This story is just plain sickening. While many of our brave soldiers are being killed and wounded in Iraq's never-ending conflict, it seems like some are using the war as an opportunity to get rich by taking bribes.
Army Major John Cockerham and his wife Melissa have been arrested for taking around $11.7 million in bribes from companies seeking military contracts. Cockerham worked as a contracting officer for the military in Kuwait in 2004 and 2005. If the bribes amounted to $11.7 million, imagine the total value of the illegally-awarded contracts.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Pamela Mathy ordered the couple held without bond because of the flight risk they posed. As far as I'm concerned they can throw away the key on this couple
Whatever happened to bidding on contracts, or even better, purchasing the best equipment and services available for our soldiers? This major didn't just sell out his country, he sold out his own Army comrades. Despicable!
And yet I wonder, is this very different from the no-bid contracts worth billions that were awarded by Bush and Cheney to Halliburton (the very company Cheney headed before becoming vice-president)? When will we find out how much was given or promised to get those contracts?
Let's get our soldiers out of this mess. They shouldn't have to give their lives so the corrupt and the rich can reap windfall profits.
No comments:
Post a Comment
ANONYMOUS COMMENTS WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED. And neither will racist,homophobic, or misogynistic comments. I do not mind if you disagree, but make your case in a decent manner.