Iraq prison $40 million in wasted US cash-how much more?
July 28th 2008 14:58
I just read this report about a prison in Iraq that was never completed, that will never be used as a prison it at all, that has parts that will probably need to be demolished for substandard building, and that cost the US $40 million dollars.
What is most disturbing about the news is not the prison itself, but the company that was responsible for the building.
In 2004, Parson contracting was awarded $900 million in contracts in Iraq to help rebuild the infrastructure, that included 53 projects. To date, 18 projects were completed and they had been paid $333 million, nearly half of which was for projects that were not completed.
With government spending so astronomical, millions of dollars start to sound like they aren't much. The contracts awarded to this company in full cost each citizen about $3. My family is responsible for $15 of the money that was given to this company.
The total US spending on such government contracts is near $30 billion, with another $50 billion in costs expected to come up.
For the $30 billion already spent, each citizen has $99 in responsibility. If that total reaches the anticipated $80 billion, each citizen is responsible for $265. That means that best case scenario, my family is responsible for $495, worst case scenario $1325.
I wonder how many of the problems like this prison happen because the money being spent doesn't actually exist. The US has become a spending giant with no money to back it up. Its easy to spend when you don't have it. Whats another $40 million when you have $9 trillion in debt?
I have to start questioning when we feel we've done enough and when it will be time to let this very oil rich country fend for itself. Perhaps using their own money and overseers, they could hire a company that could build a usable prison.
What is most disturbing about the news is not the prison itself, but the company that was responsible for the building.
In 2004, Parson contracting was awarded $900 million in contracts in Iraq to help rebuild the infrastructure, that included 53 projects. To date, 18 projects were completed and they had been paid $333 million, nearly half of which was for projects that were not completed.
With government spending so astronomical, millions of dollars start to sound like they aren't much. The contracts awarded to this company in full cost each citizen about $3. My family is responsible for $15 of the money that was given to this company.
The total US spending on such government contracts is near $30 billion, with another $50 billion in costs expected to come up.
For the $30 billion already spent, each citizen has $99 in responsibility. If that total reaches the anticipated $80 billion, each citizen is responsible for $265. That means that best case scenario, my family is responsible for $495, worst case scenario $1325.
I wonder how many of the problems like this prison happen because the money being spent doesn't actually exist. The US has become a spending giant with no money to back it up. Its easy to spend when you don't have it. Whats another $40 million when you have $9 trillion in debt?
I have to start questioning when we feel we've done enough and when it will be time to let this very oil rich country fend for itself. Perhaps using their own money and overseers, they could hire a company that could build a usable prison.
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