Bill Delahunt: “They are eroding the confidence of the American people in this institution; and I would hope that they would reflect…”

“They are eroding the confidence of the American people in this institution; and I would hope that they would reflect, stop, and change course. Because if it continues, it is demeaning to this institution, and it is eroding our democracy. If I can, just for one moment, let me hold up this chart. The gentlewoman earlier talked about the monies that have been expended by American taxpayers in Iraq. There are an abundance of reports from a variety of sources about Iraq reconstruction. The biggest corruption scandal in history. I serve as the senior Democrat, the so-called ranking member on a subcommittee of International Relations that ought to be looking into these assertions and allegations. I do not know if they are true. We have had colleagues that have corresponded seeking to have hearings. This is just some of the quotes. ``It is possibly one of the largest thefts in history.'' This is the Iraqi finance minister speaking about more than $1 billion missing from the Iraqi Defense Ministry. ``This country is filled with projects that were never completed or were completed and have never been used.'' This is a U.S. civil affairs officer who asked not to be identified. ``We were told to stimulate the economy any way we can, and a lot of money was wasted in the process.'' That is Captain Kelly Mims, part of the Army liaison team in Falujah. ``We were squandering the money we were entrusted to handle.…”