Fraud monitors? We don't need no stinking fraud monitors

So the New York Times reports that Maliki's government is quietly firing fraud monitors. And why not. After all, government oversight is anathema to business. And things are running so smoothly over there. Besides, downsizing government is always a good thing. And really, the fraud isn't that much. Just $13 billion. I mean, you have to look at the big picture. When you consider that we've spent nearly a trillion dollars over there, $13 billion...well....that's just the foam off the top of a cold mug of beer.

Of course, when you're restructuring government, you're going to step on a few toes. There have been some sour apples. According to the Times, "Chris King, a former United States Embassy official who was a senior adviser to the integrity commission said the inspectors general were in many ways one of the last firewalls preventing the Iraqi government from keeping its operations largely in the dark."

And yet, they persevere. The article goes on to say that, "each of Iraq’s 30 cabinet-level ministries has one inspector general." And so far, officials who are paying attention say that anywhere from 7 to 9 of them have been dismissed. I know, change comes slowly. On the bright side, they have gotten rid of the inspector general of the Central Bank of Iraq. And we all know how important it is to let banks do their own thing.

However, I think they can do better. I believe that with a little effort (read - good old American know how) they can clean house for good. But they need leadership. They need someone who is ruthless. Someone who is practiced in the art of secrecy. They need Dick Cheney. And guess what? Dick will be available in January.

I'm just here to help.