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Daily Archives: October 24, 2007

House Budget Cmte. Hearing: The Growing Budgetary Costs of the Iraq War

House Budget Committee hearing: The Growing Budgetary Costs of the Iraq War, Wednesday, October 24, 2007. Witness statements as follows:

  • Dr. Peter Orszag, Director, Congressional Budget Office: Testimony on Estimated Costs of U.S. Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and of Other Activities Related to the War on Terrorism
  • Testimony of Amy Belasco, Congressional Research Service: “…CRS estimates that Congress has provided about $651 billion to date for Iraq, Afghanistan and enhanced security at defense bases…”
  • Testimony of Professor Linda Bilmes, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University: “…the monthly total for the conflict [in Iraq and Afghanistan is]…an average of $14 billion…Department of Defense and accounting and reporting systems make it very difficult to know exactly where the money is being spent…”
  • OCLC Report: Sharing, Privacy and Trust in Our Networked World

    OCLC press release and related links: “The practice of using a social network to establish and enhance relationships based on some common ground—shared interests, related skills, or a common geographic location—is as old as human societies, but social networking has flourished due to the ease of connecting on the Web. This OCLC membership report explores… Continue Reading

    New From EIA: International Energy Annual 2005 and Cost and Quality of Fuels for Electric Plants 2005 and 2006 Report

    International Energy Annual 2005 (10/24/2007): The International Energy Annual 2005 is the Energy Information Administration’s primary report of international energy statistics. Included are data on energy consumption and production; overviews of petroleum, natural gas, coal, and electricity, as well as carbon dioxide emissions from the use of fossil fuels, petroleum prices, energy reserves, and population;… Continue Reading

    SIGIR Audit: Interim Report on Efforts and Further Actions Needed to Implement a Financial Management System in Iraq

    Interim Report [Number 08-001] on Efforts and Further Actions Needed to Implement a Financial Management System in Iraq, October 24, 2007 “This report discusses a contract between the U.S. Agency for International Development and Bearing Point, Inc. for a broad range of tasks related to economic and financial reforms for Iraq. One of the task… Continue Reading

    DOJ OIG Statement – Senate Hearing on Building an Effective Terrorist Screening System

    Statement of Glenn A. Fine, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Justice before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs concerning Watching the Watchlist: Building an Effective Terrorist Screening System, October 24, 2007. Available in either PDF or HTML. Related government documents: Press release: “Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn,… Continue Reading

    New GAO Reports: CFTC, VA and DOD Medical Info Sharing, Private Pensions, Secure Border Initiative

    Commodity Futures Trading Commission: Trends in Energy Derivatives Markets Raise Questions about CFTC’s Oversight, GAO-08-174T, October 24, 2007 Information Technology: VA and DOD Continue to Expand Sharing of Medical Information, but Still Lack Comprehensive Electronic Medical Records, GAO-08-207T, October 24, 2007 Measuring Our Nation’s Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability: Highlights of a Forum Jointly Convened… Continue Reading

    Climate Science Watch Posts Draft CDC Testimony Edited Prior to Delivery

    Government Accountability Project (GAP): “The White House is coming under fire for “watering down” Senate testimony from the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention delivered yesterday regarding the impact climate change is having on public health. Climate Science Watch, a GAP program focused on holding public officials accountable for the ways climate… Continue Reading