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February 17, 2009

Senior Military Officers Probed for Corruption in Iraq
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The New York Times reports federal authorities are now investigating
senior US military officers on corruption charges connected to the $125
billion US-led reconstruction effort in Iraq. Last month, investigators
subpoenaed the personal bank records of retired Army Colonel Anthony
Bell, who was in charge of reconstruction contracting in Iraq in 2003
and 2004. In addition, investigators are examining the activities of Air
Force Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Hirtle, who was a senior contracting
officer in Baghdad in 2004. It is unclear how much reconstruction money
went missing, but The Independent of London reports it could turn out to
be the greatest fraud in US history, a bigger theft than Bernard
Madoff’s $50 billion Ponzi scheme.



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