Politics

Chairman Waxman Writes to Secretary Rice on Embassy in Iraq

By Jesse Lee

Today Chairman Henry Waxman of the Oversight Committee wrote to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice regarding new documents that identify ?critical? and ?major? deficiencies in the construction of the new U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, raising questions about the decision of the State Department to certify in December that the Embassy compound was ?substantially complete.? The letter reads in part:

The inspection reports raise serious questions about status of the Embassy project and the December decision to certify substantial compliance. Additional questions are raised by evidence implicating key figures in the construction and certification of the Embassy in fraudulent and corrupt acts. The official who signed the certificate of substantial completion is Mary French. According to news accounts, her conduct is being investigated by the Justice Department for possible criminal misconduct. The managing partner of First Kuwaiti is Wadhi El Absi. According to Justice Department documents released by the Committee, he paid over $200,000 in illegal kickbacks to a federal contractor in Iraq.

The Committee?s hearing on March 12 will explore these issues. I ask that you make Richard J. Shinnick, Acting Director for the Office of Overseas Building Operations, available to testify at this hearing.

· Review of Sprinkler System (pdf) >>
· Review of Fire Water Supply System (pdf) >>
· Review of Notifier Fire Alarm Systems (pdf) >>
· Review of Kitchen Suppression Systems (pdf) >>
· Overseas Building Operations Inspection Report (pdf) >>

Full letter to Secretary Rice (pdf): (more…)

Full post as published by The Gavel on February 29, 2008 (boomark / email).