes: "One billion dollars in US-taxpayer funded money reportedly stolen from the Iraqi defense ministry. And another $500,000 to $600,000 in loose change stolen from the transport, electricity, and other ministries..."
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"[Iraqi Defense Minister Hazem Shalaan] says that Paul Bremer, then US viceroy in Iraq, signed off the appointment of Ziyad Cattan as the defence ministry's procurement chief..."
"For eight months the ministry spent money without restraint. Contracts worth more than $5m should have been reviewed by a cabinet committee, but Mr Shalaan asked for and received from the cabinet an exemption for the defence ministry. Missions abroad to acquire arms were generally led by Mr Cattan. Contracts for large sums were short scribbles on a single piece of paper..."(War and Piece)
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