• CNN CROSSFIRE April 18, 2002; For more information on EPA Ombudsman

"Right now we have zero probability of intercepting a ballistic missile, and some judgment will have to be made as to whether anything greater than zero is useful."

—Missile Defense Agency boss Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronald Kadish

• Predator Tests Raise Questions, By Ron Laurenzo and John M. Donnelly, Defense Week, March 18, 2002; For more information on the Missile Defense, Fighting with Failures Series or other Defense Investigations.

"We hate like the dickens to charge so much [for military weapons]," he said. "But I hate to pay Lipton a small fortune every morning for tea bags with the caffeine removed. It all evens out in the end." – Jack Welch, CEO of General Electric

—“Weapons of Teeny Boo-boos,” by Dennis Hans, AlterNet, February 19, 2002; For more information on the Wasteful Defense Spending, or other Defense Investigations.

If military justice is to justice as military music is to music, then both are like what military accounting is to accounting. Every year, the Pentagon can't keep track of billions of dollars. I doubt anyone can remember when the department got a clean auditor's opinion. Defense makes Enron and Arthur Anderson look like paragons of number-crunching.

"Sorting Military Spending From Squandering - Here Are Some Key Things to Watch for in the Huge Defense-Budget Boost that Bush is Requesting." by Stan Crock, Business Week Online, January 31, 2002.

For more information on the Wasteful Defense Spending, or other Defense Investigations.

"Flying a 757, or a 767, is a lot more sophisticated than what we're discussing here."

Ron Timm, a former Department of Energy security contractor said in describing the level of expertise necessary to detonate a nuclear device at the nuclear weapons facilities. New York Times, January 23, 2002.

• Ron Timm’s statement at Markey Press conference, January 23, 2002.

• U.S. Nuclear Weapons Complex: Security At Risk, POGO Report, October 2001.

"I would also like to say that about this Boeing proposal I don't think I have ever seen a proposal that makes less sense economically - and it is a big statement to say as Senator McCain and I have been here together 22 years."

"I am not aware there has ever been a worse proposal in the 22 years we have served together. If so, I have never seen it. I mean, that is a big statement. Some people may think that is an overstatement - and maybe we are proned toward it - but I do not think, in the 22 years I have been here, I have ever seen anything to equal this Boeing lease agreement."

Statement by Senator Phil Gram (R-TX) on the Senate Floor, December 7, 2001.

For more information on Contractor Bailout

"The B-1 has finally found an adversary it can compete with.
A country that is totally defenseless."

Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute, "Maligned B-1 Bomber Now Proving Its Worth," Los Angeles Times, December 12, 2001.

For more information on the Fighting with Failures Series, Wasteful Defense Spending, or other Defense Investigations.

"You don't have to be a military expert to understand that America's muscle-bound military of the future will be obsolete before it's even operational."

Expensive Weapons Gathering Dust, Retired Vice Admiral Jack Sahanahan is a former commander of the U.S. Second Fleet and heads the Military Advisory Committee of Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities, Forth Worth Star-Telegram, December 3, 2001.

For more information on the Fighting with Failures Series, Wasteful Defense Spending, or other Defense Investigations.

“It didn't take long for the war time opportunists –
the mercenaries of Washington, the lobbyist, lawyers and political fundraisers –
to crawl out of their offices on K street determined to grab what they can for their clients.”

Bill Moyers, October 16, 2001

For more information on the Fighting with Failures Series, Wasteful Defense Spending, or other Defense Investigations.

"I have yet to find a general who says we need more B-2s.”

Air Force Secretary James G. Roche, pointing out that the planes cannot fly at supersonic speeds, can only operate under cover of night, require climate-controlled hangars to protect their radar-resistant coatings and are only suited for attacking stationary targets.

"Air Force Chief Opposes Purchase of More B-2s" Washington Post, October 24, 2001.

For more information on the B-2 Bomber, Fighting with Failures Series, Wasteful Defense Spending, or other Defense Investigations.

"Prior to September 11, the military services had to make 'some hard choices' about what to buy, said Harry Stonecipher, Boeing vice chairman. But 'the purse is now open' and any member of Congress who argues that 'we don't have the resources to defend America . . . won't be there after November of next year,' he said."

"Defense Contractors Gear Up for Jump in Weapons Spending Following Attacks", Wall Street Journal, by Anne Marie Squeo and Andy Pasztor, October 15, 2001

For more information on Wasteful Defense Spending or other Defense Investigations.

"And we will operate from a few basic principles. First, candor. No one should be wary of coming forward when they see a problem. It's the only way to define a solution. The urgency of our task dictates candor about our challenges and confidence in our ability to solve them."

Tom Ridge, during his remarks after being sworn in as Director of Homeland Security, October 8, 2001.

"The most dangerous time for any democracy is at times of crisis. . . . Asking even the most innocent and basic questions is seen as being nonsupportive. In the heat of the moment everyone wants to rally around the flag, and sometimes they do that to the great benefit of the country, and sometimes to the great detriment."

Rep. David R. Obey (D-Wis.) as reported in the Washington Post, Monday, September 17, 2001.

POGO’s Mission Statement

The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) investigates, exposes, and seeks to remedy systemic abuses of power, mismanagement, and subservience by the federal government to powerful special interests. Founded in 1981, POGO is a politically-independent, nonprofit watchdog that strives to promote a government that is accountable to the citizenry.

"Therefore, as you proceed with your deliberations on the pace and scope of the F-22 program, please be advised we can have little confidence in the accuracy of production cost estimates and less confidence in the legitimacy of projected production cost savings based on those estimates."

August 20, 2001 letter on the F-22 fighter program to Rep. Ducan Hunter, Chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services, from Rep. Christopher Shays, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans Affairs, and International Relations.

Will We Ever Fly Before We Buy? F-22 Doesn't Meet Basic Testing Criteria. POGO Report, January 2, 2001.

For F22 Info

". . . one of the worst examples of financial mismanagement in government."

General Accounting Office Report "Canceled DOD Appropriations: $615 million of Illegal or Otherwise Improper Adjustments GAO-01-697.

PDF version of GAO report or TEXT version of GAO report

GAO Assails Pentagon Accounting Practices: Shifting Between Accounts Called Illegal, by Ellen Nakashima, Washington Post, July 26, 2001, Pg. 23

For more information see POGO's Wasteful Defense Spending and Cost Accounting Standards.

"It's a pile of . . . horse pucky."

Rep. Butch Otter (R-ID), talking about proposals by the oil industry to use Royalty-In-Kind (RIK) to provide fuel for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Rep. Otter suggested that the proposals would result in a "bureaucratic federal welfare program." "That would cost us more money for less production . . . which is what the big oil companies want. It's big business wanting bigger government, because it would give them a government they could control and use."

Idaho Lawmaker Strongly Opposes Bid to Use RIK Product for LIHEAP, by Mary Helen Yarborough, Platts Federal Lands, June 18, 2001.

For further information see POGO's Industry's Royalty In Kind Proposal.

"I may not last long, but I will tell it like it is." Thomas Christie,
Bush nominee for Pentagon Director of Operational Testing and Evaluation

“Pentagon Nominee Sees Need For More Thorough, Better Funded Weapons Testing”
Marc Selinger, Aerospace Daily, June 8, 2001

• For more information see POGO's Press Release Announcing Launch of the "Fighting with Failures" Series, April 20, 2001.

"This problem was first identified by the General Accounting Office as a Department of Defense 'high risk' problem in 1994," Rep. Chris Shays (R-CT) said. "I find it incredible DOD has made so little progress reducing overpayments to defense contractors . . . It's time to declare war on this kind of waste."

The Defense Week article also noted, “The House will probably take up legislation next month to require the government to use either public or private auditors to find overpayments, which totaled at least $901 million for defense contractors alone last year.”

"U.S. To Crack Down On Excess Contract Payments" Defense Week May 29, 2001 by John M. Donnelly

Subcommittee on National Security Chairman Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Ranking Member Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) letter urging financial accountability at the Pentagon: "we in Congress have the right to insist on clean books before releasing tens of billions of dollars for new Pentagon programs," April 27, 2001.

• For more information on Wasteful Defense Spending.

"They will underpay when they can." On oil industry payments for drilling on federal land.

Bob Armstrong, former Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary
for Land and Minerals Management.

U.S. News & World Report, May 14, 2001

• For more information on oil royalty issues.

"It's a poster child for what's wrong with the Army. . . It's heavy. It's tracked. All that's well and good. If you assume we're not going to go to war for the next 20 years, or if you're willing to take the risk, then that's a fair argument."

A senior Army officer speaking of the Army's new mobile howitzer the Crusader.
Pentagon Panel Urges Scuttling Howitzer System
Page 1 New York Times, April 23, 2001

• Letter to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld commending potential cancellation of the Army Howitzer Crusader, April 23, 2001.

• Press Release Announcing Launch of the "Fighting with Failures" Series, April 20, 2001.

“However, there have been some disturbing trends. In some recent years, 80 percent of Army systems did not achieve 50 percent of their required reliability in operational testing. In recent years, two-thirds of Air Force systems had to halt operational testing because they weren’t ready. The Navy has had to deal with such difficulties also.”

Philip E. Coyle, III Former Assistant Secretary of Defense and Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, at POGO's panel discussion, "Are We Buying the Right Weapons in the Best Way? The Pentagon's Weapons Buying Systems: Lessons Learned," April 3, 2001

For more information:

• Fighting with Failures Series, Fact Sheets: B-1 Bomber | B-2 Bomber | C-17 Airlifter | Comanche Helicopter | Crusader Howitzer | V-22 Osprey

"Are We Buying the Right Weapons in the Best Way? The Pentagon's Weapons Buying Systems: Lessons Learned," transcript of panel discussion April 3, 2001 featuring:

• Dr. Jacques Gansler, former Undersecretary for Acquisition and Technology

• Mr. Philip E. Coyle, III, former Director, Operational Test and Evaluation

• Dr. Kenneth Oscar, Acting Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology

and moderated by Mr. James Doyle, a founder of Defense News and former executive editor of Army, Navy, and Air Force Times.

“We asked, what can the U.S. Air Force do to help incentivize this to help companies buy these?”

Col. Gregory L. Lockhart, Deputy Director of the Air Force’s Global Reach Program, Talking about the Air Force’s plan to commercialize the C-17 Cargo Plane, New York Times, March 19, 2001.

For More Info:
POGO Report, Heavy Lifting for Boeing: Sweetheart Deal Helps Defense Contractor and Hurts Taxpayers

"If we can't defend this country for $300 billion a year we ought to get some new generals."

Retired Air Force chief Gen. Merrill McPeak Washington Post - Feb. 8, 2001

“We’re not chasing technology for technology’s sake. If somebody comes out and says the technology’s not mature enough or it’s too fragile for operational use, then I’ll be the first guy to say, ‘Mr. Secretary,’ or, ‘Senator, we ought to do something else.’”
General James L. Jones, commandant of the Marine Corps
Dallas Morning News, February 11, 2001

A new study of the V-22 Osprey by the U.S. General Accounting Office reveals that the hybrid aircraft is another victim of inadequate testing. The GAO says the Pentagon planned to rush the V-22 into full-rate production without even knowing whether its technology actually worked.

“The sword of Damocles is still very much over this program. It’s in an endless state of crisis.”
Richard Aboulafia, an aircraft expert with the Teal Group consulting firm talking about the F-22. Washington Post February 7, 2001

“The Air Force would sell their mothers to keep the F-22."

A Marine General, Washington Post 12/28/00.

Will We Ever Fly Before We Buy? F-22 Doesn't Meet Basic Testing Criteria. POGO Report, January 2, 2001.

For F22 Info

“. . . the actual amount of fraud overall is probably much higher than is being reported, because the number of government personnel overseeing defense plants has dropped precipitously in the last decade. As a result of the downsized oversight staff and a philosophy that says companies and their customers in government are “partners,” the Defense Criminal Investigative Service is learning about fewer and fewer crimes. Usually, investigators must hope someone comes forward to reveal wrongdoing.”

Former Acting Pentagon Inspector General Donald Mancuso, Defense Week, January 8, 2001

Defense Waste & Fraud Camouflaged As Reinventing Government, POGO Report, 1999.

Cost Accounting Standards Info