Tag Archives: corruption

International, U.S.

U.S. supported corruption in Afghanistan, Courts convict 60 Afghan judges, another 1,000 suspects

March 1, 2012, the Supreme Court of Afghanistan announced that 60 former judges were convicted on corruption charges.  The majority worked in Kabul, and took bribes.

Another 1,000 people are under investigation for corruption! Those people do not work for the Afghan court system, but they acted as go betweens for the bribing of judges.

In 2011, several U.S. court cases showed that most of the corruption in Afghanistan, involving contractors, was instigated by U.S. forces who oversaw the funding of those contractors.

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

United Corrupt Police States of America: It’s official, major U.S. cities, and their police departments, are rife with corruption!

The Chicago Tribune has published a report by the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the University of Illinois’ Institute of Government and Public Affairs.

That report says the public officials, including the police, of major cities in the United States are corrupt!  The study is based on federal court cases.

Percentage wise, Louisiana had the most corrupt officials.  Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania took the next three highest per capita positions for corruption.

When looking just at the number of cases, New York state was number one, followed by California and Illinois.

The study did not break down the types of corruption, but ‘public corruption’ includes bogus contracts, bribes, out right theft, ghost payrolling and police brutality.   Remember, the study is based on corruption cases that actually made it to federal court, so you can imagine just how corrupt your public officials really are!

 

International, U.S.

Afghanistan corruption linked directly to U.S. military

“[They] discussed the history of America and how it was built on the back of others, ultimately concluding that ‘fleecing the government’ was the American way.”-statement by prosecutors concerning corruption charges against U.S. military officers in Afghanistan

Recently an Afghan contractor plead guilty in U.S. court, to bribing U.S. military officers.  Those officers did not come forward with the crime, instead they committed the crime.

The prosecution is recommending one year for the Afghan contractor, because they say his bribery was typical, and he actually did a good job as a contractor.  But the case against the Afghan contractor is actually part of an investigation into corruption inside the United States military.

In most cases, U.S. military officers in Afghanistan decide what contractor will get the job.  Many Afghans have responded to complaints of corruption by saying they have to bribe the U.S. in order to get the job.

Currently two Illinois National Guard officers, and one USAF Sergeant, are facing corruption charges.  They were taking bribes from potential contractors in Afghanistan.  One of the National Guardsmen admitted to the crime.  Both Guardsmen were mailing the cash back home.  One of the packages was intercepted by Customs in the United Kingdom, upon inspection $10,000 was found inside.

Afghan contractors say one of the National Guard officers told them they were in Afghanistan to become rich.

 

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Proof that Congress is Above the Law: Insider Trading. Idaho Senator Crapo Involved

Ever wonder why our Federal government does little, or nothing, when it comes to finance reform, or investment reform?  Maybe it’s because they’re getting rich from insider trading.  And it’s legal for them, but not for us.

Members of Congress participate in a 9-11 remembrance ceremony on the East Front steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on September 15, 2010. UPI/Roger L. Wollenberg Photo via Newscom

It is against the law to buy and sell stocks based on information that the general public is not privy too, unless you are a member of Congress, or a Congressional Staff member.  Can you say legalized corruption?  The Wall Street Journal recently reported that congressional staff members are making stock trades that are directly related to their jobs.  What a deal!  Your job is to create laws and policies, that regulate the investment industry, and as a result you to know all kinds of details that the public would never know and allows you to make trades based on that info!  And, you make it illegal for anyone else to do the same!

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 13: U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) listens during a hearing before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee on Capitol Hill November 13, 2008 in Washington, DC. The hearing was focused on 'Oversight of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act: Examining Financial Institution Use of Funding Under the Capital Purchase Program.' (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Senator Mike Crapo (R), Idaho

A staffer, Karen Brown, working for Idaho’s Senator Mike Crapo (R), is reported to have made several trade deals with Bank of America (a leading home fore-closer bank), making her an investment gain of 43%.  When asked by the Wall Street Journal about it, Senator Crapo said the trades were made by Mrs. Brown’s husband, and that she would be amending her disclosure forms to show that.  The problem with that answer is that, as of October 23rd, Karen Brown’s latest disclosure forms shows her making additional Bank of America stock purchases.

This year, Represenative Brian Baird (D), of Washington, tried to get Congress to pass a bill that would make it illegal for them to do insider trading.  In the House of Representatives only 9 members endorsed the bill.  In the Senate no one endorsed it.  That should tell you that they all need to be fired!