Wartime Contracting Panel Seals Records for Next 20 Years

[Octafish]

Source: AllGov.com

Noel Brinkerhoff
AllGov.com Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Established by Congress to investigate and expose government waste, the Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan has decided to not reveal its volumes of materials to the public for another two decades.

After three years of work, the commission officially shut down last week, having concluded that the U.S. misspent between $31 billion and $60 billion in contracting for services in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But it won’t allow its records to be opened for public review at the National Archives until 2031, because some of the documents contain “sensitive information,” according to one official.

Steven Aftergood, an expert on government secrecy at the Federation of American Scientists, told The Wall Street Journal that the 20-year term “seems like a long period of time, particularly for a commission whose whole purpose is to improve accountability and expose waste.”




Read more: http://www.allgov.com/Controversies/ViewNews/Wartime_Contracting_Panel_Seals_Records_for_Next_20_Years_111025

---

Secret Government is un-democratic and un-American.

[Scuba]

1. This is outrageous. So much for transparency. n/t

[teach1st]

30. Oops...posted in wrong spot

Dang

[HowHasItComeToThis]

91. THE FRAUD IS ONGOING

SO MUCH MONEY TO BE MADE

[tblue]

115. 1984

Endless war. I thought we were broke!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

138. Got to cover up for Dick

[liberalmike27]

34. More like

"The documents have embarrassing information."

[No Elephants]

116. If I am not mistaken, classifying info because it is embarassing is against the law.

But, as they say, laws were meant to be broken.

[russspeakeasy]

127. It has never stopped them before.

[No Elephants]

135. No, and it probably never will.

[TheEuclideanOne]

215. This position is totally unnecessary

Haven't they learned yet that we have no intention of doing anything, even if laws are blatantly broken?

[Enthusiast]

120. The documents have evidence of criminal behavior.

Our military exists in part to preserve the kleptocracy.

[wordpix]

84. according to their website, comm. is bipartisan & created by Congress

Welcome to the website of the Commission on Wartime Contracting (CWC), an independent, bipartisan legislative commission established to study wartime contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Created in Section 841 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, this eight-member Commission is mandated by Congress to study federal agency contracting for the reconstruction, logistical support of coalition forces, and the performance of security functions, in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Section 841 requires the Commission to assess a number of factors related to wartime contracting, including the extent of waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement of wartime contracts. The Commission has the authority to hold hearings and to refer to the Attorney General any violation or potential violation of law it identifies in carrying out its duties.

The Commission has issued two interim reports to Congress, “At What Cost?” (June 2009) and “At What Risk?” (February 2011), as well as five Special Reports on specific issues. PDFs are posted at the Reports section of this site. The final report to Congress, “Transforming Wartime Contracting: Controlling Costs, Reducing Risks,” was filed in August 2011.

The Commission will sunset on September 30, 2011. From that date, this website will no longer be updated, but will remain online as an archive of the Commission’s work.

http://www.wartimecontracting.gov/

[savannah43]

148. I want the names of those who sat on this cover-up, I mean

committee. Have they ever heard of redaction? I'll bet they're hoping most people who read their press release will not be aware of the meaning of the word. Why do they even bother? Oh, right. Because there are more of us than there are of them.

[DissedByBush]

189. Definition of bipartisan

We're getting fucked by both sides of the aisle instead of just one.

[crunch60]

193. Repukes and Dems both the same.. we have a few good

men in there like Bernie Sanders. Obama walks in the center saying "let's see, who do I have to please today". He could have been a great president. The people with real Democratic principals are on the street's protesting- Occupy Wall Street. They are the leader's for change, not the bought and paid for suits in Washington.

[wordpix]

225. "At what cost?" Huge. "At what risk?" Huge. "For whose benefit?" The war profiteers

:puke: When they asked the last question, they didn't want the answer known. WHY NOT? Got BushCheney?

[Honeycombe8]

92. That's not Obama's group. It's a congressional committee. Same ol' same ol' but OUTRAGEOUS! nt

[No Elephants]

117. I imagine that the word of the CIC that info is sensitive would carry weight with that commission,

regardless of which branch created it.

[Octafish]

159. War is a Racket.

War Is A Racket

By Major General Smedley Darlington Butler, USMC (ret.), twice awarded the Medal of Honor.

Contents

Chapter 1: War Is A Racket
Chapter 2: Who Makes The Profits?
Chapter 3: Who Pays The Bills?
Chapter 4: How To Smash This Racket!
Chapter 5: To Hell With War!

EXCERPT...

"War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives."

[classysassy]

205. Bill the bard was correct

" Oh what fools we mortals be".

[newfie11]

2. We are becoming the old Russia n/t

[go west young man]

50. So true. I just got back from Russia.

A bit off topic but I couldn't help but think that 20 years after the fall of communism that we are becoming as they were and they are becoming more like old us.
For those that are skeptical of Russia's improvements here's a link to a you tube video of our trip. See for yourself. New shopping malls. New cars.
Beautiful restaurants and a growing economy. This was my 7th trip and each time it gets better. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm8vHImYqb0

[swilton]

70. But even in the Soviet Union there wasn't the

wealth disparity between the Party apparatchik and the common folk that you see in this country between the CEO's and the middle class. Furthermore, you didn't have homelessness and unemployment.

[AlbertCat]

77. Furthermore, you didn't have homelessness and unemployment.

Just gulags for the homeless and unemployed.

[krabigirl]

72. I'd love to visit. And yes, I think the USA is becoming quite like the old Russia in some ways.

[formercia]

156. Makes you wonder who really won the Cold War. n/t

[newfie11]

206. Thanks for the link

I would love to see Russia. BTW very cute children!

[go west young man]

232. Cheers!

[savannah43]

149. We are the biggest bullies on the planet.

I'm so proud. Not!

[Octafish]

153. Neil Bush hangs out with Russian Mafiya Godfather

Know Your BFEE

[crunch60]

190. Do you think the BFEE will ever stop procreating? nt

[crunch60]

199. I just read this about the BFEE. SICKNING!

http://www.voxfux.com/features/bush_child_sex_coverup/article_archive.htm

[AnneD]

3. That is tampering with evidence....

Sensitive information my aunt Tooties bloomers. Sensitive to the crooks I'll wager. Justice delayed is justice denied.

The American taxpayer has a right to know where the money went. Odds are it has been stolen or prices gouged in sweetheart deals. I move that we increase the statue of limitation accordingly at the very least.

[defendandprotect]

73. True -- from Warren Commission to 9/11 -- same thing !!

[rpannier]

4. It's most likely because both sides of aisle have a few someone's who would be in trouble if it got

out to the public.

Hopefully there's a lawsuit out there

[tropicanarose]

56. +1 You said it!

[cui bono]

180. Absolutely. There has been an increase in “Private Security Contractors” under Obama

Obama Has 250,000 “Contractors” in Iraq and Afghan Wars, Increases Number of Mercenaries

Newly released Pentagon statistics show that in both Iraq and Afghanistan the number of armed contractors is rising. The DoD says it sees “similar dependence on contractors in future.”

By Jeremy Scahill

A couple of years ago, Blackwater executive Joseph Schmitz seemed to see a silver lining for mercenary companies with the prospect of US forces being withdrawn or reduced in Iraq. “There is a scenario where we could as a government, the United States, could pull back the military footprint,” Schmitz said. “And there would then be more of a need for private contractors to go in.”

When it comes to armed contractors, it seems that Schmitz was right.

According to new statistics released by the Pentagon, with Barack Obama as commander in chief, there has been a 23% increase in the number of “Private Security Contractors” working for the Department of Defense in Iraq in the second quarter of 2009 and a 29% increase in Afghanistan, which “correlates to the build up of forces” in the country. In Iraq, the Pentagon attributes the increase to better accounting. But, these numbers relate explicitly to DoD security contractors. Companies like Blackwater and its successor Triple Canopy work on State Department contracts and it is unclear if these contractors are included in the over-all statistics. This means, the number of individual “security” contractors could be quite higher, as could the scope of their expansion.
http://rebelreports.com/post/116277092/obama-has-250-000-contractors-in-iraq-and-afghan

[Psephos]

5. Utter B.S. n/t

[Blacksheep214]

6. Give the guilty time to die of old age

Justice delayed is justice denied!

[HereSince1628]

7. As well as giving the guilty time to remain in office

until other useful idiots can be groomed for power.

[lark]

133. I think it's about giving the guilty time to re-establish their control

over this country. Bush's couldn't get back into the presidency (Jeb) if it came out how Halliburton and subsidiaries were given every contract for no other reason than their relationship to Cheney, failed to meet the terms, produced super shoddy work that put american troops lives in danger, flat out stole billions of $ of equipment and that Cheney caused this to happen by pressuring the pentagon.

The Reich wing pays well to keep their secrets hidden.

[emilyg]

183. Yep.

[Hotler]

8. MOTHER FUCKERS!

I have no hope. I see no future.

[seafan]

9. Just "another one of those mysteries" that we're not supposed to look back on....

An armed guard poses beside pallets of $100 bills in Baghdad. Almost $12bn in cash was spent by the US-led authority


How the US sent $12bn in cash to Iraq. And watched it vanish, 8 February 2007




Wartime Contracting Panel Seals Records for Next 20 Years, October 25, 2011


Thanks for digging out this nugget, Octafish.



They can run, but they cannot hide.

[LuckyLib]

60. This is the photo that should be posted everywhere. Every gas station, every

post office, everywhere. Your tax dollars at work. But roads, schools, bridges,
heat help for the poor and elderly? Meh!

[Octafish]

111. You are most welcome, seafan. Didya see?: ''This website was frozen on September 29, 2011...

...It is now a Federal record managed on behalf of the National Archives and Records Administration. External links were active as of that date. For technical issues, contact University of North Texas CyberCemetery."

Thank you for the links and info! I always learn when reading your posts.

PS: Gheemoon! It's 1984 with computers.

[Arctic Dave]

10. Welcome to Obama's new vision for America.

[BREMPRO]

17. read "established by congress" ... not an executive decision.

[Arctic Dave]

20. Read: signing statement.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signing_statement

Obama could change this, if he wanted to.

[JDPriestly]

99. The next Congress could change this also.

How do you think your Senators and Congressman would vote on this issue. If you disagree with them, find another candidate who will run on the need for transparency in all things the government does.

Take back Congress. That is the only way to get justice.

[Arctic Dave]

113. Take back Congress AND have a president that walks the talk.

Seems his only power is to kill people with predators.

[JDPriestly]

128. True, Arctic Dave.

Seems his only power is to kill people with predators.

[Patchuli]

154. Osama got a bullet in the head

not a "predator." I may have complaints but all in all, we still see a big improvement over the past presidential situation. We wouldn't be better off with McCain or any other Republican. Please be supportive of our Democratic president here on Democratic Underground. Thanks!

[JDPriestly]

165. I will be more supportive of our Democratic president when

he is more supportive of Democratic principles -- like unions for all,
a fair wage for all,
payment of all taxes owed by the rich,
justice for those bankers who cheated and stole from investors and the public,
the closing of Guantanamo and the restoration of civil rights to all,
equal justice for the kid who steals a car, the mother who steals a jacket for her child and the banker who steals from the public, each commensurate with the damage they caused to society and their victims,
safety in the workplace including on the oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico (and serious personal penalties for those whose carelessness causes the deaths of those workers),
safe environmental standards,
no pipeline for oil from shale,
closure of unsafe nuclear energy facilities including those on or near earthquake faults or in the path of potential tsunamis,
the end of excessive military involvement overseas,
and the end of corruption in our government.

I became a staunch Democrat when I was 9 years old, and I have never wavered. In other words, I was a Democrat before Obama was born. I strongly support my Democratic congressman and one of my Democratic senators as well as other lower level Democrats.

I worked to get Obama elected -- even traveled out of state to help in his campaign. But he has utterly disappointed me.

Neither we nor our environment have time to mess with the kind of pussyfooting compromise that Obama sought when he came to office. It was extremely naive on his part to think that he could work with Republicans. We and our Party are paying the price.

It is not enough to have the audacity of hope. You must have the audacity of action.

So far Obama has talked about audacity but has not shown it.

[DemOhio]

174. Similarities between the parties

It seems to me, at least since the Clinton administration, that the Democrats and Republicans generally agree on economic policy--specifically when it comes to unions, free trade, and budget decisions. Now this isn't always the case, but we see Clinton singing the Gramm-Leach bill, initiating NAFTA, and strengthening trade relations with China and East Asia....not that these are in themselves all bad, but they did destroy the manufacturing industry in America. Similarly, we saw Bush sign the CAFTA agreement and bring about the Bush-era tax cuts; which were not ended when the Democrats control two branches of government, instead they waited until after the midterms when it was politically impossible. Sure there are exceptions, but its seems that both parties are playing the same song.

Now the difference that I see is in social issues like gay marriage, abortion, and so forth. The Democrats have a much less draconian policy regarding those items. Unfortunately, social issues do not address economic inequality. Moreover, economic inequality exacerbates the social problems (minorities are poor because of a lack of job opportunities = minorities must be lazy = racism).

I understand the frustrations with the apparent economic volte-face the Democrats have done since Clinton. Im just not sure what we can do. If we push for "Democratic principles" as you say, I'm afraid all we will get is empty rhetoric that pleases our ears but does nothing for rectifying the situation.

This investigative panel is a perfect example of the problem. Truman would have them hanging high by now. Under this Administration, I dont know if it will even be mentioned. Obama needs to use his powers as chief legislature to kick congress into gear on this. It's fraud after all!!!!

[JDPriestly]

196. You have a great point.

We need to challenge Republicans about the fraud and theft, the corruption of the contractors. How can they claim they want to balance the budget unless they reclaim any money that was obtained through fraud or corruption? How can they claim they want to balance the budget if they leave criminal conduct unpunished and go so far as to keep it secret.

[rhett o rick]

169. So you say we should be thankful. You dont get it. We are sick of you and your

it could be worse bullshit. That's why OWS is in the streets. Pres Obama isnt fighting Wall Street he is killing American citizens with drones and making the republicons, and apparently you, happy. I am sick of this shit. Millions out of work and you dare say "be thankful it could be worse".

[cui bono]

186. The least lethal poison is still poison.

As you said, this is Democratic Underground, not POTUS Underground. I support the Democratic Party's principles and am supportive of all politicians who do the same. When Obama does that he will regain my support. Until then I will do as he asked of me, make him do it.

[DocMac]

11. I wouldn't want to be born tomorrow.

This country is headed to an ugly place.

[Roy Rolling]

12. Statute of Limitations

They are making sure the statute of limitations has expired so that the criminals responsible for this cannot be prosecuted.

[me b zola]

^^FTW!!^^

[Duppers]

203. That was the first thing I thought of.

Finding that others have the same thoughts as I do here on DU keeps me 1/2 way sane, so thanks for your post.


Contrast this with what's happened in Oakland yesterday.

[pasto76]

13. Im sure it has a tidbitor two that really qualify as "sensitive", but this is a plain cover up

[Old_Ed_inVN]

16. Good move

It is best that the freest & goodest government in the world hides the facts. I was there 06/07 (civilian) & it was worse than any investigator for the gov. would ever find. Were the truth known, maybe even an R would have doubts. That is why I left the country.

[Octafish]

44. Did anyone mention Col. Ted Westhusing?

An expert in ethics, he was on to their gangster asses. Unfortunately, he died a few days before he was to come home.

Know your BFEE: They kill good soldiers like Col. Ted Westhusing for profit.

PS: Thank you for your report. Wish it were under better circumstances, but a hearty welcome to DU, Old_Ed_inVN!

[99th_Monkey]

94. I totally remember Col. Westhusing. Such a sad and tragic death, being "suicided"

for knowing to much and not willing to shut up about it.

I've always wished his family would sue the pentagons ass off over that one,
but of course they'd already been through quite enough drama and sorrow to
do so.

But I remember how it made my blood boil at the time, and now all over again. :grr:

[newspeak]

233. not just wethusing

remember the military woman who worked in accounting calling her family. She said something looked fishy there (I was wondering if it was drug trafficking or embezzlement), then joked to her family that if she was found suicided, she didn't commit suicide. Instead she was found shot to death on base, I believe, near the chapel.

[newspeak]

235. oh, I forgot to add

that happened in afghanistan.

[socialindependocrat]

14. Cutting waste should be part of cutting spending

No committee should be able to seal their findings.

The results need to be reported to a comgressional board
in order to take out the items that need to be worked on
(i.e., corruption and watse)

Then it needs to pass thru Bernie Sanders.

If Bernie says it needs to be seald then I'll believe him.

[Old_Ed_inVN]

18. Investigate

Yes, what is needed is for the president or congress to appoint a blue ribbon panel to investigate this. Then in 2 years when it is forgotten, declare that nothing was wrong.

[socialindependocrat]

218. I agree but....

What is the answer?

OWS is out there to bring attention to this stuff.

What is the next step?
What needs to be put in place to turn things around?

I agree with what you say!!

There's nothing wrong with the banks - no one goes to jail.
There's nothing wrong with the car companies
The oil companies are on our side - So the never ending commercial says - BULLSHIT
How much money did BP finally pay - or is that still in the courts?
We need a "See it to the end organization" to make sure law suits reach completion and report back to the American people.

I'm going to tell Elizabeth Warren on all you people and she'll do something about it!!!
You just wait and see!!!!!

[99th_Monkey]

95. No need really to cut waste in the pentagon's spending

We can just take what we need ALL out of programs for the elderly, the sick, and/or the children;
it's the American way. :sarcasm:

[Donnachaidh]

15. Dumb question -- I'm having such a brainfart on this

Is there a timeframe for when racketeering charges can be brought? If so, is it less than 20 years? I'm sorry, with all the reports of rampant fraud about these wars over the years - I can only judge that the sealing is being done to protect politicians/merchants of death from being dragged into court on fraud charges...

[99th_Monkey]

96. Fraud is probably just the tip of an iceberg of theft, bribery, murder, etc. IMHO ~nt

[DemOhio]

176. RICO charges

Civil = supreme court says 4 years.

Not sure about federal charges, or if they run by the same system.

http://rico.uslegal.com/rico-and-statute-of-limitation/

[OnyxCollie]

19. K&R. nt

[Octafish]

155. Merchants of Death

Know your BFEE

[ArcticFox]

21. When do we get to see who really killed Kennedy?

Were those records sealed fifty years?

[Yon_Yonson]

105. Back then the implication was that the American people could not handle the truth!

... more like they sealed the documents to protect the guilty!

[david_vincent]

217. Well, the Nelson book is about to come out in a revised edition

Not sure what you think of the "LBJ fingerprints" theory, but there's no question as to who benefited most directly and immediately.

http://www.amazon.com/LBJ-Mastermind-Assassination-Phillip-Nelson/dp/1616083778/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319635372&sr=1-1

[eppur_se_muova]

22. Harry Truman must be rolling in his grave.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman#Truman_Committee

[Frustratedlady]

23. This is outrageous. Add this to the OWS' list of reasons to protest.

I suppose this means no investigations on those who walked with the money?

[indepat]

147. Is it corrupt, corrupter, and corruptest or just pure fraud upon the

American public, a travesty perhaps beyond comprehension and plausibility, malfeasance run amok? :patriot:

[KoKo]

24. If only there was some legal way to get this "unlocked."

But, the history of secrets is so long standing....not much hope of that unless Whistleblower...but, even then..who would they report it to?

[jwirr]

46. We need another Daniel Elsberg. He reported his paper to the

people. With the internet that is probably the way. And I agree - a whistleblower is our only immediate hope on this.


That whole committee are a bunch of cowards. Anyone know who was on the committee?

[Raksha]

53. This sounds like a job for Anonymous.

Although I imagine it would be a bit of a challenge even for them...government records and all.

[jwirr]

61. I thought of them and yes they could be the ones to release the

records is someone gets them.

[Blue_Tires]

142. or wikileaks if there are any brave souls on the inside

[think]

25. I liked it better when they just lied to us. This is just rubbing it our face! n/t

[MedicalAdmin]

26. First the theft and then the cover- up .

We need a constitutional amendment that allows the government to go back and seize all proceeds (including family and generational wealth that was based upon an initial crime/theft) after the records are opened up.

So much for transparency. Of course we knew this was coming the second they took going after war crimes off the table. I worry the the revolution will need to get much more bloody than it already has. But I have hope that it won't need to.

We need to get people elected and not corpoBots. And all public elections should be publicly supported. I'll accept personhood for corporations after I can sentence one to death.

[aquart]

27. What are they worried about? Holder wouldn't think of investigating them.

[Ezlivin]

28. The coup in 2000 was quite successful

We've lost this nation to a secretive group. Everything is "sensitive" or "defense related" or will "harm the troops."

And they are liars.

[LuvNewcastle]

51. They're doing all of this to

"protect the American way of life."

[dembotoz]

29. makes bernie madoff look like an honest guy

[teach1st]

31. It sure looks like the final report is available

It sure looks like the final report is available. I was able to download a huge final report.

The Commission filed interim reports to Congress in June 2009 and February 2011, and has also issued five special reports. The reports, including this final report and other materials such as hearing transcripts, are posted at www.wartimecontracting.gov .

http://www.wartimecontracting.gov/

[Octafish]

33. That's the report.

The evidence and testimony that went into it are what is sealed.

Without that information, their "$31 to $60 billion estimate of fraude in Iraq war spending" may be found to be on the low side.

It's no secret: Every penny there was spent on a lie -- thus the true cost of fraud is $1 trillion-plus.

[Scuba]

66. The "Executive Summary" at your links says "at least $3 billion, and possibly...

...as much as $60 billion has been lost to contract waste and fraud..."




If that's all they found, the whole deal is a cover-up. We've spent $4 Trillion! $30 billion is 0.0075 of $4 trillion.

[BanzaiBonnie]

32. Another stake in the heart of the social contract

Another stake in the heart of Democracy and justice.


Blatantly allowing criminal action a pass.

[raouldukelives]

35. Commit crimes and cover it up as long as possible

Our leaders have presented such a great role model for our children the last 40 years. Is it any wonder we see the rampant theft and cronyism present today? Get in, fuck the poor, get rich and get out.

[NBachers]

36. We paid for the panel to find out how our money was looted

Then they told us we couldn't see the results.

[raccoon]

37. RIght. K&R. nt

[stockholmer]

38. there absolutely needs to be massive FOIA request lawsuits, appeal to the US Supreme Court if needed

:thumbsdown:

[avaistheone1]

57. Call and write Congress as well.

Not that they do much, but they need to know we are mad as hell and we are not going to take it anymore.

k&r

:kick:

[pmorlan1]

39. Fraud & Coverup

I'm so sick of the cover-ups. From torture to bank fraud and everything in between our government blatantly keeps the public in the dark. Because of this no one is ever held accountable for their crimes.

[Jakes Progress]

40. New Boss

Is there nothing that this administration won't do to prove that it is just government as usual?

[Atypical Liberal]

41. Here's what's sensitive: THE NAMES OF PEOPLE GETTING THEIR POCKETS LINED n/t

[goforit]

43. Bada bing! The greatest heist in history!

[Nihil]

213. You got it.

Rule 1:
No member of the plutarchy will ever be held accountable
for their action (or inaction).

Rule 2:
No loyal servant of the plutarchy will remain uncompensated
for the action in supporting rule 1.


Everything else is just window-dressing.

[KansDem]

42. How can Congress even consider cutting Social Security and Medicare to combat the deficit...

...when it hides spending information that lead to that deficit?

What a pack of filthy liars and crooks!

[Raster]

45. Now, Now, we certainly can't expose the war profiteers to the light of day, now can we?

"...the U.S. misspent between $31 billion and $60 billion in contracting for services in Iraq and Afghanistan."

How's that numbered account doing Dick?

So tell me, President Hope and change, any comment?

[SammyWinstonJack]

93. We need to look forward. In this case, 20 yrs forward.

[IDemo]

47. "a commission whose whole purpose is to improve accountability and expose waste.” - BZZZT

It's sole purpose was to further the illusion that accountability is important.

[saras]

48. It's "sensitive" because the companies involved are still in business

If we put them out of business then it's not sensitive information any more, and they can release it.

It's just too bad we don't get to use the information to put them out of business with - it would be so much easier.

I guess we can pray for another Bradley Manning.

[Solly Mack]

49. All too American actually.

Maybe antithetical to America's self-proclaimed ideals...but fairly common in actual practice.

[Zorra]

52. Another reason OWS needs everyone's support.

The government is hiding the evidence of the money it gave to the 1% for the war that the 1% instituted in order to make themselves tons of profits from war profiteering on defense contracts.

This isn't rocket science, they're hiding their criminal activity from us.

We need to have the apparatus to be able to change this shit and we need it soon cuz they will just keep screwing us like this and they know that there is nothing we can do about it, and we sure can't change it through the electoral process.

Shame on them all.

Disgusting.

[slay]

64. +1

our government ARE the criminals. #OWS is our best shot at real change IMO.

[Raksha]

54. K & R

[tropicanarose]

55. Dump the gun in cement for 20 years.....WTH?!

[russspeakeasy]

58. Can we sue the heirs ?

[defendandprotect]

59. Just more corrupt and criminal government -- under control of members bought by corporations -- !!

$31 billion and $60 billion in contracting for services in Iraq and Afghanistan

Even if we have no other information, this makes clear that much of the problem is

our privatized military --

and fraud by corporations serving the military !!


Same is often true re Medicare -- but these corporations are never banned from future

dealings with government!!

[slay]

68. +1

just think of all the good that money could have done - and to have the records sealed for 20 years?!? makes ya wonder WTF they found in there. kind of like when that UK judge sealed the Dr. David Kelly murder case evidence for 70 years. something has to change - and soon. #OWS looks like our best chance right now. both the (D)'s and the (R)'s have fucked us - and continue to do so.

[defendandprotect]

85. OWS is clear in message that Dems aren't going to fix problems ... !!

Dems and two party duopoly are finished -- and so is capitalism -- !!

Agree re the money -- $30-$60 billion -- plus $2.3 TRILLION Pentagon can't account for --

but we can't afford MEDICARE4ALL!! ROFL


US Judge sealed the Kelly evidence for 70 years!! Wow -- that's a conspiracy in itself!

So is this!!


:hi:

[lovuian]

62. They are part of the coverup and corruption

the Secret Government has taken control of our country

[slay]

63. Our two-party system has become one - the corrupt money party - and has failed us

i'm glad people are starting to think outside the box like with #OWS because with this level of corruption and secrecy - we can not vote our way out of this mess - not if the choices are establishment/pro-corporate Dems and establishment/pro-corporate repubs who just cover for each other.

[Raster]

86. There may be the appearance of two political parties in Washington,...

...however they feed from the same trough and by the same hand.

[barbtries]

65. transparency?

this is disgusting. someone leak it.

[bobthedrummer]

67. K&R More corporate fascism expecting US to "die down"...

RECALL SCOTT WALKER!

[postulater]

69. The small government people should be all over this waste.

[wordpix]

82. yes, here's where small gov. repugs and Dems can unite

I wish

[krabigirl]

71. absolutely disgusting.

[davsand]

74. What could our country have done with that misspent $31 billion to $60 billion?

Put it in that perspective. That missing $31 to $60 billion could have done an awful lot of good right here at home:



Maybe it could have funded programs to improve health care access.

Maybe it could have funded schools.

Maybe it could have provided housing.

Maybe it could have fed some hungry people.

Maybe it could have funded research into some pretty needed stuff, like clean energy or cures for illness.

Hell, they could even have applied it toward the National Debt...



Instead, that $31 billion to $60 billion is gone--along with so many people killed and lives ruined.




Laura

[sellitman]

80. I bet it is more than 60 Billion

I'd bet my life on it!

[AlbertCat]

89. If we had been doing what Carter wanted for the past 30 years...

... instead of "greed is good" and Reaganomics, we'd be in a very different place. I cannot say what it would've been like, but my guess is we'd all be better off.

[RedCloud]

75. As long as God bless America includes Blackwater torture, why ask questions?

[pansypoo53219]

76. truman did it in the open DURING WW2.

THAT'S HOW FUCKING BAD IT IS?

[avaistheone1]

78. Thank you.

That says it all.

:kick:

k&r

[thesquanderer]

79. Any link to a source?

I don't know anything about allgov.com and they did not link to a source for the info...?

[slay]

90. Here's the story as posted a couple weeks ago on DailyKos:

FRI SEP 30, 2011 AT 05:01 PM PDT
War Time Fraud Commission Ended Today - Evidence Sealed Until 2031

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/09/30/1021089/-War-Time-Fraud-Commission-Ended-Today-Evidence-Sealed-Until-2031

[SleeplessinSoCal]

136. The Wall Street Journal no less report it....

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204226204576603060868379444.html

[wordpix]

81. all I can say is, OCCUPY DC and we pay, the gov "loses" billion$ & no one is held accountable

:puke: simply outrageous.

[FlyByNight]

83. Galling

The numbers must be far worse than the misspent $31-$60 billion (my opinion). Evidently, the "waste" went to the right people.

:mad:

[indepat]

87. Gotta hide the vast fraud, waste, and abuse from the public for a generation: off with their

shameful duplicitous mendacious heads, metaphorically speaking of course. :patriot:

[Hubert Flottz]

88. Rules are for little people.

You cheat the government out of $5,000 and you'll do 10 years. Halliburton cheats the government out of billions and gets more contracts. Where is the fucking "Change" where's the "Transparency" where's the stolen cash?

[robertpaulsen]

97. "sensitive information"

You mean like the identity of this company?

American firm linked to nuclear arms
Posted: Saturday, July 10, 2004
By The Associated Press

More than 20 firms -- including at least one American company -- have supplied rogue nations seeking nuclear arms, marking the first time a U.S. company has been linked to the black market network.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Mohamed ElBaradei, who is heading a probe into the illicit sales, avoided specifics on the locations of the companies in an interview with The Associated Press Friday.

But a senior diplomat said at least one was in the United States -- the first time in five months of investigations by the U.N. nuclear agency that an American company has been implicated in the black market network headed by Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Kahn.

The diplomat, who did not name any of the companies, said Syria and Saudi Arabia were being investigated as possible buyer nations, in addition to Iraq, Iran, Libya and North Korea -- countries already known to have bought from or been in contact with the clandestine network.

more...

http://cjonline.com/stories/071004/pag_american.shtml

Gee, I wonder http://americanjudas.blogspot.com/2007/01/american-judas-1st-edition.html">(COUGH! halliburton COUGH!) who that could be?

[newspeak]

219. these corporations are no longer american

I believe XE (blackwater) and halliburton have moved their corporate offices to dubai. To me, they smell of treason against the people of the US. They'd sell out this country and its' people in a heartbeat if they could gain more power and make more profit.

"The truth shall set you free." Just like when kennedy was assassinated, they can feed the plebes the BS of we can't handle the truth--what they really mean is the people might find commonality with each other and come after the truly debased and corrupt. So, tell me what is the difference between the mafia and some of our government officials and corporations? Maybe the mafia at least has some form of code of honor amongst thieves.

The american people have been conned big time, but don't expect the criminals to see any jail time.

And our money has funded some of the truly unethical war profiteers. Nothing like having a company hire you, then tell you when you're on the plane you're going to iraq and you cannot get off the plane (held by gun point). And our money has paid for shite like this. Also, lucrative contracts to rebuild iraq, buildings that are so unsafe they are uninhabitable. Just one big fekked up boondoggle.

[JDPriestly]

98. One word: corruption.

Occupy Wall Street. Occupy D.C.

Dirty cheats.

[Yon_Yonson]

103. Justice denied is corruption personified

[Laelth]

100. k&r for the OP's closing remarks.

"Secret Government is un-democratic and un-American."

Hear, hear!

-Laelth

[Lint Head]

101. Damn these jerks are asking for occupation! This is one of the very reasons

people are in the streets. People should be DEMANDING this be exposed.

Sensitive to who? Our damn corporate contracting overlord? Screw them!

[SoapBox]

102. Wow!!! This is YOUR tax dollars at work (or lost!)...outrageous.

Time to change things up folks!

Get out there and vote these kinds of bastards out of office...I hope the OWS will gear
up in all 50 states, to put recommendations on candidates up for election...THEN we
might get some REAL CHANGE.

[bertman]

104. REC. This needs to be dealt with NOW while it's still HOT. The President did not

appoint this commission but why can he not hold a prime-time press conference and DEMAND that this information be unsealed? There are many ways to redact any truly sensitive information; although, IMO that's just the usual smoke screen they put up when they want something hidden.

We know that Congress isn't going to demand that this be opened up to public scrutiny, so why can't we expect our President to do it--or, at a minimum, make it a public issue?

[KoKo]

121. We don't have the "voice" we did during Bush years. Funding has been

cut for so many groups who agitated for change. Plus newspapers are even in worse shape that they were during early Bush and Murdoch dominance along with Koch Bros., Chamber of Commerce, etc. is stronger than ever since Bush's second term. So...we fewer ways to agitate for Truth to Out.

It's very different now with the small voice only being able to throw spitballs at Murdoch and the etc. Investigations lead to nothing. There's no legal system that will prosecute. There's no "anti-trust laws" that can't be ignored.

We are in a fix...:-(

[Raster]

178. Do you seriously think the President Obama would demand that this infomation...

...be unsealed? Seriously?

[bertman]

216. No, I don't Raster. It was a rhetorical question for the True Believers who refuse

to acknowledge that this Democratic President is WORSE than Bush.

[Raster]

220. Same ol' corporate horse. Just a different color.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

106. Look at the a-hole commissioners in this 'Commission on Wartime Contracting'...

For example, the background of Grant Green, appointed by Bush:

(clip) Major Consulting and Marketing Company, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, 1989-1996;
Assistant Secretary of Defense, 1988-1989.
As Assistant Secretary, Mr. Green was involved in total force management, military and civilian manpower and personnel matters, and manpower requirements for weapons support. As such, he was responsible for structural analysis of active forces, reserve components and civilian employees, and development of military and civilian manpower requirements.
President Ronald Reagan, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, and Executive Secretary for the National Security Council, 1986-1988.
In this capacity at the White House, Mr. Green directed the NSC staff in their day-to-day support of the President and his National Security Advisor.
Sears World Trade (SWT), several senior management positions, 1983-1986.
As a senior manager with SWT, Mr. Green developed and managed a number of business opportunities involving SWT and government contractors, oversaw the regional office structure and several joint ventures, and negotiated a number of business/trade transactions. (clip)

http://www.wartimecontracting.gov/index.php/about/commissioners/green

And there are others.

But THE MOST amazing thing to me is this:

(clip) "The law establishing the Commission defines a broad and substantive mandate. The Commission is required to study, assess and make recommendations concerning wartime contracting for the reconstruction, logistical support, and the performance of security functions in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Commission's major objectives include a thorough assessment of the systemic problems identified with interagency wartime contracting, the identification of instances of waste, fraud and abuse, and ensuring accountability for those responsible." (clip)

If they are hiding this shit, it's because of the fraudulent, wasteful things done in Iraq and Afghanistan, not to mention the abuse!

We need to seriously start some campaign of writing and letting everyone we know, find out what these a-holes do and now have done.

[KoKo]

122. thanks...for the extra info. n/t

[PavePusher]

107. Transparency, my ass.

Politician=LIAR. Party is irrelevent.

[valerief]

108. Ah, transparency is very, very filmy. nt

[kestrel91316]

109. Their job is to EXPOSE government waste, not HIDE it. Fuckers.

[SpiralHawk]

110. WTF? This is a total outrage

That is our tax money they (R) squandered.

We deserve a full accounting. And we demand it.

Occupy the freaking fatcat War Profiteers (R).

[Uncle Joe]

112. This is a total outrage and can do nothing but breed cynicism and corruption undermining

our national security.

Thanks for the thread, Octafish.

[colorado_ufo]

114. They should be charged with obstruction of justice.

[AntiFascist]

118. gee, I wonder how much corruption just got swept under the rug...

people should be outraged since this kind of money would go a long way in domestic programs.

[Enthusiast]

119. This is what happens because

we did not heed Eisenhower's warning. Make no mistake, this is theft on a grand scale. And they want to cut social security and medicare. All of us, every one of us, should be OWS.

[Plucketeer]

123. And to think....

I once voluntarily served in a war zone under the guise of defending truths and freedoms. This commission's actions are despicable beyond description! We need to march on DC with our pitchforks and run the ruling thieves out of there for good!

[a2liberal]

124. K&R (n/t)

[blackspade]

125. What utter bullshit.

This is to protect war profiteers.
This should not stand, Man!

[The Wizard]

126. Conspiracy to conceal a crime is a crime

Unclean hands are the reason Wall Street is occupied. At some point the peasants revolt and the oligarchs have to pay back. Perhaps guillotines and head baskets lining Wall Street will send a powerful message.

[Blue Owl]

129. Ah yes, the No-Bid Contracting Panel

Also known as BU$HCO

[plumbob]

130. Here are the commissioners. They need to be run out of town.

http://www.wartimecontracting.gov/index.php/about/commissioners

[plumbob]

131. The 1% wins another one.

as usual

[hulka38]

132. Face it, we currently have no power.

We the people have to take our government back.

[glinda]

134. Sue. They are complicit.

[PoliticAverse]

137. 20 years - that would be longer than the statute of limitations right ? n/t

[Jacobin]

139. Does Dick Cheney really expect to live another 20 years?

[Major Hogwash]

140. Secret Government is un-democratic and un-American.

Darn tootin'!!

[Divine Discontent]

141. this aint the JFK files! so they're saying the info will destroy our country - must have been a ton

of theft! and it's a wonder how there's even 1 person out there that doesn't realize these people are destroying our country....




Get it here now, or one of a million other designs! http://www.zazzle.com/republicans_2012_keeping_millions_out_of_work_bumper_sticker-128659602907896843?rf=238107662556833486

[Blue_Tires]

143. like the 9-11 commision, was anyone expecting anything different?

There are too many public figures and popular corporations who are on that list...We'd have to setup about 500 new courts just to indict them all...

[Hassin Bin Sober]

144. WIKILEAKS WIKILEAKS WIKILEAKS.....

Oh, I forgot... he's arrogant and a rapist and mean to little puppies!

[cyberpj]

157. YES YES YES....... My thoughts exactly. nt

[pam4water]

145. &%^&^&*&(*'ers K&R

[PuffedMica]

146. Please tell me Cheney is not going to be alive for the next 20 years

[DemOhio]

179. Cheney is

more machine now than man, twisted and evil

[2banon]

150. blood is boiling.. but thanks for posting...n/t

[wordpix]

151. commissioners, from their website

Commissioners

Michael J. Thibault Christopher Shays
Co-Chair Co-Chair


Clark Kent Ervin Grant S. Green Robert J. Henke


Katherine Schinasi Charles Tiefer Dov S. Zakheim


Chris Shays, Repug, went down to defeat in 2006 in CT after many years in Congress and good riddance.

[DeSwiss]

152. They can't hide it. It's all coming out in the wash. - :-/ K&R n/t

[OwnedByFerrets]

158. This is the Government that has been bought and paid for

[Initech]

160. $60 billion misspent and they're not telling us where? Fuck this shit!!!

They'd damn well better tell us where this fucking money is going. :argh:

[cstanleytech]

161. I wonder how much it cost to buy them off in order for them to cover the information

up.

[Horse with no Name]

197. At least $60 million

I guarantee the ACTUAL amount is much much much more. IF they admit to that amount...there is MUCH MUCH MUCH more being hidden. But, too fucking bad--you MIGHT found out in 20 years UNLESS we have another POTUS come along and hide it for a longer period of time (like Bush did for his Daddy).

[theophilus]

162. Throw the bums out. Every last one of them that supports this crap.

Who can stop this? Who can take this to court, etc.?

[orbitalman]

163. K & R

[Reader Rabbit]

164. 2031. I'll be 64. Better start exercising and eating right.

I'm gonna be at the doorstep of the National Archives the second they open on that day.

And my brother damned well better still be alive then too, so I can tell his war-mongering ass, "I told you so."

[unkachuck]

166. why?

"...it won’t allow its records to be opened for public review at the National Archives until 2031,..."

"...because some of the documents contain 'sensitive information',..."

....you mean 'our' documents contain 'sensitive information'?....like the names of the Republican and Democratic thieves and scoundrels that stole 60 billion dollars of our tax money, money they now want to steal from Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid?

....it's good to know we can vote them out of office in 2031....

[Stinky The Clown]

167. This is what you get when you have repubicans controlling the government

Oh wait . . . . we don't.

Never mind.

[Raster]

177. This is what you get when you have corporate sycophants controlling the government...

...they will never reveal the crimes of their masters.

[earcandle]

168. This has to be illegal. We paid for these wars. We have a right to know what happened.

[Voice for Peace]

170. Agree.

this can be added into everything else needing to be Occupied. They have no right to withhold that information.

[Dutchmaster]

171. BS

[Scalded Nun]

172. Sorry Bastards

They all need to go. It would be nice to see this receive a serious legal challenge. I fail to see how anything financial in scope could come close to being labeled with a national security tag. The cops are definitely arresting the wrong people.

[madville]

173. The administration sues over the white house visitor logs, no surprise

How much did Feinstein and company make off these wars?

[emilyg]

184. How many big money guys visited?

[newspeak]

221. yeah, and how much did the * crime family and cheney

make from the wars they created? This looks like one vast soak the plebes illegal enterprise and "a pox on both your houses." Remember the S&L heist, there were repugs, but there were also some democrats involved. And of course, a bush was right there. It seems those bushes can usually be found around any action or scandal-from JFK's murder, S&L heist, reagan's assault, Iraq !&!!, enron, and don't forget poppy was pushing NAFTA before he lost to clinton--his other son, clinton, passed it for him. Wow, they're better than the kevin bacon chain.

[truthisfreedom]

175. Redact the f-ing "sensitive information" and let us see who ripped us off!

F-ers.

[davidwparker]

181. Why do people break laws? There are no consequences. nt

[crunch60]

200. They are just to big to.(BUSH/ CHENEY) was criminals.. be prosecuted, however the

OWS protesters will be arrested for camping in a park or walking on a sidewalk, using a megaphone, not following (a new, unauthorized permit of one kind or another) or just because dipstick NYPD Officer Anthony Bologna was having a low self esteem day, so he maced a few kettled women.

[crunch60]

201. TYPO... THAT WOULD BE WAR CRIMINALS! nt

[blkmusclmachine]

182. Crooked:

We won't get any accountability out of DC. They'll see to THAT.

[azul]

185. Outrageous, maddening

Maybe this is like a test to flush the outraged into action. Pretending to be fighting war-profiteering corruption with a taxpayer funded study and then hiding the results would tip many people over the edge -the TPTB would have to have figured.

The MIC is sitting pretty, what with unending war funding, and it would just make good business sense to elucidate and/or eliminate any threat to the glorious and lucrative racket of war. Compel the critics to give it their best shot? Financial markets loathe uncertainties.

[bengalherder]

187. Been looking at this one grow all day.

Finally able to K&R!

[femrap]

188. Fucking

Bean Counters....like we don't know that they have wasted over twice that amount.

We don't need no fucking bean counters.

[newspeak]

234. hey, don't forget the approximately 1.2 trillion dollars

rummy announced was unaccounted for, I believe on 9/10, right before 9/11. Maybe they can locate that trillion and use that for their budget, instead of cutting programs people really need right now.

[Rex]

191. Smells like they are hiding criminal activity.

Just like every other time.

[Botany]

192. Let me give the 2031 results now

The wars were started to make money and in 2011 the right wing has a slush fund that is staggeringly huge
from the wars and with that money they are buying media and politicians along with helping a few live the
good life.

[unionworks]

194. you f@ckers

The PEOPLE is gonna bring you DOWN!!!!

[lutefisk]

195. Another commission populated with cowardly assholes...n/t

[lonestarnot]

198. Big dirty secrets do not exist.

:scared:

[scentopine]

202. Must be the same team who investigated wall street crime and corruption -nt

[wordpix]

226. Chris Shays for one is a voted-out CT Repug but he still has all this power

How come?

He's obviously doing the bidding of the powers-that-be warmongering war profiteers.

[classysassy]

204. Just protecting war criminals

remember the rich go into retirement the poor go to jail,always been that way,"There is nothing new under the sun".

[SpiralHawk]

207. Do we taxpayers have any recourse at all?

Is there anything we can do to overturn this hateful action of hiding the truth from us?

[spooked911]

208. I agree the secrecy is disgusting, but they have have written extensive reports

that can be reviewed at the website. http://www.wartimecontracting.gov/

How many people have looked at those reports at all?

[Octafish]

223. I did. Not much meat there.

There is lots of white space and big pictures, but few names of anyone involved with ripping off Uncle Sam.

F'r instance, from "The Way Forward":

Reform will require resources and sustained effort
Despite some improvements in structures and practices, major problems exist,
and much work remains to be done. The Commission’s recommendations
detail that work. Making these recommendations a reality, however, requires a
collaborative, dedicated, and sustained effort by all participants in the process—
contractors, Congress, the White House, and Executive Branch agencies including
the Departments of Defense and State, USAID, the Office of Management and
Budget, and the National Security Council.

Each participant in the contingencycontracting
universe must recognize
and take seriously its responsibility for
supporting, implementing, or abiding by
the reform recommendations that the
government adopts. Contractors must
act on the premise that they will truly be
held accountable for their performance.

Departments and agencies must realize
that they need to do a better job of
selecting projects and programs, defining
the work to be done, coordinating their
efforts, and managing the contractors they
engage.

The role of Congress is critical. The problems identified in this report will not
fix themselves, and cannot be fixed for free, or even cheaply. It is not enough
for Congress to say, “There are too many contractors,” or “Some contractors are
performing tasks reserved to the government,” or “We need better oversight of
contractors,” or “We won’t have another big contingency operation.” Congress
must direct and participate in serious reform.

Paying lip service to reform will not cure problems such as the Defense Contract
Management Agency (DCMA) being under-staffed and at the mercy of temporary
funding for many of its contract-management professionals. Nor will lip service
help the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), whose backlog of incurred-cost
contract audits has now grown to more than $550 billion and will require years of
work to reduce even if hundreds of new auditors were hired.

Unless Congress provides money and issues mandates for improved planning,
management, and oversight capabilities there will be no significant change or
real savings in contingency contracting. Given the current outlook for a crisis in
U.S. Army interpreter,
Afghan National
Police officer,
and contractors,
Wardak province,
Afghanistan.

(U.S. Army photo)

168
c h a p t e r 8

C o m m i s s i o n o n W a r t i m e c o n t r a c t i n g

the federal budget, the temptation will be powerful to postpone the investments
needed to support contingency-contracting reform and to avoid making hard
choices.

Congress must resist that temptation and recognize that preparedness for
contingency contracting is as much a national-security priority as procuring
weapons systems.

►►Recommendation 14

Congress should provide or reallocate resources for contingencycontracting
reform to cure or mitigate the numerous defects
described by the Commission...

I would think the report would name names and provide details of war profiteering. Instead, it reads as if written by the two freshmen from Philip Zelikow's Intro to Poli Sci class who were first to ask for letters of rec for internships with the Cheney himself:

The United States will not
be able to conduct large
or sustained contingency
operations without major
contractor support.

[robertpaulsen]

228. Hey Octafish, look who George W. Bush put on the Commission.

http://www.wartimecontracting.gov/index.php/about/commissioners/zakheim

Yeah, really on the up and up! :eyes:

[Octafish]

229. Heh heh heh.

Missing trillions. Cough. PNAC. What missing trillions? Cough.

I'd feel a lot better about the nation's future if Bunnatine Greenhouse were to have been on it.

[tclambert]

209. Why, goodness, you'd think they had something to hide.

Aren't all those contractors PROUD of their patriotic support for our troops? They should boast about their wartime assistance. Hiding something for twenty years makes it seem like they are ashamed of their actions. Hmmm.

[ck4829]

210. K&R

[City Lights]

211. Outrageous!

Something is rotting and it stinks!

[fasttense]

212. Two of theses idiots were appointed by W.

Some of the commissioners were appointed by Reid and Pelosi and some were appointed by Bohner and McConnell.

But none of these fools were appointed by Obama.

[pacalo]

214. "We can't let you see the proof that your suspicions were correct."

[sarcasmo]

222. They figure two decades is enough time to cover up the waste, the Empire grows.

[Hotler]

224. I repeat myself. MOTHER FUCKERS!

edit to add. Proves the corruption runs far, wide and deep.

[Octafish]

230. Home underwater, 19% on a ton of plastic, clients past due - I've never had less money than today...

...but I'll never be so broke as to cheat my country.

[wordpix]

227. we should definitely make this a CAMPAIGN issue. Let every local interviewer ask questions

[classysassy]

231. Wealthy criminals go free,poor criminals go to jail

The justice in this country has failed the poor citizens,the politicians are aware of the problem but refuse to act,because they are taking bribes from the wealthy criminals,so does that make our elected officials criminals?You damn right it does but they too will go free with their il gotten loot.Shame on America for letting this happen in a so called democracy.