The U.S. occupation authority in Iraq was unable to keep track of nearly $9 billion it transferred to government ministries, an inspector general has found. The U.S. 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 for Iraq reconstruction. The findings released Sunday by Stuart Bowen were among 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 CPA, Paul Bremer, claimed the report had "many misconceptions and inaccuracies," and a Pentagon representative said the Authority was hamstrung by "extraordinary conditions" under which it worked throughout its mission. Well, heck, it was only $9 billion.
-- Beverly Hanly
Who's Counting?
Who's Counting?
