At U.S. Bases In Iraq, The Fire Sale Is On

[deminks]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127562893

By the end of summer, the number of U.S. forces in Iraq will be pared in half to about 50,000 troops, part of the massive drawdown under a 2008 agreement negotiated with the government in Baghdad.

Aside from scaling back manpower, tons of equipment is being shipped out, too.

But not everything is leaving the country.

Hundreds of bases, combat outposts and contractor camps established since the 2003 invasion of Iraq are being slowly dismantled and transferred to Iraqi control. Equipment and material worth millions of dollars is being sold off piece by piece, or being handed over wholesale to the Iraqis, creating a thriving new resale industry.

(end snip)

Add that to the billions that disappeared.

[icnorth]

1. A thriving new multi-million dollar resale industry

and a new and improved multi-billion dollar replacement program designed in a military/corporate circle jerk while participants drink $7,500 cognac from a Baccarat crystal decanter.