Corruption in Iraq??? Gasp, gasp, triple-gasp!

Apparently, corruption is more and more of a problem in Iraq. In fact, according to Transparency International, Iraq is in danger of becoming "the biggest corruption scandal in history." Furthermore, the United States "has been a poor role model in how to keep corrupt processes at bay." Really? You mean, letting the target of an audit edit that audit for release to the United Nations isn't an example of good, transparent governance? No, I guess we haven't been a very good role model.

The silliest part of all this is we're going to try and put Paul Wolfowitz in charge of the World Bank. Here's a section from the BBC article about the Transparency International Report:

Companies found guilty of bribery should forfeit the relevant contract and should be prevented from bidding for similar work. Tendering processes should be open to public scrutiny and independent oversight.

The World Bank - which since last year has required all companies awarded large-scale projects under its control to sign an anti-bribery agreement - said the report highlighted issues of "deep concern".

"The diversion of funds from publicly financed projects represents an unacceptable tax on the poor," said World Bank president James Wolfensohn.

"In the construction sector, it represents a deplorable opportunity lost for the delivery of essential services and it undermines citizen trust in government."

Wolfowitz, the man that helped ensure Haliburton got a no-bid contract to do construction and supply work for the Pentagon and the Iraqi authorites, and has not cancelled that contract despite Haliburton's loss of millions of dollars, and further allowed Haliburton to edit its own audits, will be in charge of an organization that gives out hundreds of billions of dollars of contracts each year. Excellent. Now the World Bank can be a super-good role model for Iraq too!