US Flag and the Captiol Dome

Washington, Nov 3 -

A provision buried deep inside a large Defense Authorization Act, recently passed by Congress and signed into law by the President, would terminate the office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction office, responsible for exposing waste fraud and abuse in Iraq, is to close on October 1, 2007. The provision- which was not in either the House or Senate passed legislation-- was slipped into the bill in a closed door Conference Committee with no debate and with few Members of Congress even knowing.

Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH), Ranking Member of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, who has raised the issue of waste fraud and abuse in Iraq for years, and whose personal intervention ensured the Department of Defense placed Inspectors General officials on the ground in Iraq, issued the following statement:

“When it comes to bringing our troops home from Iraq, the Administration calls it ‘cutting and running’ but, when it comes to holding Halliburton, and other contractors, accountable the Administration cannot get out of Iraq fast enough. The Administration, so adamant in their opposition to a timetable for our troops, sees no problem setting a timetable to set contractors free from scrutiny.

“The Special IG has been responsible for exposing the vast waste, fraud and abuse in the reconstruction of Iraq. Now, when his presence is most needed, the Administration wants to send him packing.

“Without the Special IG Halliburton, Kellogg Brown and Root, and other contractors, who have already misspent large sums of taxpayer dollars, will have a field day in Iraq. The American taxpayers, who work hard for their money, have a right to expect that their money is properly spent and that their government will keep a watchful eye over spending.

“Iraq is a disaster. The reconstruction has been a failure. Iraqis suffer daily without the most basic services such as electricity, clean water, sewage or hospitals while contractors, like Halliburton, reap in billions.

“This would be like Enron firing its auditor.

“From day one, this Administration has misled the public about Iraq. To fire the Special IG will ensure that the public will never know the truth about the reconstruction process. Setting a date certain to close the Special IG office will ensure that no new investigations are started, and existing investigations will be thwarted.

“Most Members of Congress did not know about this provision slipped into a mammoth must pass bill at the very last minute. When Congress returns, I will work to ensure this vital office remains open and continue to conduct much needed oversight."

Kucinich voted against the Defense Authorization Act.

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