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October 13, 2008 8:16:33 AM CDT

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Pentagon Investigates $6B in Contracts

Posted Sep 24, 07 9:06 AM CDT in US,  World 

(Newser) – The Pentagon is investigating widespread graft involving US war-zone contracts, with 29 soldiers and civilians charged so far, the New York Times reports. Most of the scrutiny focuses on a contracting office in Kuwait, where an Army major is charged with taking $10 million in bribes from companies seeking contracts in Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

More than 75 criminal investigations are under way, and the Pentagon is examining $6 billion in contracts, covering supplies from bottled water to tents. Two officers under investigation have committed suicide, the Times says. The Kuwait  office under investigation awarded about $150 million in contracts a year but was staffed by about a dozen people with limited experience, an Army colonel says.

Source New York Times

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Iraq  • Iraq war  • Pentagon  • bribe  • Kuwait  • Army contracts


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