War & Disaster Profiteering

One claimed a travel agent sent him to Kuwait from where he was forced to go to Iraq. He was held captive in Iraq and forced to work for several hours every day for a pittance. Read More

Privatizing many military support operations in combat zones may have yielded savings in reduced overhead. But human trafficking practiced by some foreign subcontractors - involving forced prostitution and forced labor - has tarnished our reputation. Read More

A human trafficking bill seen as a tougher upgrade to current laws is set to be signed into law by President Bush. However, concerns are being raised about enforcement of 2003 trafficking laws applying to U.S. government overseas contractors. Read More

Given the "significant" sum involved, the length of the audit process and the fact that $1.2 billion has been spent on the contract, the International Advisory and Monitoring Board called on Washington to "seek resolution" with the Iraqi Government on the possible improper use of resources. Read More

The Board had consistently raised concerns about inadequate controls over Iraqi oil and other aspects of IDF's operation. Read More

A proposal prohibiting defense contractor involvement in human trafficking for forced prostitution and labor was drafted by the Pentagon last summer, but five defense lobbying groups oppose key provisions and a final policy still appears to be months away. Read More

Military experts say the lawsuit highlights legal gray zones, a lack of regulation and little oversight of a booming global industry. Read More

The contract to operate the Los Alamos Nuclear Laboratory goes to a public-private partnership: the University of California and Bechtel - the largest private corporation in America, and one with a long history of scandal and not living up to expectations. Read More

Britain is to supply Saudi Arabia with Typhoon jets in a massive deal reported to be worth up to 70 billion dollars, that primarily benefits British company BAE Systems, the Ministry of Defence said. Read More

Less than three years after Sept. 11, the brief but uninspiring history of DHS proves how little has actually changed in Washington, where the institutional cultivation of influence peddling, cronyism, and waste continues to thrive unimpeded. Read More