‘Culture Of Corruption’: Iraq War Fraud Case Ends
On Friday, Lee, the 71-year-old chairman of Kuwait City-based Lee Dynamics International, pleaded guilty to bribery charges, the latest development in a years-long investigation aimed at exposing fraud and graft that
emerged in the 2003 run-up to the war. So far, four high-ranking Army officers tied to Lee have admitted to accepting $1.2 million in cash, jewelry, spa treatments and hotel stays in exchange for steering $20 million in contracts his way.Officials contend a “culture of corruption” emerged at the small office in the Kuwaiti desert outpost of Camp Arifjan that housed the Army Contracting Command. There, a half-dozen poorly trained officers made decisions on billions of dollars in military spending to aid Iraqi reconstruction efforts. Former civilian contractors have described Arifjan as a place where cost didn’t seem to matter, oversight was next to nonexistent and ordered equipment often disappeared or was never delivered at all. In that environment, Lee thrived.
George Lee’s access to seemingly unlimited funding was so great, many military personnel he worked with confessed that they could not resist its allure.
- Col. Kevin A. Davis, who admitted he leaked secret information to help Lee secure an $11.7 million contract for Baghdad warehouse maintenance in exchange for $50,000 in cash, first-class travel to Venice and the United States and a job after his retirement from the military.
- Lt. Markus E. McClain, who turned down offers of drugs, women and a Rolex watch but took $15,000 and a steak dinner to lobby in favor of extending one of Lee’s contracts to supply buses in Iraq.
- Lt. Col. Levonda Selph, who Lee showered with a “pleasure trip” to Thailand and a stay in Kuwait City’s Le Meridien Hotel, when she took over monitoring his company’s warehouse work.
- And Maj. John Cockerham, the lead defendant in what prosecutors now describe as the largest bribery case to come out of the Iraq War.
Copyright 2015 Liberaland
By: Mark Quincy Adams
A proud 'pragmatic progressive' Mark Quincy Adams has been a political
talk show host and prolific pontificator since 1992. Find him on Facebook and Twitter @politicalglutton
26 responses to ‘Culture Of Corruption’: Iraq War Fraud Case Ends
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Hirightnow February 21st, 2015 at 19:09
I do believe that this is treason; hurting your country in time of war is tantamount to aiding the enemy,no?
War crimes trials for everyone! (I’m feeling generous…)
rg9rts February 22nd, 2015 at 05:43
Lets just send them to The Hague and charge the as accessories in the trial for crimes against humanity that George II and Murder Inc will face…Spandau awaits
Hirightnow February 21st, 2015 at 20:09
I do believe that this is treason; hurting your country in time of war is tantamount to aiding the enemy,no?
War crimes trials for everyone! (I’m feeling generous…)
rg9rts February 22nd, 2015 at 06:43
Lets just send them to The Hague and charge the as accessories in the trial for crimes against humanity that George II and Murder Inc will face…Spandau awaits
fancypants February 21st, 2015 at 19:49
Nothing ever ends well in undeclared wars
fancypants February 21st, 2015 at 20:49
Nothing ever ends well in undeclared wars
Mike February 21st, 2015 at 20:30
A Col.. Maj., and a couple LT’s….really…??? After 13 years, trillions wasted, 5k dead Americans, and a million dead Iraqi’s…???
It’s not even the tip of the tip of the iceberg. Call me ungrateful but I expect there to be consequences for certain actions…this looks like a reward.
Suzanne McFly February 21st, 2015 at 20:52
Right, where are the politicians who put these people in power to dole out billions of dollars with no oversight?
KABoink_after_wingnut_hacker February 22nd, 2015 at 06:27
In their mansions planning their next trip to the Cayman Islands?
Suzanne McFly February 22nd, 2015 at 09:44
Money may not buy you happiness but it can buy you a get out of jail free card, even for murder.
Mike February 21st, 2015 at 21:30
A Col.. Maj., and a couple LT’s….really…??? After 13 years, trillions wasted, 5k dead Americans, and a million dead Iraqi’s…???
It’s not even the tip of the tip of the iceberg. Call me ungrateful but I expect there to be consequences for certain actions…this looks like a reward.
Suzanne McFly February 21st, 2015 at 21:52
Right, where are the politicians who put these people in power to dole out billions of dollars with no oversight?
KABoink_after_wingnut_hacker February 22nd, 2015 at 07:27
In their mansions planning their next trip to the Cayman Islands?
Suzanne McFly February 22nd, 2015 at 10:44
Money may not buy you happiness but it can buy you a get out of jail free card, even for murder.
granpa.usthai February 22nd, 2015 at 02:23
you think this is something?
just wait till they scratch the surface of the Republicans who voted for the war!
granpa.usthai February 22nd, 2015 at 03:23
you think this is something?
just wait till they scratch the surface of the Republicans who voted for the war!
fahvel February 22nd, 2015 at 02:58
bush, cockerham??????? go hand in hand but NO one pays the price.
fahvel February 22nd, 2015 at 03:58
bush, cockerham??????? go hand in hand but NO one pays the price.
rg9rts February 22nd, 2015 at 05:40
And Haliburton moves HQ to Dubai
rg9rts February 22nd, 2015 at 06:40
And Haliburton moves HQ to Dubai
jybarz February 22nd, 2015 at 14:24
Where are you, right wing Trolls? Lost for words? Feeling guilty you’re on the wrong side?
jybarz February 22nd, 2015 at 14:26
Not a single troll comment. What a shame! So you should be ashamed.
jybarz February 22nd, 2015 at 15:24
Where are you, right wing Trolls? Lost for words? Feeling guilty you’re on the wrong side?
jybarz February 22nd, 2015 at 15:26
Not a single troll comment. What a shame! So you should be ashamed.
Ronald L February 22nd, 2015 at 23:59
While the Bush cronies were scooping up tax dollars meant to fight terrorism, these same people were calling us liberals traitors for doubting any aspect of this war.
Ronald L February 23rd, 2015 at 00:59
While the Bush cronies were scooping up tax dollars meant to fight terrorism, these same people were calling us liberals traitors for doubting any aspect of this war.