Members of Iraqi security forces and Shiite fighters eat on their vehicle on the outskirts of Baiji, north of Baghdad, Dec. 8, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad
Ghost Army: You, Too, Can Command An Iraqi Division For Only $2 Million -- Peter Van Buren, Reuters
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi recently revealed that there are 50,000 “ghost soldiers” who haunt the payrolls of the Iraqi Army. Many see the phenomenon as a factor in the army’s defeat at the hands of the Islamic State, and as an example of how Prime Minister Abadi is trying to initiate reform.
How corruption like this is handled will tell the tale of the army’s future, and of the U.S.’ investment.
The current Iraqi Army is a U.S. construct. The second official act of the U.S. occupation in Iraq was to disband Saddam-era forces and create a new Iraqi Army. This would ultimately cost U.S. taxpayers over $20 billion dollars.
What did they get for their money?
Read more ....
My Comment: What bugs me about this story is that it was being done in the open .... and U.S. military/intelligence officials had to know what was going on, as well as their political bosses in Washington. But for reasons not explained .... choose to remain silent.
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