Reply #3: Absolutely!

[dweller]

K&R!

the mantra for exposing the *moron and his misadministration is always ... follow the money!

more from the IAVA website/blog: http://www2.operationtruth.com/blog/comments.jsp?blog_entry_KEY=20776&t=
We are spending about five billion dollars a month in Iraq. In a over two years, we have spent the equivalent to half of the 12-year Vietnam War or half of World War I with many fewer men under arms. Over a billion a week is all Rumsfeld asks. And the Congress and American public have willingly voted for this money because, as one general once told me," we need the best for our boys."

But there is a mismatch here. While the DOD is pouring buckets of water through the procurement sponge, only a few drops are reaching some of the troops. Troops will tell you that in the Green Zone or in the bigger camps "around the flagpole," where the brass hangs out, there are fancy facilities run by KBR and other contractors but that if you are deployed outside these zones, you will be hurting for vehicle parts, body armor, food and even drinking water. Even around the flagpole, some troops have told us that they are getting what they don't need but not getting what they do need to fight and win.

Various IAVA veterans tell stories about how the billion a week did not trickle down to them during the war and even months after the war. Perry Jefferies, several months after President Bush landed on the aircraft carrier and declared "mission accomplished," was forced to commandeer the rare shower trucks that came to Camp Caldwell so his hungry and desperate troops could drink the water. Ray Kimball will tell you how he frantically tried to keep his group of helicopters flying, while based at the Baghdad Airport, even though he did not get a single spare part delivered for two months after the war started.

We are hearing from troops who are returning now that there are still big problems with contractors delivering supplies and taking care of the troops. Soldiers are writing letters to Stars and Stripes complaining that they cannot get their vital generators and air conditioners fixed by KBR, yet see frustrated KBR employees standing around. Another big problem is the private security contractors who are losing hearts and minds of the Iraqis while troops patrol the streets to clean up the mess. This lack of work by the contractors, while they are billing the government for millions in inflated costs, is even affecting the missions that have to be altered or canceled because of lack of supplies and equipment.

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this is a site that needs to be watched for more info.

dp