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Justice Department Probing Iraq Embassy Fiasco
November 16, 2007 11:25 AM
The Justice Department is investigating whether laws were broken during the contracting and constructing of the massive Baghdad embassy complex, the Washington Post reports today.
The price tag on the project -- the largest U.S. diplomatic complex in the wold -- has ballooned to over $700 million, and the embassy opening is months overdue.
Click Here for Full Blotter Coverage.
Despite serious questions about the State Department's choice of contractors, the quality of the work performed and the conditions faced by some of the workers, the State Department's inspector general, Howard "Cookie" Krongard, has allowed only one inquiry into the project, which he handled personally.
Krongard's investigation did not substantiate whistle-blowers' concerns that foreign workers were mistreated and put in dangerous situations. He interviewed only employees pre-selected for him by the company, and did not interview the whistle-blowers themselves, a congressional investigation later revealed.
Krongard said Wednesday he would recuse himself from any investigation into the embassy. He also said he would recuse himself from investigations into Blackwater, on whose advisory board his brother sits. The State Department has paid hundreds of millions of dollars to the controversial private security firm since 2001.
Do you have a tip for Brian Ross and the Investigative Team?
November 16, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (17)
Another example of Republican corruption. Who would have thought it?
Posted by: Samantha Stickers | Nov 16, 2007 1:59:54 PM
Cronyism and Corruption will be the lasting epitaph of this administration.
Posted by: BooMan | Nov 16, 2007 5:30:15 PM
This whole thing will be destroyed by the Iraqis the first chance they get.
Posted by: lah | Nov 16, 2007 7:04:13 PM
The Brothers Krongard...eyeball deep in anti-american activities...
Posted by: Tom | Nov 16, 2007 7:24:34 PM
Culture of Corruption, Cubed.
Posted by: C3 | Nov 16, 2007 7:28:29 PM
This embassy is so premature, so foolish and so wasteful. The person above was correct: the Iraqi's will just destroy the place like the statues of Saddam, as it will serve as a symbol of our aggression. Why was this travesty authorized before our invasion was finalized with some outcome that meant we would have use of an embassy, or that it would be respected? Stupid, wasteful Republiscums!
Posted by: gus smith | Nov 16, 2007 9:38:09 PM
DE-AUTHORIZE
DE-FUND
RE-DEPLOY
IMPEACH!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: ?W | Nov 16, 2007 11:30:57 PM
We're building this huge embassy in Baghdad and we can't get anyone to staff it.
Posted by: John Wilde | Nov 17, 2007 7:46:02 AM
Why is there never any mention of Condi Rice in the Blackwater and Iraq Embassy scandals? If Colin Powell was still secretary of state, he would be on the line before Congress, in the press, and in public opinion.
Why does Condi get a pass on accountablity in all of her Bush jobs? ALL of the evidence says she is dangerously INCOMPETENT. Is it politically incorrect to hold the highest serving woman and minority accountable for her actions or inactions?
Posted by: Concerned in Iowa | Nov 17, 2007 8:56:59 AM
This embassy leaves the appearance Cheney is going to just take over and occupy it himself. Then he could bathe in his fricken crude oil. He could fill up the olympic sized pool with Iraqi crude and throw a party and rule the countryside.
Posted by: Chris in NM | Nov 17, 2007 9:19:37 AM
Sounds like "Kronyism" to me.
Posted by: Jerry Jaggers | Nov 17, 2007 1:13:15 PM
If a person didn't know any better, they might get the impression that we had absolutely no intention of ever leaving that country...
Posted by: h5mind | Nov 18, 2007 12:20:51 AM
From the picture, the building looks like a prison! Probably will end up as one. (Think a few people who have lined their pockets on this and some other goings on in Iraq should end up in a simular place.)
Posted by: jinja | Nov 19, 2007 6:53:15 PM
Nobody is in charge at the State Department least of all Rice..And we all know Bush,is not in charge of himself much less any thing else.$700 million dollars for this monstrosity. Has anybody figured out that Cheney, and Haliburton, have made a killing off this project??And she cant even get the morons in the State Department to go over there.Rice would not make a pimple on Colins Powell, rear end.
Posted by: Joe Murphy | Nov 20, 2007 2:16:29 AM
When will this end? Everyday we hear more and more. I am so sick and tired of all the corruption in this present administration that we hear daily, and still some people believe that Bush and Chaney are the only answer. What we need to do is get rid of Washington altogether and start anew. The only problem is there are very few politicians if any that are honest. This present age and time is going to hell in a hand basket.
Posted by: del jaramillo | Nov 20, 2007 11:52:15 AM
What I like about is that the Justice Department (think Alberto Gonzales) is going to investgate.
w
Posted by: del jaramillo | Nov 20, 2007 11:56:07 AM
There is nothing in this country or theirs that is not gained by evil and corruption..Because we are Americans, we have tried to buy others for gain of our own...legal or not..we have had good people sell themselves for the higher bidder...this is not republican or democrat..for both have exchanged men like a chess game...We mark territories and then expect those who are less fortunate to submit because we hold power..this is a hypocritical lie for this country...We provide to gain, whereas, we let the poor and mentally of need to suffer and become victims of a system devised by men who are weak minded and represent this country..Top of the chain to the bottom soldiers who set up families to be blackballed...try me for I am a woman who has faced the white-southern corruption..How powerful they are..seven generations strong...KKK is still alive but educated and reshaped to destroy..just like in these countires that use God to violate another...evil begots evil..Where are the soldiers of truth...words no longer tell me anything about our political powers..I am a soldier who will question to learn..and only those who perpetrate wrongs believe they should not be questioned..so they destroy your name and family...I am the Widow..and nothing men can tell me because of the fornication to commit death to those who are different...even you news that is delivered with such fashion...Widow and Veteran!
Posted by: Jalica | Jan 3, 2008 1:54:37 PM
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