well, it still has a pulse:

A BBC investigation estimates that around $23bn (£11.75bn) may have been lost, stolen or just not properly accounted for in Iraq.

The BBC's Panorama programme has used US and Iraqi government sources to research how much some private contractors have profited from the conflict and rebuilding.

A US gagging order is preventing discussion of the allegations.

The order applies to 70 court cases against some of the top US companies.

War profiteering

While Presdient George W Bush remains in the White House, it is unlikely the gagging orders will be lifted.

To date, no major US contractor faces trial for fraud or mismanagement in Iraq.

The president's Democratic opponents are keeping up the pressure over war profiteering in Iraq.

Henry Waxman, who chairs the House committee on oversight and government reform, said: "The money that's gone into waste, fraud and abuse under these contracts is just so outrageous, it's egregious.

"It may well turn out to be the largest war profiteering in history."

In the run-up to the invasion, one of the most senior officials in charge of procurement in the Pentagon objected to a contract potentially worth $7bn that was given to Halliburton, a Texan company which used to be run by Dick Cheney before he became vice-president.

Unusually only Halliburton got to bid - and won.

Missing billions

The search for the missing billions also led the programme to a house in Acton in west London where Hazem Shalaan lived until he was appointed to the new Iraqi government as minister of defence in 2004.

He and his associates siphoned an estimated $1.2bn out of the ministry. They bought old military equipment from Poland but claimed for top-class weapons.

Meanwhile they diverted money into their own accounts.

Judge Radhi al-Radhi of Iraq's Commission for Public Integrity investigated.

He said: "I believe these people are criminals.

"They failed to rebuild the Ministry of Defence, and as a result the violence and the bloodshed went on and on - the murder of Iraqis and foreigners continues and they bear responsibility."

Mr Shalaan was sentenced to two jail terms but he fled the country.

He said he was innocent and that it was all a plot against him by pro-Iranian MPs in the government.

There is an Interpol arrest warrant out for him but he is on the run - using a private jet to move around the globe.

He stills owns commercial properties in the Marble Arch area of London.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7444083.stm

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I know we discussed this a lot on here back when allegations against Haliburton first materialised, but frankly, I don't think we were close to understanding the full scale of this situation, the number of corporations and sums of money involved.

unsurprisingly, Bush is trying to protect his corporate buddies and avoid seeing out his final year with this scandal in the public domain by suppresing discussion. I suspect this would continue a further 4 years unless Obama wins the election in November, or a court of law overturns the gagging order in any one of the cases. we have to hope the Democrats keep pressing on this issue and not allow it be swept under the carpet. criminal proceedings should be brought at every level against those whose incompetence allowed this situation to fester... and also against those who exploited it to the full.

the documentary isn't online yet, I'll try remember to link it when possible.
$23 billion is crazy money to lose like this in an already expensive occupation, testicles should be castrated over this!