Warning about corruption in the highest levels of the Iraqi government

Posted: Friday, September 07, 2007 5:10 PM by Daily Nightly Editor

by Aram Roston, investigative producer

Efforts to combat endemic corruption in Iraq have suffered a "disastrous" blow, American officials tell NBC News. The well regarded top anti-corruption fighter in the Iraqi government, whose investigations have exposed graft and fraud throughout the Maliki administration, has submitted his letter of resignation and is now in America. Judge Rahdi Hamza al-Rahdi ran Iraq's Commission on Public Integrity for more than three years and earned the respect of American law enforcement officials.

Now he tells NBC Nightly News that if he returns to Iraq he believes he'll be killed because of his investigations. He tells NBC Nightly News' Lisa Myers that while he does not believe Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki is corrupt, he believes much of his cabinet is. He says the prime minister protected his political constituents from investigation. Judge Radhi also tells NBC News he believes the U.S. government should stop supporting the Maliki government.

The news comes at an important time, just a week before General David Petraeus is to make his long awaited report on the effectiveness of the military "surge" in Iraq.

American officials believe Radhi will apply for political asylum in the U.S., an irony given that the U.S. is supporting the very Iraqi administration which he is seeking protection from.

Lashing back against Judge Radhi earlier this week, Prime Minister Maliki accused Judge Radhi of corruption, and an Iraqi parliamentarian tells NBC News there are 50 charges against Radhi. American officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say they put no credence in the Iraqi charges, and say they believe Judge Radhi in the dispute.

Radhi had opened investigations at the top levels of various ministries in Iraq, including the Ministry of Oil, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Transporation, and the Ministry of Health.

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Comments

Brian for years now we've heard about how made the Iraq army is and how they are still working for the enemy what's new. It was a good move on the White House's part to release the fake Osama tape. Now we are to believe that Osama's body has changed, gray hair turned black, he got shorter, face changed and the speech sounds like it was written by the White House. At lease with the headlines of the fake Osama video Petraeus report will lost the attention.

When Bush/Cheney are out of office Americans will see what really happen in Iraq and everything we're been told isn't all true. The dead will come back and the books will be written.

The Stock Market has lost again as the US loses thousands of jobs, while the Saudis have over 2 million job openings thanks to the money given by the White House. I felt bad for Paulson as he tried really hard to spin the recovery in one or two weeks. But when asked about the millions of Americans losing homes he didn't or couldn't explain that one. As he spoke of jobs gains we hear about thousands of jobs lost. I wish someone would just tell the truth so we can deal with it, but the lies only push us deeper in the hole.

Jackie Rawlings Riverside California (Sent Friday, September 07, 2007 5:28 PM)

I've followed Judge Radhi's story for years now so this is no surprise. I must admit NBC went out on a edge to report this truth. Now with Iraq having a corrupt government like ours how long do we wait for it to recover. We have until 2009 to get our act together. Now are we to believe that the White House didn't know what was going on or was this another secret. Judge Radhi started with trying to find out who stole Saddam/Iraq's money only to find out Bremmer was in charge and others helped. Some of the criminals are living large in England as did those Americans who got their share. PBS showed the names and places some of the Iraq money was delivered to. I don't' blame Judge Radhi for leaving when two governments are corrupt and the law doesn't count.

Jackie Rawlings Riverside California (Sent Saturday, September 08, 2007 2:02 AM)

I'd say that our members of congress are more discrete in there corrupt dealings.

Supposedly both parties and the congress have ethic committes however they are run by the people of the same parties.

I think that's referred to as "a fox taking care of the chickens" or something.

Dick, Minneapolis,MN. (Sent Monday, September 10, 2007 5:11 PM)

U.S. officials say they expect Rahdi to seek political asylum here, escaping threats from the very government America is supporting.

The al-Maliki government already has named his replacement at the Commission on Public Integrity, a man U.S. officials say was previously accused of corruption.

Enough! This one statement says it all, The time is now to impeach the Bush administration,

Bj Lee, Medford, oregon (Sent Monday, September 10, 2007 6:26 PM)

And this surprises anyone. Every unjustified invasion and toppling of a legitimate government in history has resulted in a puppet government propped up solely by the invading troops and little more than a sea of corruption. Not even Bush is dumb enough not to have seen this even though he never saw, or he ignored, any of the equally likely consequences of a ill conceived and utterly stupid act. Corruption is universal and a war, particularly a war without cause or reason, is the greatest breeder of such corruption. We'll just have to wait until 2009 to have any chance of freeing ourselves from the consequences of the greatest political, military, economic and ethical blunder in the history of our nation. We just have to remember that it is Bush and the Republicans who started this war, who have kept us in Afghanistan and Iraq for almost five years and who refuse to allow it to come to the end it should have reached four years ago, and make sure, however bumbling and inpotent their Democratic opponents may appear, that the Republicans are turned out and our nation begins its long road to recovery.

Lee DElaney (Sent Monday, September 10, 2007 11:19 PM)

The judge says we will stop supporting the Iraqi (non) government when we see that we are not getting results. Certainly the political results the surge were designed to produce are minimal. With the lack of water and electricity, it may well be that there is no functioning Iraqi government. Working from the bottom up then may be all that is left for us to do.

James Bachmann, Avondale, CO (Sent Monday, September 10, 2007 11:51 PM)

coruption in iraq ? well isn't that just dandy ?
in the news today i read "congress ok'd $ 1 bilion to
fix the nations bridges HOW PATHETIC ??? ($ 1 BILION)
I can't help but wander how much was( steel is being
) spent in iraq and what would that money have done to or for good old USA

JOHN DOE SEATLE WASH (Sent Tuesday, September 11, 2007 12:36 PM)

i spoke with someone at the governors office in georgia about stopping marth jones the (child custody predator for benefits) it's the same old story round & round we are sent.Kidnapping using the system to collect benefits for over 50 years,that last case in ellijay Ga. they said she would of gotten custody but shes to old now .Martha jones is the most powerful criminal with the justice system in her hands!

victor & elizabeth baker (Sent Tuesday, September 11, 2007 2:05 PM)

What is different about the Iraqi govt. and all the rest of the govt's. in the world? They all operate on graft and fraud in one way or the other. In my opinion!

jim miller (Sent Wednesday, September 12, 2007 6:32 AM)

The surge is working...?? Just how have we influenced/helped the Iraqi government to do its job ? We have given them more time to be even more corrupt...(it's called enabling). I ask again...the surge is working..? We are co-dependent on a world scale. Just pitiful.

Frank,Roanoke,VA (Sent Monday, September 17, 2007 8:10 PM)

It is so serious over there or is that it is so serious over HERE no it is a shame didn't these politicians teach them thieves well????

Harry Sutphin Munford Tn. (Sent Sunday, November 18, 2007 8:55 AM)

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