Audit: Process, not Performance, Faulted in Bechtel's Iraq Work
The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction offered a mixed review of 24 projects carried out under a $1.3–billion contract with San Francisco–based Bechtel Corp. In a July 24 audit of Bechtel's spending under its phase II reconstruction contract, SIGIR noted that while the contract accomplished a substantial amount of work–particularly in the electricity, water and sanitation sectors–ten projects fell short of achieving original objectives.
"For a variety of reasons–either through government adjustments of scope or cancellations–a number of the task orders didn't get completed," says Stuart Bowen, Special Inspector General for Iraq.