Sitting atop shifting sands, the Mosul Dam in western Iraq is precariously vulnerable to cavities that regularly form beneath it. If the holes grow large enough, they can threaten the dam’s structure, so engineers pump grout to fill them. After the 2003 US invasion, the Americans spent $27 million hoping to improve the situation. But when inspectors visited the site in 2007, they found $19.4 million worth of equipment and materials sitting idle: the money had been wasted. See also: Interactive guide to US reconstruction funds in Iraq Five ways to waste funds 1. Over-charging In September 2007, Anham, LLC was awarded a $300 million contract to operate and maintain two warehouse and distribution facilities. What SIGIR found Over 40 percent of costs were unreliable, with Anham subcontractor guilty of “egregious” overbilling, including a bill of $900 for a switch valued at $7.05. 2. Unwanted buildings In May 2004, American-led forces
Ben is a Beirut based investigative journalist. He served as Executive's resident data geek from 2013 to 2014, and as managing editor from 2014 to 2015.
