Talk:Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction

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[edit] To whom did Bowen answer?

In a recent edit another contributor added that Bowen was appointed by the White House, and rumored to have reported directly to Bremer.

I believe this is incorrect. The whole point of an independent inspector general is that they are supposed to be independent of the body whose activities they are to provide oversight. They are not supposed to answer to them. Doing so would be a conflict of interest. Sure, they get a copy of the audits, but the IG doesn't answer to them.

Does anyone have a source for this rumor? If not I think it should be removed. -- Geo Swan 02:10, 15 August 2005 (UTC)

The assertion was not a rumor; instead was actually a fact. Readers see below for further details:

"In the fall of 2003, Congress created a CPA inspector general to oversee how the money was spent -- a post that eventually morphed into the job of inspector general for all Iraq reconstruction. The official would answer to Mr. Bremer, who headed the occupation authority, and present reports to Congress at least once every three months. The office was given a budget of $75 million.

At the request of the Bush administration, the job was created with many strings attached. Unlike other federal inspectors general, the new official was to be appointed by the secretary of defense, not the president, and wouldn't be subject to Senate confirmation. The White House also won the right to block the inspector general from releasing a report on national-security grounds -- though none have been blocked so far. Administration officials and many Congressional Republicans argued that the situation in Iraq was too chaotic to require normal oversight. They also cited the danger that an unfettered release of information could help insurgents plan more effective attacks against U.S. forces there.

Critics were skeptical that, under those conditions, the inspector general could offer real oversight. The skeptics weren't encouraged when, in January 2004, the White House tapped Mr. Bowen, perceived as a loyal Bush ally, to fill that position. Mr. Bowen, 47 years old, has an athlete's build and the bearing of the Air Force captain he once was. He usually keeps packed bags in his office near the Pentagon, along with his bulletproof vest, handy for his frequent trips to Baghdad."

Ironically, this piece was extracted from an article posted by Geo Swan under Paul Bremer. [1]

Let me cheerfully acknowledge that this single point I was skeptical about was verified. -- Geo Swan 17:43, 8 November 2005 (UTC)