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The struggle to police foreign subcontractors in Iraq and Afghanistan

By Nick Schwellenbach and Lagan Sebert

To win hearts and minds in Afghanistan and Iraq, military experts want U.S. companies to contract with local firms for a variety of tasks li

Excerpts from this story referencing "Baghdad":

"… ing to sway the award of more subcontracts, were sneaking prostitutes into Baghdad’s Green Zone by abusing their security access cards.A woman’s quest fo …"

"… ctice for subcontractors to provide prostitutes at these parties” inside Baghdad’s Green Zone, the source of the video said in a 2007 interview with inve …"

"… comment.Other allegations accuse Iraqi contractors of similar abuses. The Baghdad-based Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq, in a report issued in Mar …"

Concerns mounting over billion-dollar construction projects in Afghanistan

By Laurel Adams

A major construction project to build 900 security sites for the Afghanistan National Security Forces is so poorly planned that $11.4 billio

Excerpts from this story referencing "Afghanistan":

"… Archives) …"

"… ion is at risk, according to an audit by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.Additional infrastructure is needed as the number of securi …"

"… Additional infrastructure is needed as the number of security personnel in Afghanistan grows rapidly. Those forces are expected to reach 305,600 by this fall, an …"

"… imb to 400,000 by 2013.The multinational military command working with the Afghanistan National Security Forces could not provide plans or justifications for bui …"

Corruption still threatens U.S. efforts in Afghanistan

By Aaron Mehta

As U.S. heads for the door in Afghanistan, persistent corruption threatens to undermine development efforts there.

Excerpts from this story referencing "Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction":

"… $100 billion the U.S. has spent on reconstruction efforts since 2002. U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction Steven Trent warned that deep corruption persists in the country, and can …"

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Experienced watchdog appointed for U.S. spending in Afghanistan

By Aaron Mehta

A veteran investigator fills one of ten vacant Inspector General jobs.

Excerpts from this story referencing "Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction":

"… ced that the veteran investigator is their pick for the vacant position of Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), a key watchdog role as the U.S. draws down its forces in the coun …"

U.S. official says government wasted $6-8 billion in Iraq reconstruction

By Zach Toombs and Aaron Mehta

The special inspector general for Iraq tallies the loss of U.S. taxpayer funds at more than 11 percent of the billions spent

Excerpts from this story referencing "Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction":

"… or those depicted in similar reports by its cousin, the office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. In a May report to Congress, for example, that office concluded that “c …"

Millions of dollars in U.S. aid wasted in Afghanistan

By Zach Toombs

Government watchdog finds many examples of failed construction projects.

Excerpts from this story referencing "Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction":

"… the base at risk for abandonment as well, according to a new report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.John Sopko, a former deputy director at Homeland Security and prosecutor w …"

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More waste found in Afghanistan as US heads for the exit

By Douglas Birch

The US effort in Afghanistan has been repeatedly tainted by poor planning and corruption, says inspector general

Excerpts from this story referencing "Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction":

"… eaded to Russia. But according to the latest report by John F. Sopko, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, inspectors found a nearly deserted compound. All but three of the 12 buil …"