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Iraq corruption 'costs billions' | Iraq corruption 'costs billions' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Corruption within the Iraqi government is costing the country billions of dollars, the US official monitoring reconstruction in Iraq has said. | Corruption within the Iraqi government is costing the country billions of dollars, the US official monitoring reconstruction in Iraq has said. |
Stuart Bowen told the BBC that Iraq was facing a second insurgency of corruption and mismanagement. | Stuart Bowen told the BBC that Iraq was facing a second insurgency of corruption and mismanagement. |
He said Iraqi government corruption could amount to $4bn (£2.1bn) a year, over 10% of the national income, with some money going to the insurgency. | |
Many government workers also lack the skills to manage funds, Mr Bowen said. | Many government workers also lack the skills to manage funds, Mr Bowen said. |
"This money that's stolen doesn't merely enrich criminals," Mr Bowen said. | "This money that's stolen doesn't merely enrich criminals," Mr Bowen said. |
"(It) frequently goes out to fund criminal militias or insurgents. That means lost lives for US troops." | "(It) frequently goes out to fund criminal militias or insurgents. That means lost lives for US troops." |
Missing weapons | Missing weapons |
A clause in a military spending bill signed by President George W Bush three weeks ago will terminate the work of the auditor on 1 October next year. | |
I call it the second insurgency. This money that's stolen doesn't merely enrich criminals but frequently goes out to fund criminal militias or insurgents Stuart BowenChief reconstruction auditor Baghdad's 'missing' billions | |
Democratic and Republican Senators have said they will fight to have the term of the Office of the Special Inspector-General for Iraq Reconstruction extended. | |
Mr Bowen has been critical in the past of how US money earmarked for reconstruction has been spent. | |
Lack of skills among government workers is another problem hampering reconstruction, Mr Bowen said. | Lack of skills among government workers is another problem hampering reconstruction, Mr Bowen said. |
"The estimates are that $8-10bn of Iraq's budgets will go unspent because of Iraq's lack of capacity to spend that money," he said. | "The estimates are that $8-10bn of Iraq's budgets will go unspent because of Iraq's lack of capacity to spend that money," he said. |
Mr Bowen's audit office began operations in March 2004 and has referred 25 criminal cases to the US Department of Justice. Four have resulted in convictions. | Mr Bowen's audit office began operations in March 2004 and has referred 25 criminal cases to the US Department of Justice. Four have resulted in convictions. |
Among its more notable findings was a report on the loss of 14,000 weapons destined for Iraqi government use. | Among its more notable findings was a report on the loss of 14,000 weapons destined for Iraqi government use. |
Many of these are believed to have found their way into the hands of insurgent groups after the Pentagon lost track of them. | Many of these are believed to have found their way into the hands of insurgent groups after the Pentagon lost track of them. |
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