Former Iraqi Anti-Corruption Head Speaks at Rutgers University
A student newspaper just issued a long story based upon a recent speech by the former head of the Iraqi anti-corruption agency CPI (Commission of Public Integrity). It gives some details we haven't heard before. Click the link below.
Disturbing quotes:
"It's disheartening that they tried to set up this great organization and people died. If he doesn't know what to do, how do we know what to do?"
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Judge Radhi, Iraq's former corruption investigator
AN EPIC FIGHT
Former Iraqi Corruption Investigator Tells All at R-N
By: MERVE FEJZULA, OBSERVER STAFF WRITER
Posted: 11/18/08
Polls have shown that public opinion has turned overwhelmingly in favor of a withdrawal from the war in Iraq, a mission that some may see as hopeless and a waste of billions of dollars.
Judge Radhi Hamza al-Radhi al-Kenany, Iraq's former corruptions investigator, would agree that money is being lost, but he believes the mission is far from being futile.
In fact, his career has been built upon eradicating corruption and redirecting U.S. aid into rebuilding the country.
On Nov. 10, in an event sponsored by the Rutgers-Newark International Law Society, the Global Affairs Graduate Association, and Journal of Global Change and Governance of the Division of Global Affairs, he discussed his experiences investigating fraud in Iraq.
Many attendees were intent to hear about the perspective the Judge could offer. Helyett Harris, a Global Affairs Masters student attended because, she thought "it would be interesting to hear from an Iraqi on the current situation."
In the summer of 2004, Judge Radhi was selected from many applicants by Lewis Paul Bremer II of the US Coalition for Public Integrity to head Iraq's new independent agency to investigate corruption and hold Iraqi officials accountable.
Under him, the Commission for Public Integrity, CPI, expanded to include 1030 employees.
"This represented a first in Iraq and perhaps even a first in the Middle East," said Judge Radhi of the creation of CPI.
In a country where corruption is becoming so widespread that it has forestalled much reconstruction, CPI investigated almost 3,000 corruption cases totaling $18 billion in fraud.
Although only 241 cases resulted in guilty verdicts, it was considerable in the face of organized government corruption - Mafia-like in its fraud and threats against law enforcers such as those in CPI.
As his investigations continued, Radhi began to notice disturbing connections between the fraud and the insurgency. In the elections, voters were often coerced into voting for the radical Islamic parties.
"The Islamic religious groups in power; they have no experience in administration of government. They are all political. How can they control the country?" said Radhi.
These corrupt political groups are the very ones that are receiving money from the US to help reconstruct the country.
Instead of building it up, they take the money for themselves, the Judge found, or even worse, redirected it to insurgent groups.
"In western countries, they steal maybe ten percent but build 90 percent. In Iraq, they steal 80 percent and only build 20 percent," he said.
He also cited the loss of the border as a significant contributor to the influx of terrorism. When the US forces came in, they dissolved the Ministry of the Interior in the Civilian Police.
This had disastrous consequences, since it allowed terrorists to freely travel in and out of the unprotected borders.
The flooding of Iraq with criminals has robbed much of the reconstruction money, essentially causing possible foreign investors to flee.
The much-discussed oil revenue, which was supposed to finance the country's reconstruction, is controlled by sectarian groups that smuggle the oil to fund their terrorist groups.
In the Ministry of Defense, Radhi and his investigators gathered evidence of massive war contract fraud. The government had just purchased $1 billion worth of new weapons from the US. When the militia needed the weapons in a battle in Basra, the ones they received were old and outdated.
The money had just disappeared, and it took Judge Radhi's team to uncover the web of connections that incidents like these involved.
As they dug deeper, it became clear that a majority of the officials in government were connected to some form of corruption.
Thirty cases involved high-level officials, and Radhi realized that the corruption had infiltrated "almost every ministry of the current government."
This put him in an awkward position with the United States. Officials like President al-Maliki had been handpicked by the US.
CPI's investigations were calling into question appointments by the US government.
When he testified in front of the Senate Committee on Foreign Policy and House Committees on Oversight and Government Reform about his experiences with CPI, many were unreceptive to reports that contradicted with the progress suggested by General Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Cocker in their testimonies.
The investigations put CPI officials in even more of a quandary with their own government.
CPI had earned the anger of a wide network of corrupt Iraqi officials and their cronies. As investigations probed into corruption, the amount of deaths in the organization increased to 35, and the judge reported horrific cases of torture.
"They could not catch one man, but they did get his father. They drilled his body. He was 70 years old," he said.
President Nouri al-Maliki repeatedly tried to curb CPI's efforts. When a case began to be gathered against Salam al-Maliki, the President's cousin, the President dismissed the case.
Other investigations were similarly cut off, but the biggest blow came during President Maliki's trip to the US in August.
A new provision in the Iraqi constitution required that all cases be approved by the president before prosecution, effectively ending CPI's independence.
Although there had always been threats to Judge Radhi's life, the violence escalated after this announcement. Two missiles were fired at his house at different times and although both missed, the message was clear: it was no longer safe for Radhi to remain in Iraq.
In late 2007, Radhi applied for political asylum in the US. Here with his family and security personnel, a total of 11 people, he has been living as a refugee, but although he is safer, other worries now plague him.
"The law for refugees in the US is very bad. My wife and I are without funds for 3 months because the government will not allow us more money," he said.
Economic worries are at the top of his list, since it is difficult for Radhi to find a job suitable to his knowledge and experience because of the language barrier. Without perfect English, he cannot have a career in law as he did in his own country.
When the floor was opened up to questions, a number of audience members were interested in getting his position on the US's entrance into the war and whether they should remain.
"Iraqis came here [to the US] back then and asked the President to enter Iraq," he replied, citing the violence and fear under Saddam Hussein's reign.
He also wished that America would remain, talking about petitions circulating against the US's withdrawal in Iraq. "We need change, it is a crisis. We must stay and help Iraq."
CPI, he suggested, is essential to the success of that mission and its independence should be a crucial part of the US's agenda.
Retired Brigadier General Richard O'Meara gave the closing remarks. He retired from the Army in 2006 after 35 years of service and teaches at R-N and Richard Stockton College. He identified Judge Radhi as "a beacon of integrity."
Referencing his own work and the larger project of peacekeeping missions in countries, he said, "As frustrating as it is, it is really neat to do. The work is hard but incredibly rewarding."
When he finished, refreshments were laid out and the attendees mingled, many still lining up to pose questions to Judge Radhi.
Zainab Awelenje, a Global Affairs major, said she was "inspired by the effort that he made, some would have probably given up a long time ago."
Law alumn Brittany Wilcox,similarly felt inspired, but also worried about the meaning of his having to escape.
"It's disheartening that they tried to set up this great organization and people died. If he doesn' t know what to do, how do we know what to do?"
For Judge Radhi, he wishes for a chance to return. "I like my country. I like my people. I like where I laughed, where I was educated, where I ate. I want to serve them," he joked.
"I said to my American friends, 'Send me there as an American.'"
© Copyright 2008 Observer
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