US says Iraq fails to tackle corrupt high officials

[Robbien]

Source: Reuters


BAGHDAD, Dec. 17 (Reuters) - Iraq has yet to try a single senior official on corruption charges and ministers routinely shield political allies from prosecution, U.S. officials said.

"The issue for Iraq right now is until you have convictions of government officials, it is not going to inhibit or prevent corruption in the future," an official at the U.S. embassy said on Wednesday, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity.

Embassy officials painted a bleak picture of official misconduct in the government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who heads a fragile coalition struggling to heal political divisions and lead Iraq out of more than five years of war.


Since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, Iraq has been awash in money and opportunities for corruption -- massive U.S.-funded reconstruction projects, billions of dollars in oil revenues, nascent government institutions with little oversight.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LH28416.htm

[Wapsie B]

1. Does anyone else see the irony in this?

:eyes:

[MindPilot]

3. What do you call irony when irony is the norm? n/t

[Wapsie B]

4. Lunacy

[aquart]

2. We said that with a straight face? LOL!

[stillcool]

5. Typical...but I doubt they're

really looking for any investigation..but I do think Maliki has lost favor with the U.S. Next thing you know the U.S. will be crowing about the oil law again.

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. Oh rolf....just rolf...

But 'em books and send them to school,
and whadda they do?
They eat the covers.