At least 21 dead in suicide bombings in Iraq near Green Zone, $4 billion US taxpayer dollars still going to Iraq each month

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3/14/13, "Blasts kill at least 21 in center of Iraq capital: sources," Reuters

"Co-ordinated blasts in the heart of the Iraqi capital Baghdad killed at least 21 people on Thursday, near the heavily fortified Green Zone, where several Western embassies are located, police and medics said.
 
The explosions, which also wounded at least 50, took place in the Alawi district, close to the ministries of justice, foreign affairs and other government offices.

Iraq's security has come under growing strain as the sectarian conflict in neighboring Syria reignites Iraq's own combustible Sunni-Shi'ite mix.

Police said two car bombs were detonated, one of them near the justice ministry building, before a suicide car bomber blew himself up near an interior ministry office.

A second suicide car bomber then walked into the justice ministry and militants attacked the building, clashing with Iraqi security forces. Police said the sound of gunshots was still audible.

Among the dead were at least 6 policemen and 12 civilians, police and medics said."

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11/1/12, “US Spends as Much in Iraq Now as During Combat Ops,” Townhall Finance

“The US is not engaged in combat in Iraq, but it is still spending $4 billion a month in Iraq, which is about what the US was spending when it had combat forces there….

For the record. Iraqi auditors believe as much as US $800 million is being sent out of the country illegally each week, according to a report by the 

• US Special Inspector General released Tuesday. 

His findings point to widespread money laundering and focus attention on lax oversight at Iraq’s central bank, which is at the heart of a probe into alleged financial wrongdoing involving its former governor and other top officials.

Comment: That is more than $41 billion a year with nothing to show for it and no accountability and after the departure of US troops.

Hmmm… that raises a question about what are the savings, if any, from the withdrawal of US soldiers. 

The answer is that the post-withdrawal costs to the US appear as large as or larger than when the US had combat forces deployed in Iraq.”… via Lucianne

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10/30/12, "U.S.: Iraqi audit points to money laundering," AP, A. Schreck, Baghdad

"Iraqi auditors believe as much as $800 million in U.S. dollars is being sent out of the country illegally each week, draining it of hard currency, according to a report by American inspectors released Tuesday."...
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10/30/12, "Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, Quarterly Reports and Semi-Annual Reports to Congress"


(I couldn't figure out how to copy and past the report, but reading some of page 2 details even Americans and US military are making money illegally in Iraq).


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