WP: Back on Capitol Hill, Bremer Is Facing a Cooler Reception

[kskiska]

Republicans to Join Democrats in Criticizing Decisions in Iraq

Tuesday, February 6, 2007; A09

The last time L. Paul Bremer testified before Congress, he was lauded as an American hero. Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.) congratulated Bremer, who was leading the U.S. occupation authority in Iraq, for a "tremendous success." Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.) commended his "energy and focus." Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.) praised his "brilliant analysis."

When Bremer returns to Capitol Hill today to appear before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, he will receive a far less effusive reception than he did in September 2003. The now-ruling Democrats plan to pounce on him for disbanding Iraq's army, firing many members of the Baath Party, hiring GOP loyalists and notfully accounting for the spending of billions of dollars in Iraqi oil revenue.

Fellow Republicans have pointed questions for the first time in public as well.

"Had Bremer made better decisions, we would be in a very different place today," said Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.).

"Some of the key mistakes in Iraq occurred on his watch," said Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.). "I think there will be a tendency among Republicans to look very carefully and say, 'Who is this man . . . who made decisions that we're still paying for today?' "

more…
Rudy's not the only one with a wandering eye.

[angstlessk]

1. Sure, you republics, ask those questions..then ask 'who is the decider'?

your boosh, that's who!

[pinto]

2. Link here and another snip:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/05/AR2007020501325.html

<snip>

But Bremer is unique in this environment of finger-pointing because of his former visibility: For more than a year, he was the symbol of the U.S. occupation. A frequent presence in front of the cameras, Bremer was the only American to have the dictatorial powers of an occupation administrator -- the ability to enact laws with the scribble of his pen, the power to hire and fire Iraqis, the freedom to spend Iraq's oil revenue. The Americans who followed him have all been advisers to a sovereign Iraqi government.



(photo caption)
As U.S. administrator in Iraq after Saddam Hussein's ouster in 2003, L. Paul Bremer dissolved the Iraqi army and fired members of Hussein's Baath Party. Both moves have since been widely criticized as hurting the rebuilding process.


"We spent a lot of money in Iraq with very little to show for it," said Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.), chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. "I think it's important to understand, going back to the CPA period, how we got into the position we are in."

Bremer did not respond to repeated requests to comment.

<more>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/05/AR2007020501325.html

[struggle4progress]

3. So, Mr Bremer, where did all the money go?

At the end of the Iraq war, vast sums of money were made available to the US-led provisional authorities, headed by Paul Bremer, to spend on rebuilding the country. By the time Bremer left the post eight months later, $8.8bn of that money had disappeared. Ed Harriman on the extraordinary scandal of Iraq's missing billions

Thursday July 7, 2005
The Guardian

When Paul Bremer, the American pro consul in Baghdad until June last year, arrived in Iraq soon after the official end of hostilities, there was $6bn left over from the UN Oil for Food Programme, as well as sequestered and frozen assets, and at least $10bn from resumed Iraqi oil exports. Under Security Council Resolution 1483, passed on May 22 2003, all these funds were transferred into a new account held at the Federal Reserve Bank in New York, called the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI), and intended to be spent by the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) "in a transparent manner ... for the benefit of the Iraqi people".

The US Congress also voted to spend $18.4bn of US taxpayers' money on the redevelopment of Iraq. By June 28 last year, however, when Bremer left Baghdad two days early to avoid possible attack on the way to the airport, his CPA had spent up to $20bn of Iraqi money, compared with $300m of US funds. The "reconstruction" of Iraq is the largest American-led occupation programme since the Marshall Plan - but the US government funded the Marshall Plan. Defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Paul Bremer have made sure that the reconstruction of Iraq is paid for by the "liberated" country, by the Iraqis themselves.

The CPA maintained one fund of nearly $600m cash for which there is no paperwork: $200m of it was kept in a room in one of Saddam's former palaces. The US soldier in charge used to keep the key to the room in his backpack, which he left on his desk when he popped out for lunch. Again, this is Iraqi money, not US funds ...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1522983,00.html

<edit:typo>
Fuelling suspicion: the coalition and Iraq's oil billions /28.06.04

The US-controlled coalition in Baghdad is handing over power to an Iraqi government without having properly accounted for what it has done with some $20 billion of Iraq's own money, says a new report published by Christian Aid ...

http://www.christian-aid.org.uk/indepth/406iraqoilupdate/index.htm

[gratuitous]

4. Uh oh, are those bean-counting Democrats sore about the missing $9 billion?

Golly, it's like nobody ever dropped a nickel or two (or 180 billion nickels) before!

You have much to answer for, L. Paul Bremer. I hope you brought a lunch, because I don't think Henry Waxman is going to take "Let me get back to you on that" for an answer.

[aquart]

5. Aww, they found a scapegoat.

They must be so happy.