U.S. Iraq Inspector Cites Halliburton Cost Problems

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040506/pl_nm/iraq_halliburton_dc&cid=615&ncid=1480

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States' chief inspector in Iraq (news - web sites) said on Thursday ongoing audits have found problems with expenses charged by Halliburton unit Kellogg Brown and Root for Iraq-related work.


Stuart Bowen, inspector general for the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), told Reuters that aside from questions raised about hotel costs and the purchase of trucks, a broad audit would soon begin focusing on costs for services KBR provided to the CPA.


KBR's work in Iraq, which could mean up to $18 billion in business for the Texas-based company, is already under scrutiny by investigators at the Pentagon (news - web sites), who are looking at whether KBR overcharged for fuel brought into Iraq. snip


Halliburton, run by Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) until he joined the race for the White House in 2000, is the U.S. military's biggest contractor in Iraq, providing services ranging from laundry to oilfield repair.

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