I'm glad to see our tax dollars used on such import stuff.

[George Hill]

http://www.nandotimes.com/politics/s...-3342922c.html

By LISA HOFFMAN. Scripps Howard News Service


WASHINGTON (May 30, 2002 11:47 p.m. EDT) - A $24,000 sofa and armchair; an $1,800 pillow; and $45,800 in silver and china - such accoutrements would cause little surprise if found in the abodes of the wealthy and well-known.

But government auditors discovered these pricey items - and many more - not in a mansion but at Air Force and Army bases in Saudi Arabia, the rest of the Persian Gulf, Europe and the Balkans.

In a just-released report, the General Accounting Office informed Congress that its auditors found a number of "seemingly unneeded expenditures" made by the Air Force and Army in 2000 and 2001.

"As much as $101 million in contingency operations funds were spent on questionable expenditures" - a small fraction of the estimated $2.2 billion examined by the investigators, but troubling nonetheless, the report said.

Among those were $4,600 worth of "white beach sand" for an air base in the Arabian desert and a $3,400 Sumo wrestling suit for another.

The Army came in for criticism for duplicating purchases of computers and office equipment at its bases in Bosnia to the tune of $2.3 million.

Rather than using equipment already there or sharing new items, four successive Army units heading for Bosnia purchased their own sets of equipment, the GAO said.

That struck the auditors as particularly wasteful, given that the Army has stocked more than 2,000 computers, 865 printers, 91 copiers and "a multitude of other office equipment" in the area. However, Army officials said that differences in missions and training of the various units serving in Bosnia necessitated some of the equipment purchases.

The auditors blamed Pentagon and Army superiors for failing to provide the clear guidance and strict oversight needed to rein in such practices.

The Air Force was also criticized for an array of what the GAO deemed unjustified and excessive spending, including:

- At al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, the service bought a $2,200 coffee table.

- At Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, it bought a $24,000 loveseat and arm chair and $9,800 of Halloween decorations.

- At al Jaber Air Base in Saudi Arabia, the questionable spending included an $1,800 "executive high-back" pillow, a $3,000 computer tutorial titled "The Intelligent Investor," and $19,000 worth of decorative "river rock."

- At various Air Force installations in the Persian Gulf region, the service bought a $35,000 golf cart, a $16,000 corporate golf membership and $5,333 in golf passes. Military experts said such recreational items can be a useful tool for building good relations with officials of a host country, whom base officers can invite for, say, a friendly round or two of golf.

The GAO report said Pentagon officials generally agreed that better oversight is needed to prevent wasteful spending.

$35,000 for a damn Golf Cart.

[Kharn]

George: Well, they gotta fund Area 51 somehow.

Kharn

[Kaylee]

Gosh guys... we need to spend this money before the quarter ends, or we won't get it in next year's budget! Can you think of anything we..um....need?

gov't types.

ick.

[Betty]

At my dad's hardware store, the county judge would charge personal items to the city. I'm sure the townsfolk would like to know how the fancy new leather saddle was "for the city". And you could always tell when he was doing extensive home repairs.

So I had a little fun and asked him for his ID when he wrote a check. He fluffed up and did his best "Don't you KNOW who I AM!"

[Karanas]

Couldn't they just order a size xxxxxlg thong from JC Penney's?

[foghornl]

George:
I have a $30 "Knight" brand pull-cart. Never needs fuel, recharging, etc. Does't get stuck in the sand, either. Maybe the gubmint could buy some of these ? ? ? ? ?

[ojibweindian]

Kaylee is exactly right.

[Greg L]

Actually the sumo suit is kind of fun. They had one (two actually) as the between periods entertainment at a hockey game earlier this year. It is a suit (overalls) that you wear that then gives you roughly the dimensions of a sumo wrestler. I think that it weighs 100 lbs or so. Anyway once both contestants are dressed they run at each other and bounce off of each other and generally try to imitate sumo wrestlers.

Not sure that I want to pay for this through my taxes, but it was fun to watch.

Greg

[DadOfThree]

The auditors blamed Pentagon and Army superiors for failing to provide the clear guidance and strict oversight needed to rein in such practices.

The Pentagon didn't specifically say not to buy a $24,000 sofa or not to import sand to the desert. So that's the problem.

[Kaboom]

Runt the comment to "Don't you know who I am" by the judge should have been yes, the county thief.

[40ozflatfoot]

Whoever heard of a perfumed prince without his perfume?

Oh yeah, almost forgot. Now you know who to blame when the Forest Service complains that they didn't have enough money to get enough equipment and firefighters to put out the fires sooner.

But don't worry. They'll still have plenty of money to continue the IRS audits, maintain the NICS system, and keep Carnivore fed.