Democratic congressman Henry Waxman is asking some serious questions of George Bush and the CPA in Iraq about the awarding of contracts to American rather than Iraqi firms and the lack of transparency in such deals.
As a nation, we have a vital interest in a successful reconstruction operation in Iraq. But we also have a vital interest in keeping costs reasonable and providing job opportunities to Iraqis. These goals are not in conflict, but they cannot be achieved without a far greater commitment to transparency and accountability by this Administration.
