Endemic Corruption
Nov 2nd, 2009 • Posted in: What They're Saying
“The endemic corruption within the Iraqi system — not only the security forces, but the system — is still probably the biggest problem facing Iraq.”
– U.S. general Ray Odierno, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq since September 2008, speaking recently with the BBC. The New York Times includes Odierno’s comment in a piece examining the pervasive corruption in Iraq as highlighted in a new report by Iraq’s Interior Ministry inspector general.
While that report focuses on the country’s security forces, the Times notes that Iraqi “corruption runs much deeper, endangering the fragile sense of security in Iraq as America draws down its forces, with security services that seem aimed as much at enriching themselves as protecting average Iraqis.” The report notes that “in the first six months of this year, 1,455 arrest warrants have been issued by the Iraqi Commission of Public Integrity, in charge of corruption prosecutions.”
Source: New York Times, Oct. 28.
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