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Audit finds 9b dollars unaccounted for in iraq Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/nation/10775474.htm http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/nation/10775474.htm Posted on Mon, Jan. 31, 2005 Audit finds $9 billion unaccounted for in Iraq By LARRY MARGASAK The Associated Press WASHINGTON — The U.S. occupation authority in Iraq was unable to keep track of nearly $9 billion it transferred to government ministries. Those agencies lacked financial controls, security, communications and adequate staff, an inspector general has found. The U.S. officials relied on Iraqi audit agencies to account for the funds but those offices were not even functioning when the funds were transferred between October 2003 and June 2004, according to an audit by a special U.S. inspector general. The findings were released Sunday by Stuart Bowen Jr., special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction. Bowen issued several reports on the Coalition Provisional Authority, the U.S. occupation government that ruled Iraq from June 2003 to June 2004. The official who led the occupation government, L. Paul Bremer III, submitted a blistering, written reply to the findings, saying the report had “many misconceptions and inaccuracies,” and lacked professional judgment. Bremer complained the report “assumes that Western-style budgeting and accounting procedures could be immediately and fully implemented in the midst of a war.” The inspector general said the occupying agency disbursed $8.8 billion to Iraqi ministries “without assurance the moneys were properly accounted for.” U.S. officials, the report said, “did not establish or implement sufficient managerial, financial and contractural controls.” There was no way to verify that the money was used for its intended purposes of financing humanitarian needs, economic reconstruction, repair of facilities, disarmament and civil administration. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said Sunday the authority was hamstrung by “extraordinary conditions” under which it worked throughout its mission. “We simply disagree with the audit's conclusion that the occupation government provided less than adequate controls,” Whitman said. — The Associated Press

Americans say enough Audit finds 9b dollars unaccounted for in iraq Auditors cant trace 97m earmarked for iraq { May 4 2005 } Bush adds 80 billion to war costs in january 2005 { January 26 2005 } Bush adds another 25b to war funds { August 6 2004 } Bush seeks 25 billion more Bush seeks 70 billion more for iraq Bush seeks 82b more for iraq Bush vows spend whatever necessary { September 7 2003 } Bush will seek 87b more for iraq { September 7 2003 } Byrd nayed voice vote 87b bill { November 4 2003 } Charity claims billions missing from us iraqi funds Costing 1b week Democrats try cut 20b iraq bill Goa rips pentagon atrocious iraq financial management { July 15 2005 } Iraq reconstruction money goes unspent { July 19 2005 } Lacks records for spending a billion { July 30 2004 } No blank check for war funding { May 13 2004 } Pentagon may cut forces in half { September 2 2003 } Pentagon paycuts for troops { August 14 2003 } Public says 87b too much { September 14 2003 } Republicans critical of bush 82b war request { February 17 2005 } Senators hide behind voice vote { November 5 2003 } Spending records on iraq lacking { July 30 2004 } Trillion cost of war War could cost 2 trillion says economist { December 2005 } Files Listed: 26

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