July 16, 2009 10:51 AM

Over $6B Spent On Iraq Security Contracts

(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.
  • © 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
    Add a Comment See all 24 Comments
    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.


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    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
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