Monday
Feb022009
Harry Truman is turning in his grave because of the mistakes made in Iraq
The report being made public today, "Hard Lessons", addresses an almost staggering number of issues and problems; poor contracting practices, inadequate staffing at all levels, inexperienced staffing, goals that are beyond our capabilities, and a shocking lack of planning," said Linda J. Gustitus, of the Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan. The first hearing was on: Lessons from the Inspectors General: Improving Wartime Contracting. This was the first of what will be many hearings discussing the failed contracting efforts in Iraq.
Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) wants Iraq to assume more responsibility for their own reconstruction. She also wants to ensure that goods and services purchased by the American government are truly the best value for the tax payer. She said that this is important because "last year the federal government spent 532 billion dollars, last year alone, in contracts, and that is a 140% increase from 2001-2008".
"Every interested American knows that there was rampant fraud waste and abuse following the invasion of Iraq. They all know it and they want us to demonstrate that we are willing to do something about it, not simply in terms of process, but in terms of accountability," said Senator Jim Webb (D-Va). He expressed the view that the obligations that the Commission will face is that of the most important oversight obligations, and that while there is a role for contractors, he believes that "the pendulum has swung way to far."
Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo) says that Harry Truman has been rolling in his grave for the past five years and that he would be astounded at the fact that "we allowed this problem to get this far out of control. This has been a massive failure. We have failed our military, and we have failed the American people." She emphasized that accountability is missing with this situation.
Stuart W. Bowen, Jr. Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction was put in the hot seat during the hearing as he discussed what went wrong in Iraq. When asked which mistakes to avoid repeating in Afghanistan he replied, "don't replicate the weak quality assurance that has characterized the effort in Iraq" which essentially means that government experts go out to sites to make sure that the work meets contract expectations. Since there is no system of checks and balances to ensure that money cannot just vanish into thin air, much of the the money spent in Iraq has just disappeared.
by Suzia van Swol, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service and Staff
Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) wants Iraq to assume more responsibility for their own reconstruction. She also wants to ensure that goods and services purchased by the American government are truly the best value for the tax payer. She said that this is important because "last year the federal government spent 532 billion dollars, last year alone, in contracts, and that is a 140% increase from 2001-2008".
"Every interested American knows that there was rampant fraud waste and abuse following the invasion of Iraq. They all know it and they want us to demonstrate that we are willing to do something about it, not simply in terms of process, but in terms of accountability," said Senator Jim Webb (D-Va). He expressed the view that the obligations that the Commission will face is that of the most important oversight obligations, and that while there is a role for contractors, he believes that "the pendulum has swung way to far."
Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo) says that Harry Truman has been rolling in his grave for the past five years and that he would be astounded at the fact that "we allowed this problem to get this far out of control. This has been a massive failure. We have failed our military, and we have failed the American people." She emphasized that accountability is missing with this situation.
Stuart W. Bowen, Jr. Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction was put in the hot seat during the hearing as he discussed what went wrong in Iraq. When asked which mistakes to avoid repeating in Afghanistan he replied, "don't replicate the weak quality assurance that has characterized the effort in Iraq" which essentially means that government experts go out to sites to make sure that the work meets contract expectations. Since there is no system of checks and balances to ensure that money cannot just vanish into thin air, much of the the money spent in Iraq has just disappeared.
by Suzia van Swol, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service and Staff
tagged 
Bowen, Clair, Collins, Contracting, Gustitus, Harry, Iraq, Linda, McCaskill, Stuart, Susan, Truman, Wartime, Webb, afghanistan, commission, jim in News/Commentary
Bowen, Clair, Collins, Contracting, Gustitus, Harry, Iraq, Linda, McCaskill, Stuart, Susan, Truman, Wartime, Webb, afghanistan, commission, jim in News/Commentary
Marine Corps - “Victims of sexual assault are entitled to our support”
The House Armed Forces Subcommittee held a Military Personnel hearing, today, on “Sexual Assault in the Military: Prevention.”
The subcommittee heard testimony from Carolyn Collins, program manger of the Army’s Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) Program, Raymond Bruneau, manager of the Marine Corps’ Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program; Katherine Robertson, deputy manager of the Navy Installation Command’s Counseling, Advocacy and Prevention Program and Charlene Bradley, assistant deputy for the force management integration in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Prevention and Response Office.
This was one in a series of hearings that this subcommittee will conduct on the subject of sexual assault in the military, this year. The hearing today focused on Prevention Programs that are currently in place.
Chairwoman Susan Davis (D-CA) said: “Just as we have the responsibility to ensure that victims of a sexual assault receive all the support that can be provided following an attack, we also have an obligation to do all we can to prevent such attacks from ever taking place. The Department of Defense has made significant improvements in recent years, but the question we need to ask is, has enough been done?”
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) asked the witnesses whether and why the question “do women belong in the military” was still an issue and stated that this needed to be addressed. She said there needs to be a “change in cultural attitudes” towards woman in the military, and more “effective laws.”
The prevention and after-care systems that were identified by the panel seemed focused on the woman; offering counseling for victims. There was no evidence of rehabilitation programs in place for the men who commit this offense.
Mr. Bruneau said: “People are our most important resource. Marines have a long history of taking care of their own. Which means that we do not intentionally harm one another. Nor, do we leave a comrade behind. Victims of sexual assault are entitled to our support and care and deserve to be returned to the fight as fully functioning marines. The marines as always, are committed to caring for their own, as it’s the right thing to do.”
The subcommittee showed three videos by the witnesses that have been created by and for the military in an attempt to highlight the serious nature of sexually criminal behavior.