Could D.C. Bribery Have Cost Troop Lives?

Exclusive: In Finding How IED Targeting Went Awry, Investigator Found Trail Of Gifts And Earmarks

(CBS)  The No. 1 killer of troops in Iraq is the roadside bomb, called IED's, short for "Improvised Explosive Device." By 2004, the top request from the U.S. command in Iraq was the ability to target IED networks.

Congress poured in tens of millions of dollars to a company called MZM - but deaths and injuries continued to soar, CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports for Follow the Money.

It was the job of intelligence officer Maj. Eric Egland to find out why.

"It was my job to do a field evaluation of this program," Egland said.

In an exclusive interview, Egland told us he discovered stunning lapses on the part of MZM, which only hird a third of the employees they were paid for

"What you're hoping for is fewer IED injuries; more IEDs targeted and found?" Attkisson asked.

"Yeah, help the combat units go after the networks that are using IEDs against us," Egland said.

But what really was happening?

"The capability that was being funded was given an unqualified contractor, who failed at even the most basic level to provide the right people, the right resources and the right capability to help our troops deal with the No. 1 threat in Iraq," Egland said.

With American lives at stake, Egland couldn't imagine how a company like MZM got such a crucial contract. His next assignment took him to a place where he could find the answer: The Pentagon.

There, Egland did some digging and found MZM had gotten millions in Defense contracts - courtesy of Rep. Duke Cunningham, R-Calif., in the form of earmarks, grants of money without the normal public review.

As member of the House Intelligence Committee, Cunningham was able to keep the earmarks even more secret than most by making them "classified."

"It was not a merit-based process. It was based on sneaking a large contract to a company that had given millions of dollars in bribes and hundreds of thousands of dollars in political contributions to powerful members of Congress," Egland said.

That's right. To get the sweetheart deals, MZM owner Mitchell Wade had bribed Congressman Cunningham with the "Buoy Toy" yacht, vehicles, antiques, jewelry, cash and fancy property - details revealed when both were prosecuted in a wide-ranging corruption scandal.

The pieces came together when Cunningham and Wade were prosecuted in a wide-ranging bribery scandal. Egland is convinced that the classified earmarks didn't just waste your tax dollars - they cost American lives.

"People died because of this program being done the way it was?" Attkisson asked.

"I really believe so. Absolutely," Egland said. "I mean the troops wanted to target these networks. But without this critical capability, that was given to unqualified people, they weren't able to."

---

Read more from Sharyl Attkisson on this story at Couric & Co.

---

He says the real shame is it could happen again. Today, there's nothing to stop members of Congress from making secret, classified earmarks to favored companies.

"Nothing that has changed would preclude this from happening again," he said.

Taxpayers bore the cost, but Egland says the price that soldiers paid was even higher.

[nextgenman]

There, Egland did some digging and found MZM had gotten millions in Defense contracts - courtesy of Rep. Duke Cunningham, R-Calif., in the form of earmarks, grants of money without the normal public review.
-----------

R-Calif.

[jackd971]

Who else was jailed beside Cunningham and Wade
You people need to follow up on these stories when you start them. What else happen with this case?

[retmilitary]

What an even more sad day for the families who have lost their Soldiers, worse than hearing their loved ones are dead. Our ''trusted'' elected officials. Force them to have their children enlist in a branch of service and have their children sent overseas to fight this war - see what action they would then take. This is beyond shameful, this is beyond sickening, beyond disheartening. I fell to my knees when I heard this report. I have no more tears. I can''t cry anymore.

[l8c6]

In an exclusive interview, Egland told us he discovered stunning lapses on the part of MZM, which only hird a third of the employees they were paid for

Sounds like the whining republican legislatures that talk about the need to cut spending and increase efficiency. Staffing decreases, work load increases but where does the savings goes? Straight to the pockets of these antisocial azzholes.

[l8c6]

The pieces came together when Cunningham and Wade were prosecuted in a wide-ranging bribery scandal. Egland is convinced that the classified earmarks didn''t just waste your tax dollars - they cost American lives.

"People died because of this program being done the way it was?" Attkisson asked.

"I really believe so. Absolutely," Egland said. "I mean the troops wanted to target these networks. But without this critical capability, that was given to unqualified people, they weren''t able to."



There is an antisocial patient on the ward....he can whine and cry just like Duke did when caught. They don''t care if people die for their greed. Sociopaths don''t care, and sociopaths are running this country...running it into ruin.

[ron4691]

There are many of us who believe lynching is an appropriate response to corruption. There are more than a few that are past due.

[stn_sage]

My comments are as follows:

1. This scumbag, Cunningham (R-CA), needs to be tried for the additional charge of treason.

2. Someone in Congress needs to wake up, go through these so-called classified earmarks, find out if the work these contracts represent is being done and if so correctly?!

3. Between under supplying troops at the start of the war; lack of bullets, bulletproof vests, MRAPs, sticking them in dilapidated buildings while waiting for medical care, denying them medical care, trying to charge them for care, getting them to buy insurance they didn''t need, having them involuntarily serve additional tours, extending tours, and now endangering their lives by putting contract work in the hands of incompetents, this administration has completely and uttering FAILED to conduct this war in ANYTHING that approaches what could be deemed a reasonable and acceptable manner!

4. As time goes on, it becomes clearer that the real purpose this war was started---was to make a ''fast buck'' by Bush, Cheney, and assorted Republicans in Congress at the expense of the lives of our troops, Iraqi citizens, world peace, and the vitality of the U.S. economy!

5. May God grant them and their supporters their just rewards!

[deacon20081]

NO doubt this is just the Tip of the Ice Burge so to speak. Eventually we will discover and uncover these thieves and deal with them. We have seen enough Funerals of the young men and women killed in Iraq for OIL and profit. Vote the bums out.

[lemonskink]

This has happened with every contractor in Iraq one way or another. In this case, people were killed. This is criminal and just another addition to the long list of crimes committed by this administration. This is outright murder, and the charges should be filed from the the top to the bottom. But it won''t happen because the American public will just sit back and let these criminals continue on their destruction of America for profit.

[mcv57]

The U.S. Government meat-grinder enterprize. U.S. troops are expendable assets, MZM/IEDs make money for the military and the White House regime. This is the Bushwackers creative financing.

[neo267-2009]

Whether or not this company did its job, the only reason terrorists started using IEDs is that they knew the Liberals would hold up the head of each dead American like it was a war trophy - and the News Media would spread their propaganda.

They are the real murderers.

[babooph]

I bet this politician does not get a life sentence in a "real"US prison-the tough on crime is just for the middle & low class population.Like Bush-he will not be prosecuted,or like libby& Rush,he will walk.

[stn_sage]

There are many of us who believe lynching is an appropriate response to corruption. There are more than a few that are past due.

Posted by ron4691 at 07:38 PM : Jul 18, 2008
---------------------------------------------
My response:
1. Excellent points!

2. The number who believe lynching or public mandated justice is appropriate, is growing each day!

3. When those in the justice system fail to enforce the law against ALL uniformly and without prejudice, then you don''t really HAVE a justice system at all anymore!

4. Three (3) above being the case, the citizenry is no longer under ANY obligation to abide by the law. And may attempt to re-establish government, law, and the social order as best they can.

5. Agreed. There are many who need to have justice applied to them for their crimes!

[fightfascism]

neo, you''re obviously another brainwashed bootlicker. Didn''t you see the "R" by the politician''s name? It''s commies like you who''ve put scum like him in power. In case you didn''t know it, "the media" is the same (corpoarte controlled) media that bought busheet''s war baloney and sold it to you in the run up to this economic disaster called eye-rack. The real are you republicommies who are sooooo afraid of camel riders half a world away. wake up before it''s too late....

[caco58]

OMG I''m gonna cry

[randynason]

We knew this to be the case. We just weren''t aware of the particulars. I''m afraid this is just the beginning of a very sordid expose in D.C. scandals that will rock the House. Stay tuned for John Ashcroft''s testimony before Congress. -heh-

[jn122736]

Whether or not this company did its job, the only reason terrorists started using IEDs is that they knew the Liberals would hold up the head of each dead American like it was a war trophy - and the News Media would spread their propaganda.

They are the real murderers.
Posted by Neo267 at 08:10 PM : Jul 18, 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bush apologists regularly hold our troops up like a shield while they hide behind them using distortions, subterfuge, and outright lies as their sword.

They have nothing else to fight with or use in defense of the Iraq fiasco, not to mention a total lack of moral character and/or integrity.

[f4ccv]

I am in shock !!! A segment on IED injuries and deaths in Iraq was investigated and led to the discovery that the company that was supposed to be creating detection and protection from them was handled by an incompetent, inexperienced, understaffed company (MZM) that received bounteous TOP SECRET ear-marked funds via our former Naval hero, MiG ace, Randy Cunningham who, in turn, received millions from MZM in Champaign funds.

I am so near tears that it is unspeakable -- The offences he is in prison for were so shocking several years ago .... when your hero falls on his own sword is bad enough all by itself! And now, to learn that his actions are directly responsible for so much pain, suffering and loss of lives.

The other day I suggested to you that politicians should be charged and punished for their crimes.

Suddenly, I feel Cunningham should be charged as an accessory to murder and given the death sentence. We damned surely did not send him to Vietnam in a defective Phantom!

Additional charges could be "War Crimes", " Crimes Against Humanity", misappropriation of funds, money laundering, blatant theft, Aiding and Abetting the Enemy, Treason.

Are there "civilian" law violations regarding this situation ? As a retired military officer, is this punishable under the UCMJ by the military ?

I am just so over-whelmed by this - I wish I could puke. This is far beyond despicable!

George Campbell

[cyberus-2009]

Another case of

This surprises who?

[newporke]

I feel so safe. "Among its customers are the Department of Justice, Internal Revenue Service, and the Department of Energy. Chairman and CEO Dario Marquez, one of the company''s founders, controls MVM."
http://www.hoovers.com/mvm/--ID__41271--/free-co-profile.xhtml
Only 13% of the Colonies'' population were active in the revolt against England.

[hotpaulie]

Republicans are going to get pounded in November!

[mjpd345]

You know the saddest part about this ? Cunningham and his crooked dealings were investigated , revealed and was indicted BEFORE 9/11 ever happened !. Do you believe that the Pentagon didn''t even know that a corrupt indicted Contractor was in their system and continued with their contract ANYWAYS ???

[vnveteran72]

The Bush/Cheney Crime Cartel and their Treasonous gaggle of Gangster Political Toadies are responsible for the Deaths and Maiming of Thousands of Military Members and as many as a Million or more Iraqis.
Their motivation for such Evil Doings???.....$$$$$$$$
It''s the Sole and Singular Driving Force of Scumbag Politicians from BOTH Parties, and no amount of Phone Calls, E-Mails, or pleading of any sort will keep them from Robbing the American Public Blind.
It''s time to Dump the Entire Bunch and Start Over.
It''s the ONLY Answer.

[mttunes]

i have a son in the army. i was in tears watching this piece! raised a republican, i am devastated to think that people we vote for can trade cash for the lives of our children. treason is the only thing that comes to mind! representative Cunningham needs to be charged as the criminal he is! i am writing my own congressional delegation requesting that these types of expenditures are stopped.

[ron4691]

Why didn''t the criminals who helped Duke C. run this scam in jail? You don''t bite the hands that feed you!
Support responsible government: Lynch a politician!

Outrageous? Yes!
Hideous? Yes!
Criminal? You Betcha?
Immoral? Oh Yah!
Surprising? No, just the usual garden variety, daily business in our government.

i have a son in the army. i was in tears watching this piece! raised a republican, i am devastated to think that people we vote for can trade cash for the lives of our children. treason is the only thing that comes to mind! representative Cunningham needs to be charged as the criminal he is! i am writing my own congressional delegation requesting that these types of expenditures are stopped.

Posted by mttunes
-------------------
Dear Madam or Sir,
Please believe that I say this with all respect and deep understanding for your anguish around your son.

However, the truth is that "trading lives for cash" has been going on for as long as there have been politicians.

I got my "enlightenment" around this in a little place called Viet Nam. And one of the biggest lessons of that era was that we simply could not afford naivete''.

Tragically, we may have to re-learn that lesson. Perhaps every generation needs to re-learn it..

Regards.

[netadmin1-2009]

This isn''t about a republican, a democrat, a liberal - this is about a politician wrongly putting money in his pocket. I believe someone said this earlier - I''ll say it again - we need to clear the political slate in this country and start over - not abroad - right here.

[stn_sage]

Whether or not this company did its job, the only reason terrorists started using IEDs is that they knew the Liberals would hold up the head of each dead American like it was a war trophy - and the News Media would spread their propaganda.

They are the real murderers.

Posted by Neo267 at 08:10 PM : Jul 18, 2008
-------------------------------------------
My response:
1. I''ve read some pretty disgusting, cowardly, loathsome, callous, two-faced lying, propagandist neocon drivel on this board, but YOU ''take the freaking cake'', my friend!

2. The REASON they use IEDs is that it allows them to effectively kill multiple targets while not getting caught! And, it reduces their own casualty level.

3. Clowns like you sit at home making these obscene comments, cheering on Bush''s death machine, blaming anyone who ''won''t go along'' with your idiocy, while the reality is you wouldn''t lift a finger to protect America if it were necessary!

4. Thanks, I was leaning in the direction of not voting because I don''t like either candidate, but after reading your post I''m re-considering. With idiot scum like you loose in America, the rest of us have to see that you don''t get in positions of authority where you do nothing but DAMAGE!

Come all ye young rebels, and list while I sing,
For the love of one''s country is a terrible thing.
It banishes fear with the speed of a flame,
And it makes us all part of the patriot game.

My name is O''Hanlon, and I''ve just turned sixteen.
My home is in Monaghan, and where I was weaned
I learned all my life cruel England''s to blame,
So now I am part of the patriot game.

This Ireland of ours has too long been half free.
Six counties lie under John Bull''s tyranny.
But still De Valera is greatly to blame
For shirking his part in the Patriot game.

They told me how Connolly was shot in his chair,
His wounds from the fighting all bloody and bare.
His fine body twisted, all battered and lame
They soon made me part of the patriot game.

It''s nearly two years since I wandered away
With the local battalion of the bold IRA,
For I read of our heroes, and wanted the same
To play out my part in the patriot game.

I don''t mind a bit if I shoot down police
They are lackeys for war never guardians of peace
AND YET AT DESERTERS I''M NEVER LET AIM
THE REBELS WHO SOLD OUT THE PATRIOTS GAME

AND NOW AS I LIE HERE, MY BODY ALL HOLES
I THINK OF THOSE TRAITORS WHO BARGAINED IN SOULS
AND I WISH THAT MY RIFLE HAD GIVEN THE
TO THOSE QUISLINGS WHO SOLD OUT THE PATRIOTS GAME

[wogerwabbit]

As member of the House Intelligence Committee, Cunningham was able to keep the earmarks even more secret than most by making them "classified."

Which is exactly what Bush is doing. I can''t imagine the length of this weasels upcoming presidential pardon list. We''ve been scammed and there''s nothing we can do about it. The best we can hope for is to make sure this never happens again by sticking a hot poker up our legislators a$$es... although I''d really just prefer a neocon hunting license to show them how liberals defend their country. All for one and one for all... it''s fiction I know... but for some silly reason I can''t explain, I still believe in America. Call me a pu$$y, call me a liberal, but I''m really a brokenhearted Republican.

[ron4691]

Outrageous? Yes!
Hideous? Yes!
Criminal? You Betcha?
Immoral? Oh Yah!
Surprising? No, just the usual garden variety, daily business in our government.

________________________________________
Posted by hadenough43


That%u2019s the saddest part of all this; people accept this as %u2018business as usual%u2019. Our country is being passed from party to party, robbed of its wealth, its brave young men and women who go into the military to serve their country are dieing because of uncontrolled greed. People, our kids are dieing because of these crooks.
Politicians protect their own, and don%u2019t bite the hands that feed them.
The Presidency of the United States of America is for sale for the cost of a Pepsi Cola add campaign and we%u2019re still buying it. Do you expect this to stop because of angry E-Mails?

One of the lessons of the break-up of the USSR that we all seem to have missed: It''s better to ask ''What the Hell is going on?'' than ''What the Hell happened?"
Our media seems to have missed it too.

Bad Government has Real consequences! Ask a German about that.

Support Responsible Government: Lynch a Politician!

[toolmangler-2009]

Republicans are going to get pounded in November!
Posted by hotpaulie at 09:48 PM : Jul 18, 2008



We can hope, But the Repugs own all the Swiftboats. so nothing surprises me

A note of explanation - I carried the poem posted elsewhere in my pocket the last two years of a four year hitch. To this very day, I cannot read it without shedding a tear.

and the second to the last line should read:
"I wish that my rifle had given the same"

I''m not surprised at all by this CBS story. It''s a very old one with me. Just the latest version. It''s also very much older than me.

[netadmin1-2009]

hadenough - where are you from?

hadenough - where are you from?

Posted by netadmin1
----------------
The good ole'' US of A

Anyone who voted for G.W. Bush is directly responsible for every single American and Iraqi death.

[netadmin1-2009]

same here - pleasure to meet you.

same here - pleasure to meet you.

Posted by netadmin1
---------------------
Thank you, same here

[stn_sage]

This isn''''t about a republican, a democrat, a liberal - this is about a politician wrongly putting money in his pocket. I believe someone said this earlier - I''''ll say it again - we need to clear the political slate in this country and start over - not abroad - right here.

Posted by netadmin1 at 10:26 PM : Jul 18, 2008
----------------------------------------------
My response:
1. I respectfully disagree with you about this, netadmin1! It''s very much a partisan issue in this case.

2. Cunningham, the republican, took advantage of the war to profit off it. The war started by Bush and Cheney, who''s primary motivation appears to be war profiteering! Done through the issuance of no-bid contracts. There appears to be many ''CONS involved. How many Democrats have been involved in Iraq war profiteering? Uh-huh. It''s very partisan, it''s GOP!

3. I agree with you on your final point. A party whose sole purpose is too loot then destroy government and another party that won''t act to protect it or the public, is simply untenable!

[netadmin1-2009]

Thanks for the good comments stn.

[netadmin1-2009]

I appreciate your opinion stn but I still believe there are more crroked politicians that do secret things than we know about. Both repubs, democrats, liberals you name it.

I appreciate your opinion stn but I still believe there are more crroked politicians that do secret things than we know about. Both repubs, democrats, liberals you name it.

Posted by netadmin1
------------------------

I couldn''t agree more. "On the take" is not restricted to party lines.

[TommyCraig]

Very sad and this man and all involved should be prosecuted to the very extent of the law''s governed during a time of war.

[runningralph]

Charlie Wilson was a Democrat. He got away with it and had a nice movie made about him creating the Taliban. So it''s not all just in one party.

There have always been ''smoked filled rooms'' and dirty dealings. That''s politics. But the way that this administration is so blatant about it, and has absolutely no regard for the well-being of the American public and the principles this country was founded upon is beyond belief. Jefferson is spinning in his grave.

[TommyCraig]

"Anyone who voted for G.W. Bush is directly responsible for every single American and Iraqi death".
Posted by HarpoBarx at 10:52 PM : Jul 18, 2008
I do not support the current plan in Iraq and still find this statement quite foolish!

It has often occured to me, over the years, that if we truly got serious about prosecuting traitors for treason - we just simply wouldn''t have much of a government left...

[TommyCraig]

"It has often occured to me, over the years, that if we truly got serious about prosecuting traitors for treason - we just simply wouldn''''t have much of a government left..."
Posted by hadenough43 at 11:17 PM : Jul 18, 2008

Sounds like a good start. We need honesty and integrity in all aspects of government.

[cfin5]

Cunningham needs to go to the Gallows,....minus a few involuntarily donated limbs for a suitable soldier that lost his/hers. I''m telling you people, its way past time to make an example out of these traitors so the next potential Benedict Arnold will be too scared to dare it. I''m so sorry for our betrayed servicemen. It''s kinda like Vietnam all over again.