This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.

"Shocking And Incredible": IG Slams DOD For "Having No Knowledge" About $800 Million Program

Tyler Durden's picture




 

By now most have heard of the infamous gas station in Sheberghan, northern Afghanistan which "cost" the U.S. Department of Defense nearly $43 million to build, even though its real cost was only $500,000. This "world's most expensive gas station" has promptly become the latest example of waste and budgetary abuse which comes courtesy of a debt ceiling which is increased by over $1 trillion every year and a government whose only purpose is to spend every dollar budgeted to it or else risk losing future fund allocations.

This was revealed in a report released by John Sopko, head of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, a congressional body, which was released yesterday.

However the biggest stunner in the report is not the gas station, which costs almost as much as a luxury New York duplex meant to be sold to Chinese money laundering oligarchs, but something else namely that the task force behind the project had closed operations in March and for that reason the Department of Defense said it did not possess "the personnel expertise to address these questions."

The result: a stunned IG exclaims it is "shocking and incredible that DOD says it has no knowledge about an $800 million program."

Actually, it is perfectly normal and par for the course for any government program to waste funds (and to syphon some off the top and bottom) whenever it is given nearly $1 billion in appropriated funds without any supervision.

Thank you taxpayers.

Sopko concludes by saying that he intend "to continue our inquiry into TFBSO activities to shed additional light on how this program operated, what it achieved, how this enormous amount of money was spent, and whether any conduct by TFBSO staff or contractors was criminal in nature."

He will find nothing, because the corruption captured in just this one instance is endemic to the US, and every other, government across the globe, and if he were to dig deeper he would find a trail of "criminal" money spending that goes to the very top.

* * *

Here is the full letter from John Sopko to Ashton Carter that shows just how "careful" the U.S. government is when abusing your money:

Dear Secretary Carter:

 

The attached report discusses SIGAR’s review of the Task Force for Business and Stability Operations (TFBSO) Downstream Gas Utilization project.

 

According to a TFBSO study, the Task Force spent nearly $43 million to construct a compressed natural gas (CNG) automobile filling station in the city of Sheberghan, Afghanistan. The main purpose of the project was to demonstrate the commercial viability of CNG for automobiles in Afghanistan as part of a broader effort to take advantage of Afghanistan’s domestic natural gas reserves and reduce the country’s reliance on energy imports.

 

Although TFBSO achieved its immediate objective of building the CNG filling station, it apparently did so at an exorbitant cost to U.S. taxpayers. In comparison, SIGAR found that a CNG station in Pakistan costs no more than $500,000 to construct. Furthermore, there is no indication that TFBSO considered the feasibility of achieving the station’s broader objectives or considered any of the potentially considerable obstacles to the project’s success before beginning construction.

 

One of the most troubling aspects of this project is that the Department of Defense claims that it is unable to provide an explanation for the high cost of the project or to answer any other questions concerning its planning, implementation, or outcome. In fact, in response to my request for information, the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy stated in June 2015 that the March 2015 closure of TFBSO resulted in the Office of the Secretary “no longer possessing the personnel expertise to address these questions or to assess properly the TFBSO information and documentation retained by WHS in the OSD Executive Archive” (see Appendix I).

 

In written comments on a draft of this report, the Principal Under Secretary of Defense for Policy did not dispute our facts or findings, or provide any new information. Instead, his comments reiterated his earlier position that because TFBSO closed in March 2015, the Department no longer has the expertise to answer any of SIGAR’s questions about this project or about any other TFBSO activities (see Appendix II).

 

Frankly, I find it both shocking and incredible that DOD asserts that it no longer has any knowledge about TFBSO, an $800 million program that reported directly to the Office of the Secretary of Defense and only shut down a little over six months ago. Nevertheless, I intend to continue our inquiry into TFBSO activities to shed additional light on how this program operated, what it achieved, how this enormous amount of money was spent, and whether any conduct by TFBSO staff or contractors was criminal in nature.

* * *

Full letter below (link)

 

- advertisements -

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Tue, 11/03/2015 - 14:47 | 6744811 surf0766
surf0766's picture

You mean there is waste under the most transparent administration in the history of the world?

Shocked. We are freakn' shocked

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 14:49 | 6744823 DontGive
DontGive's picture

Only $800 million? Spit in the ocean compared how much they have 'lost' in total.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 14:50 | 6744834 Looney
Looney's picture

<<< No one will go to jail

<<< Someone will go to jail

Looney

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 14:54 | 6744857 SafelyGraze
SafelyGraze's picture

sopko xmas wishlist item:

staple remover

 

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:06 | 6744927 BuddyEffed
BuddyEffed's picture

Does it service just 4 or 5 vehicles, from an originally planned 5000 vehicles?

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:19 | 6744994 idea_hamster
idea_hamster's picture

“Nevertheless, I intend to continue our inquiry into TFBSO activities to shed additional light on how this program operated, what it achieved, how this enormous amount of money was spent, and whether any conduct by TFBSO staff or contractors was criminal in nature”

That story again: Man to be found dead of 138-stab-wound-and-fell-up-the-stairs suicide in a few weeks.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:29 | 6745052 Fahque Imuhnutjahb
Fahque Imuhnutjahb's picture

 

 

SIGAR? really.  This guy needs to go to work for the Special Unlimited Graft Acquisition Regime.

This is one of Uncle's most popular postings once you spin through the revolving door to the "private" sector.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 16:59 | 6745655 Fish Gone Bad
Fish Gone Bad's picture

The station cost what any ordinary gas station would cost.  The rest of the kazillion went into some black project, just like they used to do in the 70's.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:31 | 6745067 Stackers
Stackers's picture

Pocket change. Rumsfeld is still looking for that 2.3 trillion

 

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:35 | 6745090 Vatican_cameo
Vatican_cameo's picture

That's nothing compared to what the Government has spent on the Benghazi Hearings (according to the Liberals).

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 17:02 | 6745658 SickDollar
SickDollar's picture

Someone tells/teach this Sheep Inspector how really things work in govt

Obviously this guy is naive and in the dark

 

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 16:06 | 6745295 GeezerGeek
GeezerGeek's picture

It's really too bad that no inquiry into the missing $2.3T ever came about. Rumsfeld alone could not have lost that much, since the Bush administration was only 8 months old at that time and was operating under a Clinton budget. Or maybe Don was projecting into the future, and really meant that "we will have" lost track of that much money by, say, 2005. But after all, what difference, at this point, does it make? We all know that USA Corp. is there to extract money from taxpayers, regardless of the team selected to lead it.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 16:54 | 6745622 Dick Buttkiss
Dick Buttkiss's picture

Bitcoin is skyrocketing because of increasing capital controls in China, and when the same thing happens here and elsewhere (in a vain attempt to prevent capital flight), Bitcoin will enter escape velocity.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:27 | 6745045 fightapathy
fightapathy's picture

Ay! Are you calling the Under-Secretary a liar? And anyway, it was supposed to service 50,000 moderate vehicles.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:11 | 6744958 FreeMoney
FreeMoney's picture

Here we see the all new "Burning of Rome".  Now that the congress has upped the debt ceiling, the Nero's of Washington can spend like drunken sailors, and pappa Yellen will buy all the debt.  There is no happy ending to this story.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:19 | 6745003 Fahque Imuhnutjahb
Fahque Imuhnutjahb's picture

 

 

Depends who you are.  For us rank and file, yes, no happy ending.  But for the folks on the receiving end of

these contracts, they might as well move their office into a Korean massage parlor.  We pay them our taxes long time.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 16:10 | 6745319 Parrotile
Parrotile's picture

Wonder how much of that "orders of magniture greater than the Russians" MIC spending is just this - pocket-padding for the better connected.

There is also the problem of the Services being happily used to the ability to waste, rather than conserve. Not a very good mindset should the supply lines be disrupted as a result of "unforeseen accidents".

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:15 | 6744984 Fahque Imuhnutjahb
Fahque Imuhnutjahb's picture

Halliburton sells those to the military for $666, along with $300 hammers. and $700 toilet seats.  What a deal.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 14:55 | 6744860 surf0766
surf0766's picture

In the Banana, no one goes to jail

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:20 | 6745008 BlindMonkey
BlindMonkey's picture

I know you meant well but that was the stupidest poll ever.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 16:10 | 6745316 simon.dc3
simon.dc3's picture

FINALLY! It looks like someone's painted big crosshairs on Paul Brinkley's ass (then Deputy Undersecretary of Defense who ran TFBSO at the time).
Can't wait to see where it leads.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 14:52 | 6744838 hedgeless_horseman
hedgeless_horseman's picture

 

 

Before you complain, you should at lease try the sushi at that gas station.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:55 | 6745204 IndyPat
IndyPat's picture

Not to mention lotto...and cigarettes at Caliphate minimum prices.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 16:04 | 6745280 Urban Roman
Urban Roman's picture

Funny name for a town ... Jack Benny was from there, wasn't he?

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 16:10 | 6745320 GeezerGeek
GeezerGeek's picture

Is it grown locally?

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 16:00 | 6745246 armageddon addahere
armageddon addahere's picture

When I read about large amounts of government money disappearing I assume it was syphoned off into the black budget or secret off the books operations of the CIA and other hidden government departments. It usually turns out I am right, although it takes years for the truth to come out. These secret agencies got the upper hand over congress, the president, police, and everyone else a long time ago and are accountable to no one. They can do whatever they like, and have been for over 50 years.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 14:59 | 6744878 SethDealer
SethDealer's picture

when I was in the army (1988-1993) we were buying hammers for $120

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:06 | 6744900 Bank_sters
Bank_sters's picture

It only matters if you have a video of Obama talking about transparency.  Oh shit...

Flashback: Obama: Transparency and the rule of law


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgTydr4gAaI
Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:44 | 6745142 venturen
venturen's picture

Obvioously this is Bush fault...right Obamaphones?

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 16:01 | 6745252 Bring the Gold
Bring the Gold's picture

Or we've just had 14 years of the same Deep State policies and red team vs blue team is for idiots. Not to mention the fact the Deep State has been doing this on one level or another since 1947 creation of CIA, Pentagon. By all means though keep playing partisan politics.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 16:47 | 6745573 RaceToTheBottom
RaceToTheBottom's picture

All presidents get to buy parts of South America.  It is part of the contract.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 16:05 | 6745283 Vlad the Inhaler
Vlad the Inhaler's picture

SOMEONE knew exactly what was going on, and got very rich from this.  Sounds more like "free stuff" than "waste".

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 14:47 | 6744812 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

CIA slush fund.

 

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 14:56 | 6744866 Mr Poopra
Mr Poopra's picture

Exactly.  All of these shenanigans are to fund black projects.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:00 | 6744891 Perimetr
Perimetr's picture

Black projects has a new meaning under Obama

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:12 | 6744962 HowdyDoody
HowdyDoody's picture

Not to mention all the Milo Minderbinders out there.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:58 | 6745231 IndyPat
IndyPat's picture

So THAT is why you get a free bag of chocolate covered cotton with a fill up.

Nice!
Expected more ZHers to pick up what you're layin down, here...

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:22 | 6745023 RopeADope
RopeADope's picture

Black projects also now fund the government. It would be very amusing as each set of criminal critters stumbles over the other set.

Only as we have seen countless times in D.C., once everyone engages in illegal behavior, there are no groups remaining that are able to bring an investigation to fruition.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 14:59 | 6744883 Baa baa
Baa baa's picture

You got it! How else can they pay for the daily mischief on a global scale?

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:03 | 6744899 Mr Poopra
Mr Poopra's picture

The nature and extent of these black projects would probably make Orwell laugh himself into a coma.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:02 | 6744897 DetectiveStern
DetectiveStern's picture

Any idiot who believes that all $43million went towards building that gas station is beyond help.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:11 | 6744960 cougar_w
cougar_w's picture

My very first thought. But it will be spun as $800 hammers and $1,200 toilet seats, as always. Government waste! Boo!! Scary!!!

Look the other way, is what they want.

People are kinda dumb. And, they want to be lied to. So they eat it up, get all angry and distracted.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:58 | 6745234 centerline
centerline's picture

Yup.  That money was purposely missing, which means it really wasn't missing.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 14:47 | 6744815 Dick Buttkiss
Dick Buttkiss's picture

DOD stands for Disappearance Of Dollars?

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:33 | 6745080 cougar_w
cougar_w's picture

You hope those dollars disappeared. That would be the least bad outcome. Probably those dollars went to fund something that if you didn't already "know" it was a gas station you would lose your mind, and all last shred of faith that your government does not operate as a criminal enterprise.

Because it is and it does.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 17:34 | 6745855 Jim in MN
Jim in MN's picture

Nothing at all to do with, for example, Russian body parts strewn across the Sinai.

Nothing......nooooooothhhhhinnnngk!

More strudel!!!!!   Mmmmmm strudel.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 14:48 | 6744820 Herd Redirectio...
Herd Redirection Committee's picture

Maybe $800 million went towards bribes, kickbacks, pay-offs, "one for you, one for me", and black-ops.

Nah...

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:04 | 6744903 Tyrone Shoelaces
Tyrone Shoelaces's picture

Them head choppin' ISIS boys don't work for nothin', ya know?

 

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 14:49 | 6744828 Mick Shrimpton
Mick Shrimpton's picture

 

 

1. Build 43 million dollar gas station.

2. ???

3. Profit!

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 14:50 | 6744833 pods
pods's picture

Lotta gravy to be skimmed.  Lotta gravy.

'The US is like a great big pussy just waiting to be fucked."

-Tony Montana

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:04 | 6744905 Johnny Horscaulk
Johnny Horscaulk's picture

the empire's getting a little long in the tooth though.

it's like Patrice O'Neal [RIP] said - pussy isnt like wine..it doesn't get better as it ages.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUYYX13uB4E

We've been in fucking ugly territory for quite a while, if you will...

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 14:51 | 6744836 Johnny Horscaulk
Johnny Horscaulk's picture

apparently still a larger roi, by orders of magnitude, than the program to train and equip "moderate" rebels, eh?

It's all about government transferring wealth. And while a certain class of right winger becomes apoplectic over evil "socialists" who they fear wish to redistribute their comic book collection and pair of gold bars - it is very much the bankers, the capitalists and John Galts of the weapons manufacturers who have been absolutely pummeling their colons since 9/11

You will come to love The One Bank before the end, citizen.

http://thecreditunionmarketer.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/April-26-of...

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 16:07 | 6745297 IndyPat
IndyPat's picture

Not being hostile...but that just reads like you prefer a nice big penis with left bend in the middle as opposed to getting tooled with one bent towards the right. If that's your thing, cool.
Wouldn't it be better to just say you'd rather not get humped by anyone, regardless of their party registration?

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 14:55 | 6744845 Jack Burton
Jack Burton's picture

Americans take no notice of these things. They are content to be taxed, to see wages fall, to lose health insurance, and to watch CNBC hype the economy.

No matter how much money the Pentagon blows, it can all be justified as support for the troops. In fact, this one phrase "Support the Troops" has made countless Americans ,with an inside track to military spending, very rich indeed.

When I tarvel, and see the wealth some Americans throw around, on their Ski Cottages, Beach Cottages, LA Homes, NYC pent houses, swanky London hotels, etc., I often do a mental exercise and try to envisage how much of that wealth really came from American taxpyers and military spending. When 1 trillion a year is thrown around, if you can even pick up the scraps, you are talking billions!

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:00 | 6744887 Herd Redirectio...
Herd Redirection Committee's picture

I remember famous lyrics by Zach de la Rocha of RATM, "Yellow RIBBON, instead of a SWASTIKA"

Making the point that if every one who had a yellow ribbon, on their car, for e.g., instead had a swastika, we would be at least a little closer to the truth of the matter.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:11 | 6744952 Johnny Horscaulk
Johnny Horscaulk's picture

you're not gonna die for your country.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN4m6nWI5XI

you're gonna die for your government.

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20151103/1029553161/us-syria-troops-mi...

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:11 | 6744959 Baa baa
Baa baa's picture

The behaviour you describe is not exclusively American. The arrogance and elitism of most of the super-rich is displayed by said parties from all over the globe.

 

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 14:55 | 6744862 gregga777
gregga777's picture

I'm neither shocked or surprised anymore by the US government's rampant criminality. The US government is organized crime by and for the elites.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:33 | 6745078 Baby Bladeface
Baby Bladeface's picture

US government biggest organized crime gang of all times. US defence department is simply assists some of "unsavory" business practices:

1) welfare fraud (with welfare defrauders like Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, etc.)

2) money laundering (as this article topic)

3) extortions and protection rackets

4) murders for hire

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 14:56 | 6744867 dicksburnt
dicksburnt's picture

If you work there stay away from the outside ring or do not work above the 3rd floor.   

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 14:57 | 6744868 ghostzapper
ghostzapper's picture

Afghanistan???  Ahh, too easy it's heroin money so check the offshore accounts of Daddy Bush, George, and Jeb.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 14:58 | 6744874 PhiBetaZappa
PhiBetaZappa's picture

Move along, nothing to see here, just America being 'exceptional'.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 14:58 | 6744877 Obamamerica
Obamamerica's picture

Why can't we just pack everyone who voted for the latest budget fiasco into a cargo plane and drop them over Islamic territory to enjoy the fruits of their labor?

 

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:04 | 6744907 Baa baa
Baa baa's picture

I wonder what the ticket comes to for all the lost or abanonded equipment and material following a US military action of scale? Gotta be billions.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:36 | 6745098 cougar_w
cougar_w's picture

It's gotta not matter in the least. Chump change. The Pentagon loses tanks and jets in the sofa cushions.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:06 | 6744924 Johnny Horscaulk
Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:07 | 6744931 kaboomnomic
kaboomnomic's picture

Is this the country that most of the russian hater live?
Shocking...

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:08 | 6744935 samsara
samsara's picture

That's Nothing ! Notice the Date   9/10/2001

 

Rumsfeld Buries Admission of Missing 2+ Trillion Dollars in 9/10/01 Press Conference

 

 

On September 10, 2001, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld held a press conference to disclose that over $2,000,000,000,000 in Pentagon funds could not be accounted for. Rumsfeld stated: "According to some estimates we cannot track $2.3 trillion in transactions." According to a report by the Inspector General, the Pentagon cannot account for 25 percent of what it spends. 1   2

 

 

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:29 | 6745057 coast
coast's picture

Hah...somebody gave you a down vote for telling the truth samsara...probably the same person who gave me a down vote when I posted that it snows in Alaska and the death valley is hot during summer

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:29 | 6745063 SMC
SMC's picture

Perhaps 9/11 was very expensive to set up and cover up...

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:32 | 6745072 coast
coast's picture

Hah...somebody gave you a down vote for telling the truth samsara...probably the same person who gave me a down vote when I posted that it snows in Alaska and the death valley is hot during summer

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:38 | 6745113 cougar_w
cougar_w's picture

And the American public just shrugged it off.

You'll get no traction. At all. Ever.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 16:28 | 6745439 GeezerGeek
GeezerGeek's picture

As I pointed out elsewhere in these comments, Bush/Rumsfeld could not possibly have lost track of all that money in eight short months in office. They were, in fact, still operating under the last Clinton budget. Undoubtedly no one in either party wanted to find out the truth, as it would have pointed fingers at both Ds and Rs, although I seriously doubt Rumsfeld would have been one of the guilty parties.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:09 | 6744940 Falconsixone
Falconsixone's picture

How much is the station insured for? Maybe they just forgot they paid 800m for a years insurance.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:09 | 6744942 dbTX
dbTX's picture

This makes me want to send in my taxes early. What a fraud, and no one's hear will roll.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:10 | 6744951 patrickhenry61
patrickhenry61's picture

We're in the money/ We're in the money/ Let's LEND IT/ SPEND IT/ KEEP ROLLIN' RIGHT ALONG!!!!!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJOjTNuuEVw

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:12 | 6744964 ToSoft4Truth
ToSoft4Truth's picture

Grab what you can!!!

 

 

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:14 | 6744973 Joebloinvestor
Joebloinvestor's picture

They won't find a list of contractors or suppliers either.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:14 | 6744976 prmths2
prmths2's picture

After reading this, the Chinese "Ghost Capitol Building" doesn't look quite so bad.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:21 | 6745013 ThanksIwillHave...
ThanksIwillHaveAnother's picture

I am now convinced the lost spending is way to flood the world with $'s and keep in demand and from crisis.  This works in parallel with destablizing other countries so $ is demand as local currency goes into crisis.   

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:22 | 6745017 Caveman93
Caveman93's picture

Big fucking deal it's just "money" (Currency).

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:22 | 6745019 tttan
tttan's picture

Why cant all of you think this is one way to give these money to the democrats by siphoning these money to the people who worked on these projects and then they in return donate to the democrat party.   This is corruption of the highest order promoted by the democrats. That is why the democrats love to tax and spend ( to pay the democrats)

 

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:23 | 6745028 Eahudimac
Eahudimac's picture

This money likely ended up paying for heroine transports to some other god-forsaken hell hole for processing then on to the USA for distribution/consumption. The tax payers pay for the logistics, the CIA and keeps the profits. And they get to jail the people they use to sell and use their shit. I'm sure they get a nice kick-back for keeping the prisons full of petty drug offenders. 

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:23 | 6745029 coast
coast's picture

Was it a self serve or full service gas station?   Did they pump the gas for you? Clean the windshields and check the oil in the toyota truck?   Bonus rewards?  Gas for heroin?  Was there a mini mart inside selling beer, potato chip, ammo and assault weapons?  Many unanswered questions ????

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:24 | 6745030 tttan
tttan's picture

Tax and waste and corruption are all part of the democrat's machinery and tactics. When u vote for democrats you vote for corruption

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:25 | 6745032 TrustbutVerify
TrustbutVerify's picture

As a center-right voter I was watching a news channel the other day that gives reasonable time and consideration to conservative viewpoints.  I liked it when a conservative pundit in regard to this story said (paraphrase), ...and Republicans don't think there's room to cut the Defense Budget?"  Implying...'give me a break.'  

I agree with the sentiment. 

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:25 | 6745037 Phillyguy
Phillyguy's picture

Surprise, surprise. Congress views the US public as little more than an ATM, pumping out limitless amount of money for continuing Wall St bank bailouts and endless wars across the Middle East. So where did this $800 million go? For more information, check out- War Is A Racket By Major General Smedley Butler; Link: www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/warisaracket.html

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:26 | 6745038 SMC
SMC's picture

Siphoned off to the ISIS petty cash box?

Perhaps we really do live in the largest banana republic on the planet.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 16:32 | 6745469 GeezerGeek
GeezerGeek's picture

And all most of us get is the banana peel.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:26 | 6745043 ToSoft4Truth
ToSoft4Truth's picture

Welfare moms still outclass the DOD when it comes to ripping us off.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:29 | 6745054 Herdee
Herdee's picture

I smell money flowing into the CIA in order to support terrorist programs.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:29 | 6745060 Able Ape
Able Ape's picture

It's ELECTION DAY, remember to.... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...vote.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:32 | 6745074 pupdog1
pupdog1's picture

The Pentagon has become a cancer and a parasite.

800 million is a shitload of American taxpayer work product.

Until these monkeys are prosecuted and lose their pensions, this will continue.

 

NOTE TO ASH CARTER:

This one gets sent to my senator, who chairs the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

 

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:39 | 6745118 rejected
rejected's picture

Yea,,, I'll bet he'll be s h o c k e d!!!

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:41 | 6745127 Not My Real Name
Not My Real Name's picture

This one gets sent to my senator, who chairs the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Good idea. As soon as that letter hits the senator's desk you can bet the responsible parties will be held fully accountable and that this kind of waste will never ever happen again!

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:34 | 6745082 Nanur
Nanur's picture

$800,000,000???? That's nothing!  I heard about a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy that made almost $500 on a food stamp for cigarettes scam!  We gotta crack down on poor people fraud.  That's the REAL threat.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:51 | 6745176 Not My Real Name
Not My Real Name's picture

A government that has grown way beyond the original intent of the Founding Fathers: that's the REAL threat.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:37 | 6745106 rejected
rejected's picture

Moar Government theft and misuse of funds.... yawn...

What do you expect folks?

They sure as hell don't hide what they are these days. If no one intends to do anything about it then just STFU.

Oh,,, don't forgot to file your taxes soon,,, don't want to end up chained to a bed dying of cancer at 87 in the land of the free, home of the brave do ya?

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 15:56 | 6745209 larz
larz's picture

This movie has been playing in a non-stop loop since .... remember the $100,000 toilet seat? wtf

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 16:06 | 6745213 Sturm und Drang
Sturm und Drang's picture

Shocking and incredible it was only $800M.

 

"whether any conduct by TFBSO staff or contractors was criminal in nature". Why waste the time money and effort? DoJ won't prosecute UNLESS there's a political agenda to do so.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 16:09 | 6745313 simon.dc3
simon.dc3's picture

FINALLY! It looks like someone's painted big crosshairs on Paul Brinkley's ass (then Deputy Undersecretary of Defense who ran TFBSO at the time).
Can't wait to see where it leads.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 16:22 | 6745400 mastersnark
mastersnark's picture

Government contractors and their DC-employed counterparts are total scumbags, but damn...these pirates sure know how to make serious money.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 17:22 | 6745788 assistedliving
assistedliving's picture

I thnk SOPKO means TARGET in Greek or something.  I could do that gas station for $10M but not a penny less...

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 17:49 | 6745942 KCMLO
KCMLO's picture

Sopko better avoid any construction sites with nail guns in the forseeable future.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 18:06 | 6746041 prymythirdeye
prymythirdeye's picture

The U.S. spends more on war(defense, haa!) than all other countries combined.  These diabolical fucks can't spend the money fast enough.  Seriously ask yourself....WHO ARE OUR ENEMIES?......NO ONE, absolutely no one.    You've been had folks. "The table is tilted, folks. The game is rigged." - The great George Carlin

Greatest 3 Minutes of Spoken Word

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK84hwiVJEY

Greatest 2 Minutes of Spoken Word

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0mBAsIPS1w

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 18:06 | 6746042 localizer
localizer's picture

http://www.reuters.com/investigates/pentagon/#article/part1

Here's an interesting report on some "missing funds" that all Americans should read, the waste is EPIC!

Q: How much taxpayer money has the Defense Department spent that has never been audited since the 1996 deadline?
A: About $8.5 trillion.

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 18:40 | 6746173 yellowsub
yellowsub's picture

So what secret ops or people's pocket did the rest of the $799,500,000 go to?

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 23:20 | 6747174 squid
squid's picture

How do you think they're paying for the weapons drops into Syria?

 

Squid

Wed, 11/04/2015 - 06:55 | 6747805 dreadnaught
dreadnaught's picture

I think we are back to the days of the Pentagon paying $500 for a toilet seat, and $75 for a hammer to rebuild the ME

Tue, 11/03/2015 - 23:48 | 6747237 onmail1
onmail1's picture

Hah ha ha

<-- Satan America is now a third rate third world country

Slowly ppl will realize that American govt (the world looter) is now robbing its own people by wasting all the money it gets approved from its parliament in the name of defence and for the mirages it creates about the threats , threats which are its own creations like Al-Qaeda, ISIL.

Satan America creates terrorists in order to fool the American parliament to approve big money.

Wake up people , you are not living in a democratic country, your nation has been hijacked & is on the way to crash.

---------

They want bread, give them cake (old version)

They want marijuana, give them heroin (from afghan)

--------

Serendipity ...........enjoy

Wed, 11/04/2015 - 00:02 | 6747270 tool
tool's picture

You guys are totally confused. The taxes you pay are only symbolic or haven't you noticed your running a massive continuous mountain of debt. So technically its every other nation in the world buying your debts thats paying for it. Which also goes for everything that Americans jabber on about how great their country is like their space program. Its amazing what you can achieve when you have the global reserve currency and don't actually have to pay for things.

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!