Send Auditors to Baghdad

Every second $3,240 is being spent to rebuild and stabilize Iraq, which amounts to $280 million per day.  As the United States continues its effort to train and equip Iraqi security forces, provide improved logistics capabilities, build Iraqi ministry capacity, and restore essential services such as water and electricity, we must make sure these funds are being spent effectively.

This is why twenty-one other Senators joined me yesterday in sending a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice calling on the U.S. State Department to allow Government Accountability Office (GAO) staff members to spend up to six months in Baghdad to conduct oversight of the United States government’s reconstruction efforts.

When Congress appropriated money to rebuild and stabilize Iraq, we did not write a blank check for spending. We need to know that the funds are being used appropriately, which is what the GAO will do. Such access is essential to ending the misuse of taxpayer funds that have been repeatedly documented in Iraq.

Since 2003, Congress has appropriated billions of dollars to efforts in Iraq. Unfortunately, there have been numerous reports that large amounts of this funding have been stolen or squandered. Special Inspector General for Iraq Stuart Bowen testified earlier this year that waste, fraud and abuse are rampant both in the Iraqi ministries and among U.S. contractors.

To help Congress better track these funds, GAO has been negotiating the details of establishing a steady oversight presence in Baghdad with the Departments of State and Defense. Specifically, GAO has requested State and DOD approval (country clearance) for three auditors to be allowed on a rotating basis to spend up to 6 months in Baghdad. We recently learned that the Department of Defense has approved GAO’s request. Unfortunately, the State Department has not.

The American taxpayers have so far been asked to provide $379 billion for Iraq operations. It is imperative that GAO be given the access it needs to serve as the eyes and ears of the United States Congress.