[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 9 (Wednesday, February 2, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H290]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MISSING $9 BILLION IN IRAQ
(Mr. KUCINICH asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, the state of the Union is asleep. This
administration cannot account for $9 billion it controlled in Iraq for
a 9-month period ending last October. Wake up, America.
While $9 billion went unaccounted for, the administration did not
have enough money for bullet-proof vests or armor-plated protection for
troops. It fought against increasing the combat death benefit and cut
veterans benefits. Yet, for 9 months, an average of $30 million a day,
totaling $9 billion, could not be accounted for by the administration's
Coalition Provisional Authority, according to the Inspector General. Do
we hear a grand jury stirring?
Was the $9 billion stolen? Was it used for bribes for peace or rent-
a-friend or a paid assassin program? Was it funneled elsewhere to spend
money to foment chaos, disorder and violence?
The administration could not find WMDs, Osama bin Laden, and now $9
billion is unaccounted for. They want another $80 billion, while
Halliburton makes a killing on overcharges. And they want us to trust
them with Social Security? I do not think so.
Wake up, America. Your democracy is disappearing.
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