A lot of talk and debate has occurred over the last couple of years about an exit strategy for Iraq. Whether the invasion of Iraq by a multi-national force led by the United States in 2003 was right or even justified has ceased to be as much of an issue as how in the hell we are going to get out of there and let the Iraqis take care of themselves.
Well, I think I may have found one of the stumbling blocks.
I just read a most fascinating story from the Associated Press that discusses an investigation of a Federal contractor called DynCorp Intl.
This company was to provide housing, food, security, facilities and training support for law enforcement staff with various specialties as well as weapons and armor for personnel assigned to the program.
You would think that a trained and equipped police force of native Iraqis would be one of the steps toward eliminating the need for armed American troops to patrol the streets over there. I would think that, anyway.
However, auditors have discovered that invoices and records on the project are in such disarray that $1.2 billion cannot be accounted for.
Let me put that another way. Your Federal govt gave a company called DynCorp one billion, two hundred million dollars three years ago to train and equip Iraqi police, and now DynCorp can not only not show any police for the money, they cannot show any reliable records on the money having been spent on anything! It's just gone.
Even if you spent an exorbitant $100,000 on training and equipment per man...you would be able to field a police force of 12,000 officers. That is about the equivalent of the entire Chicago police force. DynCorp and your Federal
government has been able to field zero.
The next time you receive your paycheck I want you to look at how much Federal taxes has been deducted. Now you know where it went.
Where is the accountability? I have to maintain my finances better than that. Seems one part of the Federal government (read IRS) would rather chase and harass some poor unlucky bastard for a measly sum, than see to it that the dollars they have extracted from the populace are being properly spent. Why don't we see this on the mainstream new reports?
Maybe it's time to "just say no" to the tax system until the government cleans up the way our hard earned tax dollars are spent. I am sick of trying to exist on a measly monthly disbility benefit while the government spends $600.00 on a toilet seat or $365 on a claw hammer.
Of course maybe my mindset would change if only I could develop a scheme to bilk all of you out an income that would set me up in life. But, alas, somewhere along the path of life I missed the line to join the government gravy train.
