Over $6B Spent On Iraq Security Contracts

Report From U.S. Inspector General For Reconstruction Highlights Huge Personnel Costs

(CBS/AP)  No one knows for sure, but auditors think the United States has paid well over $6 billion to private security companies who have been guarding diplomats, troops, Iraqi officials and reconstruction workers in Iraq.

The money amounts to about 12 percent of the $50 billion Americans are paying for reconstruction in the country, said Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Stuart Bowen.

The figure, included in a report being released by Bowen's office Thursday, is likely to be taken as the most authoritative accounting so far of what it has cost the U.S. government to provide private security since 2003 in the violence-plagued nation.

It included bodyguards for diplomats and top commanders and guards for U.S. military bases, as well as for military supply convoys, contractors, subcontractors and others supporting the U.S. mission and military.

Also included were personal security details for high-ranking Iraqi officials, as well as security advice and planning costs.

Government agencies in Iraq were not required to keep track in one place of how much money was going to security. So Bowen's office spent three months going through records from the State Department, Defense Department, U.S. Agency for International Development and other government sources to try to pull together the figure.

There probably are more contractors he has yet to count, so the $6 billion is almost certainly not the full picture, he said in an interview Wednesday.

The report accompanies Bowen's quarterly reconstruction report to Congress, which included the following other findings:

More than $125.7 billion has now been committed to rebuilding Iraq's infrastructure and government since U.S.-led forces overthrew the government of President Saddam Hussein five years ago. Though not all of that has been spent, it includes $50.77 billion in money appropriated by the United States, almost $58 billion in Iraqi funds and $17 billion pledged by other international donors, the bulk of it in the latter in loans and under $5.3 billion in grants.

Iraq's rule-of-law system remains broken, most evidenced by the fact that Iraqi judges continue to be assassinated across the country. In 2008, terrorists killed seven judges, compared with 11 killed in 2007 and bringing the number to more than 40 judges and family members since 2003.

A serious problem remains with corruption, which Bowen long has called a "second insurgency" in Iraq for the challenge it poses. For instance, auditors noted that a local contractor asked to be released from his work on three schools in Baghdad's Sadr City this quarter because he and his family were threatened when he refused repeated requests from government officials that he pay them bribes.

The United States has allocated nearly $25 billion to support training and equipping new Iraqi security forces and the justice system and spent more than $10 billion on Iraq infrastructure.

A separate audit revealed in August that all U.S. military contracts in the Iraq theater had cost taxpayers at least $85 billion, and when it comes to providing security, they might not be any cheaper than using military personnel.

The United States has relied more heavily on contractors in Iraq than in any other war to provide services ranging from food service to guarding diplomats. The Congressional Budget Office report found that about 20 percent of funding for operations in Iraq has gone to contractors.

© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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by jjwalken October 30, 2008 10:29 PM EDT

Blackwater who???? look it up...

Reply to this comment

by heathme2003 October 30, 2008 3:38 PM EDT

Vote for McCain so that he''ll continue the Iraqi war and we can ship them another $6B!! Money grows on trees in the US!!

Reply to this comment

by macusweil October 30, 2008 3:22 PM EDT

"Sarah Palin is really a Terrorist"

Yes, about time someone pointed this out..

GOP hates this country.

Just look what they have done to it,, wasted our military, exploited our federal lands, record spending / deficits (for what?), too little too late aid for NYC and New Oleans , wrecked the economy, allowed illegal immigration to run unchecked past 8 years, etc etc

Reply to this comment

by macusweil October 30, 2008 3:14 PM EDT

Outrageous!!

No way we should be outsourcing a critical government function like this to thug/rouge GOP insider mercenary groups like Blackwater.

In fact it is illegal to call the mercenaries so we call them "contractors" instead, what a joke. These right wing nuts are getting filthy rich at tax payer expense with no accountability.

Reply to this comment

by rconross October 30, 2008 2:58 PM EDT

This is what you do (and I hope Obama will do when he becomes president)...no more money until 1) you control the politicians in your own country; 2) force Iraq to pay from their own $80 billion for the very same contracts; and 3) get our troops the h3ll out of there! ''Nuff said!

Reply to this comment

by themassesi October 30, 2008 2:39 PM EDT

You know what I changed my mind about Obama! I think he will be better for national security and the economy!

Plus sarah palin $150,000.00 on clothes, most Americans could have bought a home for that amount!

Besides I think Sarah Palin is really a Terrorist

Breaking News: The Terrorist Group AKA Alaska Independent party Calling on Russia to help secede from the Union
www.chilitoz.com
Extremists Mark Chryson and Steve Stoll former leaders of the Alaska Terrorist group AKA Independence Party and friends of Sarah Palin are calling on Russia to help them gain independence from the United States.

Watch video of Sarah palin addressing The Alaska Terrorist Group also known as The Independence party. They are calling for a civil war against the mainland.
www.chilitoz.com

Reply to this comment

by antoniof123 October 30, 2008 2:33 PM EDT

Let me see the conservatives stand to lose in excess of 30 seats in the house and maybe 11 seats in the senate, even the white house looks gloomy for another 4 years of the same.

They still keep their hopes up by insulting the swing voters with their nonsense.

Hey didn''t this happen about 50 years ago when our parents had enough of them and removed them from power for 40 years. That was because of a drunk senator by the name of McCarthy.

I wonder how much a Presidnet will cost them?

Reply to this comment

by gop_will_win October 30, 2008 1:56 PM EDT

See everyone? The liberals just spend spend spend. We need to have a GOP sweep next week so the government can control these outrageous costs.

Posted by gop_will_Win at 08:32 AM : Oct 30, 2008

Cute; You are kidding, right.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Oscarez
==================
No I am always serious on what I post on message boards.

Reply to this comment

by hotpaulie October 30, 2008 1:47 PM EDT

We are not winning in Iraq...the gigantic costs will never be gained back. What did the surge really accomplish? Iraq is no more democratic than it was when we invaded.

Reply to this comment

by oscarez October 30, 2008 12:44 PM EDT

See everyone? The liberals just spend spend spend. We need to have a GOP sweep next week so the government can control these outrageous costs.

Posted by gop_will_Win at 08:32 AM : Oct 30, 2008

Cute; You are kidding, right.

Reply to this comment

by nor-one October 30, 2008 12:37 PM EDT

Hang onto your hopes people. When the election is over the real fun begins. IT''S PARDON TIME!!! That creep in the white house is going to have writers cramp by the time he''s done. And under our stupid system there isn''t a dam thing we can do about it! Our only hope is the world court and the war crimes tribual. But of course our congress would never allow a foreign court to do our work for us. No reprecussions for murder in this country, not for neo-cons...

Reply to this comment

by irishmurph2 October 30, 2008 12:18 PM EDT

After McCain abandoned his disfigured wife and three children for a young, rich beer heiress...he''s been a "kept man." Then he climbed into bed with the next richer thing...Blackwater, Haliburton...they know McCain will keep us in Iraq where they are making a killing. They can trust him...he''s used to being kept.

Reply to this comment

by grumpas October 30, 2008 12:02 PM EDT

Just think this is the same bunch of hypocrites that keeps whining endlessly about the ''Redistribution of Wealth'' back to the middle class. While they keep ''Redistributing the Wealth'' to the rich! Which most Repugs aren''t bright enough to figure out their taxes aren''t going to be raised just the rich fat cats who have made out like bandits for 8 years now. It must take a strong stomach and an empty head to be a GOP clone these days.

Reply to this comment

by gop_will_win October 30, 2008 11:32 AM EDT

See everyone? The liberals just spend spend spend. We need to have a GOP sweep next week so the government can control these outrageous costs.

Reply to this comment

by tincup356 October 30, 2008 11:22 AM EDT

How well could all of this money been spent at home, a lot better in my eyes .we could have rebuilt many things in our own infrastructure that would have created American jobs and kept our country strong.instead we chose to award K B R and others with huge contracts to run the war.How can a private firm do the same job as our troops and not cost more,private business does not operate without making a 40 % true profit.The government gave the contracts to cronies of the lobby dollar and to the president himself to Rob the country .Congress approved this , do you approve?

Reply to this comment

by tincup356 October 30, 2008 11:10 AM EDT

if we are REALLY in a economic strain then WHY are we still dumping money into the war?Because there are too many rich thieves making a fortune off of it and they don''t want to admit that the war has broken us, for to do that would be admitting that the whole fiasco has been a sham from the start.the war started by a lie and was fueled by fear.Fear was the main tool that Washington used to rob us not a gun.I hope some day to see real fear come across the faces of everyone responsible for this war when they realize they are being tried for war crimes.What G.W.Bush has done to the people of the world is along the same lines that Hitler did in WW2.He is no better man than Saddam was.I wonder if Bush understands he will be held responsible once he is out from under the protection of office.

Reply to this comment

by tincup356 October 30, 2008 10:59 AM EDT

the most sad thing about all this is that congress authorized a "privatized war", which the current administration uses to collect wealth for the Carlyle group,which both Bush and his father sit on the board of directors.What this boils down to is that the President is making a handsome profit off of dead American soldiers,It is a shame and a disgrace, but not a crime because CONGRESS approved it.the tyrant is guilty , but equally is the CONGRESS that gave its approval of the practice.

Reply to this comment

by tincup356 October 30, 2008 10:54 AM EDT

The blame lies with congress, for without their approval Nothing can be done or spent.So basically, members of congress have done many ill-advised things , just because of party politics.Beware voters these people are not through.After the election no matter who wins, if the incumbent congressmen who voted for the SELLOUT are re-elected,they are going to tell us they under estimated the problems and are going to need much much more money to complete the bailout.All the while party line voters will become blind participants in the robbing of the world, as your favorite congressman dances away with Wall st. counting your money as the laugh at you.

Reply to this comment

by pirmin3 October 30, 2008 10:48 AM EDT

"Why do we need a private security company to guard the troops?"

My sentiments exactly. Are these guys a bunch of pu$$ies? I think not so it must be another way for the GOP to award no-bid contracts to their friends, at out expense.

Reply to this comment

by joe68sg1 October 30, 2008 10:32 AM EDT

Why do we need a private security company to guard the troops?

So the republiCONS can spend our tax money without oversight. Contractors are taking over our "wars".

But, I do know a few contractors are making a lot of money off uncle sugar...but they are all overseas making and spending it.

No bid contracts are killing us, yet the republiCONS continue to award them with impunity.

Another reason we need to get these slimy republiCONS out of office, and return to awarding contracts in the bid system...that is award it to the LOWEST bid. Since when is competition a bad thing ... idiot republiCONS?

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[jjwalken]

Blackwater who???? look it up...

[heathme2003]

Vote for McCain so that he''ll continue the Iraqi war and we can ship them another $6B!! Money grows on trees in the US!!

[macusweil]

"Sarah Palin is really a Terrorist"

Yes, about time someone pointed this out..

GOP hates this country.

Just look what they have done to it,, wasted our military, exploited our federal lands, record spending / deficits (for what?), too little too late aid for NYC and New Oleans , wrecked the economy, allowed illegal immigration to run unchecked past 8 years, etc etc

[macusweil]

Outrageous!!

No way we should be outsourcing a critical government function like this to thug/rouge GOP insider mercenary groups like Blackwater.

In fact it is illegal to call the mercenaries so we call them "contractors" instead, what a joke. These right wing nuts are getting filthy rich at tax payer expense with no accountability.

[rconross]

This is what you do (and I hope Obama will do when he becomes president)...no more money until 1) you control the politicians in your own country; 2) force Iraq to pay from their own $80 billion for the very same contracts; and 3) get our troops the h3ll out of there! ''Nuff said!

[themassesi]

You know what I changed my mind about Obama! I think he will be better for national security and the economy!

Plus sarah palin $150,000.00 on clothes, most Americans could have bought a home for that amount!

Besides I think Sarah Palin is really a Terrorist

Breaking News: The Terrorist Group AKA Alaska Independent party Calling on Russia to help secede from the Union
www.chilitoz.com
Extremists Mark Chryson and Steve Stoll former leaders of the Alaska Terrorist group AKA Independence Party and friends of Sarah Palin are calling on Russia to help them gain independence from the United States.

Watch video of Sarah palin addressing The Alaska Terrorist Group also known as The Independence party. They are calling for a civil war against the mainland.
www.chilitoz.com

[antoniof123]

Let me see the conservatives stand to lose in excess of 30 seats in the house and maybe 11 seats in the senate, even the white house looks gloomy for another 4 years of the same.

They still keep their hopes up by insulting the swing voters with their nonsense.

Hey didn''t this happen about 50 years ago when our parents had enough of them and removed them from power for 40 years. That was because of a drunk senator by the name of McCarthy.

I wonder how much a Presidnet will cost them?

[gop_will_win]

See everyone? The liberals just spend spend spend. We need to have a GOP sweep next week so the government can control these outrageous costs.

Posted by gop_will_Win at 08:32 AM : Oct 30, 2008

Cute; You are kidding, right.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Oscarez
==================
No I am always serious on what I post on message boards.

[hotpaulie]

We are not winning in Iraq...the gigantic costs will never be gained back. What did the surge really accomplish? Iraq is no more democratic than it was when we invaded.

[oscarez]

See everyone? The liberals just spend spend spend. We need to have a GOP sweep next week so the government can control these outrageous costs.

Posted by gop_will_Win at 08:32 AM : Oct 30, 2008

Cute; You are kidding, right.

[nor-one]

Hang onto your hopes people. When the election is over the real fun begins. IT''S PARDON TIME!!! That creep in the white house is going to have writers cramp by the time he''s done. And under our stupid system there isn''t a dam thing we can do about it! Our only hope is the world court and the war crimes tribual. But of course our congress would never allow a foreign court to do our work for us. No reprecussions for murder in this country, not for neo-cons...

[irishmurph2]

After McCain abandoned his disfigured wife and three children for a young, rich beer heiress...he''s been a "kept man." Then he climbed into bed with the next richer thing...Blackwater, Haliburton...they know McCain will keep us in Iraq where they are making a killing. They can trust him...he''s used to being kept.

[grumpas]

Just think this is the same bunch of hypocrites that keeps whining endlessly about the ''Redistribution of Wealth'' back to the middle class. While they keep ''Redistributing the Wealth'' to the rich! Which most Repugs aren''t bright enough to figure out their taxes aren''t going to be raised just the rich fat cats who have made out like bandits for 8 years now. It must take a strong stomach and an empty head to be a GOP clone these days.

[gop_will_win]

See everyone? The liberals just spend spend spend. We need to have a GOP sweep next week so the government can control these outrageous costs.

[tincup356]

How well could all of this money been spent at home, a lot better in my eyes .we could have rebuilt many things in our own infrastructure that would have created American jobs and kept our country strong.instead we chose to award K B R and others with huge contracts to run the war.How can a private firm do the same job as our troops and not cost more,private business does not operate without making a 40 % true profit.The government gave the contracts to cronies of the lobby dollar and to the president himself to Rob the country .Congress approved this , do you approve?

[tincup356]

if we are REALLY in a economic strain then WHY are we still dumping money into the war?Because there are too many rich thieves making a fortune off of it and they don''t want to admit that the war has broken us, for to do that would be admitting that the whole fiasco has been a sham from the start.the war started by a lie and was fueled by fear.Fear was the main tool that Washington used to rob us not a gun.I hope some day to see real fear come across the faces of everyone responsible for this war when they realize they are being tried for war crimes.What G.W.Bush has done to the people of the world is along the same lines that Hitler did in WW2.He is no better man than Saddam was.I wonder if Bush understands he will be held responsible once he is out from under the protection of office.

[tincup356]

the most sad thing about all this is that congress authorized a "privatized war", which the current administration uses to collect wealth for the Carlyle group,which both Bush and his father sit on the board of directors.What this boils down to is that the President is making a handsome profit off of dead American soldiers,It is a shame and a disgrace, but not a crime because CONGRESS approved it.the tyrant is guilty , but equally is the CONGRESS that gave its approval of the practice.

[tincup356]

The blame lies with congress, for without their approval Nothing can be done or spent.So basically, members of congress have done many ill-advised things , just because of party politics.Beware voters these people are not through.After the election no matter who wins, if the incumbent congressmen who voted for the SELLOUT are re-elected,they are going to tell us they under estimated the problems and are going to need much much more money to complete the bailout.All the while party line voters will become blind participants in the robbing of the world, as your favorite congressman dances away with Wall st. counting your money as the laugh at you.

[pirmin3]

"Why do we need a private security company to guard the troops?"

My sentiments exactly. Are these guys a bunch of pu$$ies? I think not so it must be another way for the GOP to award no-bid contracts to their friends, at out expense.

[joe68sg1]

Why do we need a private security company to guard the troops?

So the republiCONS can spend our tax money without oversight. Contractors are taking over our "wars".

But, I do know a few contractors are making a lot of money off uncle sugar...but they are all overseas making and spending it.

No bid contracts are killing us, yet the republiCONS continue to award them with impunity.

Another reason we need to get these slimy republiCONS out of office, and return to awarding contracts in the bid system...that is award it to the LOWEST bid. Since when is competition a bad thing ... idiot republiCONS?