Bush Appoints Former ‘Big Dig’ Manager As Special Envoy To Darfur
Bush Appoints Former ‘Big Dig’ Manager As Special Envoy To Darfur
The Bush Administration’s efforts to end the genocide in Darfur has been plagued by serious errors. Now, the President Bush is appointing Andrew Natsios as special envoy to Darfur to get things back on track.
Who is Andrew Natsios?
– As director of U.S. Agency for Intenational Development Natsios promised that the U.S. contribution to reconstruction of Iraq would be no more that $1.6 billion. Congress has already appropriated nearly $20 billion for reconstruction in Iraq. The CBO estimates the total cost of reconstruction will be between $50 and $100 billion.
– Natsios was the manager of Boston’s “Big Dig,” widely considered one of the most mismanaged public works projects in history.
Sounds like just the guy to help solve the “world’s worst humanitarian crisis.”
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Doin’ a heckuva job, Andy.
September 19th, 2006 at 10:35 amThe people of Darfur are doomed. More now than ever before…
September 19th, 2006 at 10:38 amHe’s the John Bolton of the Serengeti.
September 19th, 2006 at 10:38 amHe has Uncle Fester eyes. Like the pope.
September 19th, 2006 at 10:41 amThis post is unfair and does nto even ask the most important question, Does the man love King George and support in in all of his endeavors. And How much did he contriobute and or raise in tribute for King George and the Rpublican Party? If those questions are answered satisfactorily then that is all we need to knowabout his qualifications.
September 19th, 2006 at 10:42 amIt’s a boondoggle
September 19th, 2006 at 10:49 amwatch this
September 19th, 2006 at 10:50 amJoe Wilson would have been a better selection. I guess his wife Valerie doesn’t have the pull she once had.
September 19th, 2006 at 10:50 amhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNc1NGlZpN0
September 19th, 2006 at 10:50 amHe sounds like an idiot.
The perfect man for bush.
September 19th, 2006 at 10:51 amI am a democrat who grew up in Massachuettes. I left Mass 15 years ago but I still keep on what is going on back home through the internet. Andy Natsios is one of very few republicans who has character.
Yes Andy Natsios was a manager of the big dig. He was brought in when the governor Paul C (cannot remember how to spell his name) to replace for address the scandals driven management of the previous republican manager. The scandals involved cronyism and shotty workworkmanship.
Andy was brought because he is one of the few republicans who had integrity to do the job.
There are some republicans who have integrity and Andy Natsios is one of them. I do not appreciate the cheap shot the author of this post made.
thank you
September 19th, 2006 at 10:56 amEvery day I keep thinking “can’t get worse”. Every day, Dubya keeps his promise and shows me it can.
September 19th, 2006 at 10:56 amHe looks like he was cast out of the same creepy mould as Chertoff. Is Bush clonig his operatives?
September 19th, 2006 at 10:58 am“The scandals involved cronyism and shotty workworkmanship.”
That’s right. These are the hallmarks of Republicans today. That’s why they needed another Crony, to cover up for the last one.
September 19th, 2006 at 11:02 amHe’s just placed there to create more chaos in a place far removed from Iraq to grab some attention. They know how to deflect bad news around. Too bad they can’t use that ingenuity to do good things. It’s just as easy. It’s just a mind set.
September 19th, 2006 at 11:02 amhey robert,
it’s probably a cheap shot to criticize natsios for making a stupid remark on national television…
but did you see the clip where he actually said 1.7 billion? just watch this clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNc1NGlZpN0
September 19th, 2006 at 11:05 ami’m surprised this guy wasn’t tapped for katrina reconstruction.
September 19th, 2006 at 11:07 amIt’s Paul Cellucci.
And the Big Dig is a freakin mess.
You may have left MA 15 years ago, but I’m sure you heard of the concrete slab that fell right on top of a passing car, instantly killing the passenger?
Whenever I have to go to Boston, I bypass the whole thing.
September 19th, 2006 at 11:08 amAnd don’t vote for Romney.(the current gov.) Another religious zealot.
we would all welcome #11’s facts to show that this person is competent. It is so unlike the meat puppet to anoint anyone competent, for as we can see, it simply has not happened in our lifetimes.
proof is fine, and most welcome, but don’t make us assume that someone that has all ready defrauded the country to the tune of billions in iraqistan, and has been removed from the MTA project, is competent.
the proof shows quite the opposite. Certainly this person could have blown the whistle to let people know about what happened in iraqistan, but they didn’t. SO THEY WERE PROMOTED TO ANOTHER JOB THEY ARE INCAPABLE OF.
personally, I learned to spell Massachusetts when I was quite young and I didn’t live there.
gee, most of what you say makes you look as though you are making it up? sort of like this newly dropped turd?
September 19th, 2006 at 11:09 am12: I am a democrat who grew up in Massachuettes … I do not appreciate the cheap shot the author of this post made. – - I do not appreciate how you belittled your state’s name.
September 19th, 2006 at 11:09 amWell, if you sabotage foreign aid programs, then you can justify cutting them. “See, they don’t work” /Bush
September 19th, 2006 at 11:13 amWell, if you sabotage foreign aid projects, then you can justify cutting them. “See, they don’t work” /bush
September 19th, 2006 at 11:15 amPlease. Is this a surprise? In fact, Bush just blocked a bill to force U.S. gov’t entities to divest any holdings in companies doing business in Sudan to protect business interests. Does anyone really believe he cares a thing about Darfur?
http://www.miserywatch.com/2006/09/misery_roundup.html
September 19th, 2006 at 11:15 amJust when you think that the Bush administration could not be any more incompetent, they show you just how much you underestimate them.
September 19th, 2006 at 11:16 amThe author of this post did what appears to be quick and dirty research to support a hatchet job on an honorable man. Although I disagree with his politics, I admire Natsios for having a clear vision when it comes to gross humanitarian disasters, such as famine in North Korea. This post amounts to the same sound-bite politics we on the left lament. I had hoped that you would be above such knee-jerk silliness.
September 19th, 2006 at 11:18 amOne question, Robert Carpenter. If Andy Natsios has character like you say, why would he grant Bechtel one of the largest (if not the largest) Iraq contract when he is intimately familiar with their shoddy workmanship? Does character award incompetence?
September 19th, 2006 at 11:18 am“misunderestimate” them :o)
September 19th, 2006 at 11:21 amJust when you think he cannot find MORE incompetence…He ALWAYS manages to do one better!!!
And for Robert Carpenter…
You can have character and still be incompetent at your job. And the facts CLEARLY bear that out when it comes to this IDIOT!!! How many more people have to die before they are held accountable???
“IF” (and that’s a MIGHTY BIG IF!) he does his job, then it will have been the first of many that did. BUT, if you read the writing on the wall, they DID NOT choose him because of his past successes!!!
So, DON’T SHOOT THE MESSENGER!
September 19th, 2006 at 11:28 amOh Jeebus, the Big Dig guy is doing more important things, WTF?
September 19th, 2006 at 11:36 amJeez…so what else is new?
September 19th, 2006 at 11:38 amRe: #19, #11, #12, etc. I served with Andrew Natsios when he was a civil affairs officer in the US Army. His spectacular blunder in parroting the party line on post-war Iraqi reconstruction costs notwithstanding, he is in fact the right guy for Darfur.
First, he spent over 20 years as an Army civil affairs officer, doing humanitarian relief work.
Second, he is the author of an outstanding book on the North Korean famine, a problem he worked when he was the senior V.P. of WorldVision, one of the largest private humanitarian relief charities in the world.
Third, he was deeply engaged in Somalia under GHWBush, before the mission was changed from humanitarian relief to get-Aidid (under Clinton), and tried (unsuccessfully) to get the US to do the relief there correctly (we got it wrong, but for good reasons — too long a story to go into here).
Dr. Hemlock hates him some George W. Bush with a passion and was very angry and disheartened when Natsios went on TV and said things he must have known were untrue, like $1.6 billion.
But on this matter, I’ve got to tip my hat to BushCo. Natsios has more knowledge of complex humanitarian emergencies than anyone else in the federal government, Democratic or Republican.
September 19th, 2006 at 11:43 amI am not surprised by Bush’s selection of a fool as Special Envoy to Darfur! Normally Bush appoints some guy like Michael Brown who knows stuff about Arabian horses > lol.
September 19th, 2006 at 11:45 amFiscal Republicans?
More like Dismal Republicans and their Job is to bankrupt America..never have I seen such an incompetent group of Humans, surely that is no accident.
Caption Contest;
Rumsfeld doesn’t know magic — this is how you do magic!
September 19th, 2006 at 11:45 amNatsios
September 19th, 2006 at 11:47 amNatzios
Natzius
Natzis
Nazis
Nazi
OY! Now it makes sense…
Hemlock, maybe you can tell me who awarded a contract to Bechtel in Iraq? Was that out of Natsios’ hands? It seems very unlikely.
September 19th, 2006 at 11:49 amAlright, Caption contest it is.
“Bush’s weenie, my weenie.”
September 19th, 2006 at 11:49 amGood Morning all, well most all….Clearly, as in the past bull shit bush has just put another brown noser in this position….He doesn’t ever consider any qualifications other than how his apointee jenuflects (sp) for him. All these people will have to be surgicly removed from bull shit’s butt by Frit’s when their terms are done…..I’m with mparker, this creap look’s like a relative to Chertoff (sp) or is it Jerkoff.? Not sure of spelling…..LOL…..
Un Assembly on C-Span now….More crap from the dictator I’m sure….Blessings all, we realy need them…Peace right after impeachment.
September 19th, 2006 at 11:50 amThere’s a guy that can certainly LOOK THE OTHER WAY!
September 19th, 2006 at 11:53 amThere are some republicans who have integrity and Andy Natsios is one of them. I do not appreciate the cheap shot the author of this post made.
thank you
Comment by Robert Carpenter
You can have personal integrity and still be incompetent for a job.
September 19th, 2006 at 11:55 amCaption Contest:
This is a billion billion dollars, and this is one point six billion.
September 19th, 2006 at 12:00 pmSee, look, no difference..whatsoever!
This is why right-wingers think privatizing everything is good. Heck if they own people can’t get a public works project on track, then nobody can right? Except maybe a left-winger, but we don’t count. ;-)
September 19th, 2006 at 12:08 pmReally, who is Andrew Natsios? (He’s not who TP says he is.)
Nazios, among other achievments, wrote a book on disaster relief: U.S. Foreign Policy and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Amazon Review:
September 19th, 2006 at 12:09 pm“Natsios presents an insider’s view of the possibilities and pitfalls of humanitarian relief in countries suffering severe political disruption…. The reader learns a great deal about the political infighting and bureaucratic politics surrounding such operations… this book is very timely and should evoke both thought and debate.â€â€“Choice
“”An absorbing study….Natsios is smart, incisive, and not afraid to rattle the china.”â€â€“Washington Post
“…Natsio’s book is a timely addition to the international literature available on humanitarian.â€â€“Peacekeeping and International Relations
“Andrew S. Natsios’ thorough, penetrating and thought-provoking book looks at complex humanitarian emergencies (CHEs)….[T]his book has something for nearly everyone, from the policy “wonk” in suit and tie to the would-be warrior in BDUs. Natsios provides seven principles that should be required reading for civil-military planners at operational, theater and national strategic levels. Comprehensive and incisive, the book contains important recommendations for establishing objectives, gaining consensus, leveraging assets and improving timeliness and impact of intervention.â€â€“Military Review
http://www.amazon.ca/Foreign-Policy-Four-Horsemen-Apocalypse/dp/027595921X
Who is Andrew Natsios? (He’s not who TP says he is.)
Among other achievements Natsios wrote a book: U.S. Foreign Policy and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Amazon Review:
September 19th, 2006 at 12:14 pm“Natsios presents an insider’s view of the possibilities and pitfalls of humanitarian relief in countries suffering severe political disruption…. The reader learns a great deal about the political infighting and bureaucratic politics surrounding such operations… this book is very timely and should evoke both thought and debate.â€â€“Choice
“”An absorbing study….Natsios is smart, incisive, and not afraid to rattle the china.”â€â€“Washington Post
“…Natsio’s book is a timely addition to the international literature available on humanitarian.â€â€“Peacekeeping and International Relations
“Andrew S. Natsios’ thorough, penetrating and thought-provoking book looks at complex humanitarian emergencies (CHEs)….[T]his book has something for nearly everyone, from the policy “wonk” in suit and tie to the would-be warrior in BDUs. Natsios provides seven principles that should be required reading for civil-military planners at operational, theater and national strategic levels. Comprehensive and incisive, the book contains important recommendations for establishing objectives, gaining consensus, leveraging assets and improving timeliness and impact of intervention.â€â€“Military Review
http://www.amazon.ca/Foreign-Policy-Four-Horsemen-Apocalypse/dp/027595921X
sorry–there was a delay in posting.
September 19th, 2006 at 12:16 pmDon – Corrupt is as corrupt does, not as corrupt says. His qualifications are not in question as much as his ETHICS are. Will be follow his own advice (having not read the book i have no idea how sound his advice is) or will he simply do what will make the Cronies the most money?
September 19th, 2006 at 12:21 pmNext he’ll either receive the Medal of Freedom or be appointed head of FEMA.
Or run for President.
Posted by the Lemming Herder from Don’t Be A Lemming!
September 19th, 2006 at 12:26 pmBush Co. is a Recruitment Firm for the Incompetent. They care more about pandering to incompetent cronies than they do about the future of America.
September 19th, 2006 at 12:40 pmI must admit. If Darfur ends up anything like Boston they are better off dead. That corrupt center of the Soviet State of Mass is the most mismanaged place in the east. Any state that has that murderer Kennedy and flip-flopping Kerry as its Senators has such poor judgment on who should run things you may be right on this one.
Of course we may find in the end that these are just another bunch of twisted liberal lies about Natsios.
September 19th, 2006 at 1:11 pmThe Bush administration isn’t interested in problem solving.
September 19th, 2006 at 1:35 pm#43 He is a great guy and deep thinker because he wrote a book? You gotta do better than that. Dr. Suess wrote books but I don’t think the people in Darfur want green eggs and ham.
September 19th, 2006 at 1:38 pmHappy+Guy wrote: “Of course we may find in the end that these are just another bunch of twisted liberal lies about Natsios.”
So this isn’t about Natios’ actions during his Big Dig tenure or after in Iraq. This is about the corrupt establishment in MA? I wish someone would offer an answer to the question I’ve asked twice now: If Andy Natsios has character like … why would he grant Bechtel one of the largest (if not the largest) Iraq contract when he is intimately familiar with their shoddy workmanship? Does character award [proven] incompetence?
September 19th, 2006 at 1:43 pm#35 — I can’t speak to whether Natsios “awarded” the Bechtel contract in Iraq. I can speak to contracting in Iraq generally, since I served in the Army in 2003 and 2004 in Iraq. I’ve witnessed the contracting abuses first-hand and wouldn’t want to even pretend to justify them. The only comment I can make in “defense” of the process, for lack of a better term, is that there was a real rush in the summer of 2003 to improve the quality of life for the troops there (it was 125 degrees and we were limited to 2 liters of unrefrigerated bottled water per day, for example). That doesn’t defend the cronyism, but it might go some distance to explaining the no-bid rush.
As for Natsios’ complicity, again I can’t speak to that. I will make this observation, however — USAID is part of the Department of State. We all know by how just how involved State was in planning and post-war occupation in Iraq. That’s right — “not!” So I doubt that State, or its affiliated agencies, was given much input, let alone oversight, into postwar contracting.
As for the Big Dig, I don’t really know much about that project at all, never having been to Boston. It might be worth a mental counterfactual, though — my PowerPoint-deep knowledge of the project, gleaned from Wikipedia, is that the thing is decades-old, so as fun as it is to beat-up on the administration, is it reasonable to suggest that any one individual is responsible for its failure?
September 19th, 2006 at 1:46 pmRobert Carpenter #11,
…is this Natsios the SAME guy the governor of Massachesetts (Romeny) FIRED from the big dig after the woman was crushed in her car?
September 19th, 2006 at 1:53 pm#51 Lesly — one other point I might have made. Based on my experience with people from USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, contracts are not let or signed by the Administrator, but by lower-ranking program officers, who derive their authority from the Administrator, who derives his authority from “higher.” If the directive was, Bechtel gets a contract, then Bechtel was going to get a contract. We saw that in Bosnia and Kosovo, among other places.
September 19th, 2006 at 1:59 pmI hope we use the Patriot Act to hunt down and hang traitors like Happy Guy (#48)…
…soon…
September 19th, 2006 at 2:00 pm#51 Lesly: I’ll weigh in one last time in defense of what seems to be a generally decent Republican. I’m not going to lambaste him for his partisan loyalty, no more than I would a fellow Democrat, which seems to be the principal objection in the more lucid comments on this thread.
Here are some clips via LEXIS/NEXIS on the Big Dig and Bechtel (which is, I gather, the Bechtel contract to which you were referring, as opposed to Iraq contracting as I thought earlier).
*After guiding the Big Dig through its most controversial period, Massachusetts Turnpike Chairman Andrew Natsios announced yesterday that he is stepping down, paving the way for a possible position in President-elect George W. Bush’s administration. Natsios was credited with shoring up confidence in a project rocked earlier this year by scandal following revelations of massive cost overruns.
Source: “Natsios Leaving Big Dig; Cellucci Names Successor,” Thomas C. Palmer, Jr., Boston Globe, 12/19/2000
*At the end of almost nine years of ongoing review of Big Dig management problems, state Inspector General Robert A. Cerasoli concluded last May that identifiable management failures were, and continue to be, responsible for many of the project’s extraordinary cost increases…Cerasoli said in a letter on May 3 to Turnpike chairman Andrew Natsios. Natsios received the critical letter and report about two weeks after he took over the reins of the Big Dig…Natsios has since negotiated a new contract with Bechtel/Parsons.
Source: “Review Cites Flaws at Big Dig, Faults Managers for Cost Overruns,” Thomas C. Palmer Jr., Boston Globe, 1/8/2001
*Big Dig managers are trying to avoid future cost increases by telling contractors: “Take a portion of the money you claim we owe you, take it now, and don’t come looking for any more.” Andrew Natsios, chairman of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, said last week that ‘global settlements’ fo claims like this one…are ways of making contractors happy by not withholding money for the months or years it can take to negotiate disputed costs. But they also give Big Dig managers some assurance that they won’t be hit with future monetary claims that could further bust the Big Dig’s budget.
Source: “Big Dig Seeks Caps on Claims, Contractors Urged to Settle Overruns,” Thomas C. Palmer Jr., Boston Globe, 2/11/2001
*As management consultants, Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff had responsibility for managing the so-called claims and changes process from the beginning of construction in 1991, under the oversight of state and Turnpike officials.
After major questions were raised in 2000 about the validity of the state’s official cost estimate, however, then-Turnpike chairman Andrew Natsios ordered that lawyers increase their supervision of payments made to contractors.
Source: “U.S. Probes Big Dig’s Extra Payments,” Thomas C. Palmer Jr., Boston Globe, 12/27/2001
*’Andrew Natsios is a good choice,’ said the Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World, a Christian movement to combat hunger. ‘Most importantly, he is deeply and personally commited to reducing hunger and poverty in Africa and around the world.’ Last April, natsios was rushed in to administer the Big Dig, after it was learned that the cost would greatly exceed the $10.8 billion as estimated by James J. Kerasiotis, the head of the project at the time.
Source: “Natsios Named to USAID; Mass. GOP Veteran Gets Post He Sought,” Anne E. Kornblut, Boston Globe, 2/22/2001
September 19th, 2006 at 2:30 pmNatsios was the best bush could do. the even more incompetent republican hacks are all working for the CPA.
September 19th, 2006 at 2:58 pmNatsios – another useless accomplice of Bush&Co, in my memory for two quotes:
September 19th, 2006 at 4:14 pm“Africans don’t know what Western time is” (I find it ludicrous that a racist would be put in charge of anything in Darfur) — and he claimed that the U.S. contribution to the rebuilding of Iraq would be just $1.7 billion (just a tad short in his estimation).
Why do these losers continue to turn up in Bush’s nominations?
He’s the Michael brown of Darfur.
September 19th, 2006 at 5:27 pmMarie, was that when there was talk of sending medications, and someone said something like, it would be a waste to send meds because the African people wouldn’t know what time to take them? I remember being aghast at such a stupid excuse.
September 19th, 2006 at 6:03 pmI can be incompetent too! Please appoint me to some $100,000 gig!
September 19th, 2006 at 6:08 pmI can be completely incompetent if you pay me enough! Can I have a $100,000 Government appointment requiring no skills or qualifications whatsoever too?
September 19th, 2006 at 6:10 pmI believe that was the occasion, Jane.
September 19th, 2006 at 6:51 pmIt is unconscionable to me to put this man in charge now.
Thanks for responding Hemlock. I wish I had Lexis/Nexis access.
“USAID is part of the Department of State. We all know by how just how involved State was in planning and post-war occupation in Iraq. That’s right — ‘not!’ So I doubt that State, or its affiliated agencies, was given much input, let alone oversight, into postwar contracting.”
You have a point. The blame for post-war planning lies squarely on Rumsfeld’s shoulders – and maybe his superiors – for refusing to even consider a post-war reconstruction plan because of Rumsfeld’s (the administration’s?) plan to transform and downsize the military at the worst possible time.
Still, at some point Natsios found out about Bechtel winning a reconstruction contract in Iraq. Six years into Bush’s presidency there are plenty of civil servants/ bureaucrats/military servicemen that have either retired, left their jobs, or settled for being marginalized due to professional disagreements with the White House’s policies. Would you mind searching Lexis/Nexis for any hint of Natsios advising USAID or any superior against it even if he couldn’t stop it?
September 19th, 2006 at 7:06 pmJES at 60—
Not Marie here, but precisely.
September 19th, 2006 at 8:47 pm#64 Lesly — I wouldn’t expect Natsios to resign-in-protest; he’s too loyal a Republican for that. Take it for what it’s worth. I recall Republicans asking why more Democrats weren’t protesting when BC admitted his wrongdoing, so I suppose you can’t shoot a man for loyalty.
Anyway, as to your question, there wasn’t much in the “Major Papers” database, just the usual announcement-announcements. That doesn’t necessarily mean anything, because USAID isn’t a particularly sexy beat for reporters. In any event, the PCO (Procurement Contracting Officer) appears to be some fellow named Tim Beans.
The only stories I could find were about one contract, all of which were derived from this Reuters wire story:
*The U.S. Agency for International Development announced Tuesday it had awarded another lucrative contract to rebuild Iraq’s infrastructure to engineering company Bechtel, this one worth $ 1.8 billion.
Democrats have criticizedUSAID for awarding such a huge chunk of reconstruction work to Bechtel, which has ties to prominent Republicans like former Secretary of State George Shultz, who serves on the company’s board.
USAID procurement director Tim Beans told reporters the contract was awarded in full and open competition with no outside interference. He said three companies had bid for the work.
“The key is that we have to get the best deal for the taxpayer,” Beans said, adding that Bechtel had the highest technical score and provided the lowest cost.
USAID administrator Andrew Natsios said some “outrageous” claims had been made about the award of contracts by his agency, adding he had told staff he would act immediately if there was any “tampering” in the procurement process.
SOURCE: “Bechtel Awarded Contract for Iraq, Critics Again Cite Firm’s Connections,” Reuters, Houston Chronicle 1/7/2004
There were a few stories in the “Magazines and Journals” database, several of which were pretty partisan “war profiteer” stuff and several others of which were pretty routine contract-announcement stuff. This piece from “CFO Magazine” was interesting:
*Like his position at the Big Dig, Natsios’s new job is also plunging him into controversy. Political adversaries and some media outlets have suggested that Natsios gave preferential treatment to Bechtel Group Inc., the firm that won the contract to coordinate the rebuilding of Iraq’s infrastructure. Bechtel was also one of the contractors that Natsios worked with on the Big Dig.
Natsios disputes the allegations, noting that Bechtel had been on the Big Dig for more than a decade when he joined the project in April 2000 – and one of his first tasks was to lower Bechtel’s profit margin. Natsios adds that at the end of the bidding for the Iraq project, Bechtel had the lowest price of seven bidders and the highest technical score. He has ordered a review of the process by the Inspector General to allay any lingering doubts.
Natsios gets high marks for integrity from observers. “He’s the kind of person we ought to want in government,” says David Luberoff, an associate director at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and co-author with Alan Altshuler of Mega-Projects: The Changing Politics of Urban Public Investment. “He’s smart, well-read, and willing to call a spade a spade.”
SOURCE: “Big Dig to Baghdad?”, Kris Frieswick, CFO Magazine, June 2003
One place you might look is in the semi-annual SIGIR (Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction) Reports, which have been the places that reconstruction-funding abuses have most regularly been revealed. If there was any malfeasance on Natsios’ part, it is likely to be mentioned in there — although whether USAID actually had any influence over reconstruction spending is questionable, since that brief technically belonged to CPA.
September 19th, 2006 at 8:59 pmAnd, yes, Natsios did say some stupidly racist things — once. I knew him during the Somalia operation, and it didn’t strike me then that he was racially prejudiced. And it’s not as if he’s the only one to have done so, Republican OR Democrat.
September 19th, 2006 at 9:01 pmWe all have said stupid things, Hemlock. But most of us aren’t in high level government positions — and the man who made the ignorant comment is now in charge of an operation in Africa.
September 19th, 2006 at 10:00 pmIt’s just another example of the Peter Principle as it applies to Bush and Co.
Rise in the ranks to your personal level of complete incompetence.
Republicans are funny. Gee, he is an unabashed racist and a failure but damn, what a good choice for Darfur. Are you kidding or are you just that stupid Hemlock?
September 19th, 2006 at 10:05 pm#69 JPark: I’m not stupid and I am Hemlock. Most of all what I am NOT is a knee-jerk asshole, like so many on these Think Progress threads, who assume a stinking air of superiority simply because my guys are not in charge at the moment. Like JPark, for example.
It’s a long way from one dumb remark to “unabashed racist,” but apparently not so long for you. So enlighten us. Just how supremely supreme are you? I’m sure you’ve never done a dumb thing in your life, since you’re able to hold yourself out in judgment of everyone else. My God, why haven’t YOU run for president? It sounds like you’d literally be perfect.
And while you’re enlightening us, perhaps you’d give us an example of an American policymaker from the past who WAS perfect. I’m sure there are loads of them you can name. For example, there were no cronies in important positions in Clinton’s administration — why, there were no duds at all. Gosh we’re swell.
#68 Marie: The “man who made the ignorant comment is now in charge of an operation in Africa” is also the man who’s probably spent more time in Africa addressing the needs of the starving, the sick and dying than you’ve spent at your computer.
But I don’t expect anyone in this thread to abandon hate in favor of discussion, which is why I not only do not vote Republican or Democratic, I don’t vote at all. So much for progressives elevating the discourse, eh?
September 19th, 2006 at 10:30 pmClassic cases of BDS (Bush Derangement Syndrome). Liberals are especially susceptible to this disease which causes irrational oral diarrhea. It is thought that their low IQ’s contribute to this susceptibility. They usually try to compensate for their low cognitive ability by projecting their lack of intellectual capacity to George W. Bush. Sadly, there is no cure for BDS. The only treatment is ignoring the sufferers these rantings and ravings.
September 19th, 2006 at 10:58 pmAs I recall the reference to Africans and telling time pertained to sending anti-retrovirals to Africa to address the AIDS epidemic.Natsios suggested that it would be a wast of time because most Africans don’t own watches and therefore can not be relied upon to taken the meds on schedule as required.
September 19th, 2006 at 11:54 pmMonk,
That’s interesting, because I don’t own a watch and I get everywhere I need to be on time. How do I do it….?
September 20th, 2006 at 12:00 am1.7 billion my ass
September 20th, 2006 at 1:00 amThey usually try to compensate for their low cognitive ability by projecting their lack of intellectual capacity to George W. Bush.
lol Karl, I don’t think Bush needs any help in this area and BTW are you saying that these mythical people with this mythical syndrome can project lack of intellectual capacity to someone that has no capacity?
Karl R. Whom went to 6 colleges and has no degree, a ChickenHack, a professional political gumbumper, is now a trained professional Psychologist!
Now what were you saying, Karl r. about this ‘derangement syndrome’, genius?
September 20th, 2006 at 2:46 amI bet Faux Nutwork will be talking about some damn DRS (Deranged Repiglican Sickness (related to Mad Cow)) and how it is the cause of so much GOPig corruption.
September 20th, 2006 at 2:54 amNatsios did say some stupidly racist things — once. I knew him during the Somalia operation, and it didn’t strike me then that he was racially prejudiced. And it’s not as if he’s the only one to have done so, Republican OR Democrat.
Or sure ‘lower the bar’ for both republicans and democrats!!
Way to go DUDE!!
September 20th, 2006 at 2:57 amOhhh, Faux Nutwork, soooo witty. You wonder why you get insults thrown back? Talk to some soldiers coming back from Iraq. They will tell you FOX is a heck of a lot closer to real than any other network.
We won in 2000 and 2004. Get ready for more of the same.
September 20th, 2006 at 8:55 amAhmad and the Kid…
It was Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vs. George W. Bush in a verbal showdown at the United Nations yesterday. You can sort out the winners for yourself….
September 20th, 2006 at 9:07 ami love how katrina was a year ago and it’s still not cleaned up… yet we can spend 20 billion+ dollars on iraq and lebanon
September 20th, 2006 at 11:16 amYour right about Katrina. You had Mayor Ray “Racist†Nagin (Democrat) as corrupt as they come refused to evacuate people. He had all the public transportation an 400+ school busses and refused to send them. He let them go under water. Then he would not let the Red Cross setup in the Superdome because he was afraid it would attract people?!?!?
And of course Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco (Democrat) being as useless as they come. Denied federal help at first and refused to call the national guard.
But let us keep pointing the finger up the line – Katrina Is Bush’s Fault !!!!! Boy I wish I knew about this website back then. I could get a head-rush from the spin. And now back to the factually stunted looney left.
September 20th, 2006 at 1:08 pmHappy + Guy,
I sure hope you’ve got fire retardant underwear…
…where you’re going you’re definitely going to need them…
September 20th, 2006 at 2:12 pmBush really doesn’t like black people.
September 20th, 2006 at 4:22 pm“Bush really doesn’t like black peopleâ€
Wow, more facts behind you liberal quips. That is why Bush has had more African Americans in higher positions than any other president. So Bush made Katrina and sent it at New Orleans for racial reasons right? That was such a stupid comment I can’t believe it. You libs have your mind set and would never actually analyze anything.
As long as Bush is in power anything that happens is his fault. This is the “United Statesâ€. There is some “State†responsibility involved.
African Americans are waking up to the fact that Democrats do nothing to further them. Every year more vote for Republican because they wake up to the empty promises. The Republicans have become the party of inclusion while the Democrats are the radical party of Mike Moore. Your losing your party base, go ahead and laugh. But if you look at real facts for once you will see it is true.
September 20th, 2006 at 4:46 pmYou have some good point Happy + guy!
True, the Dems have had a hell of a time focusing their energies. Sometimes I think it’s because there are too many targets, ‘Bogey overload’!
I get the idea that you’re a dyed in the wool Republican.
I however don’t believe that even a person such as yourself fully supports all that has transpired from this administration.
I think it’s time for more cohesive constructive discussion amongst Dems and Repubs. A divided nation is a failing nation.
September 21st, 2006 at 12:35 amActually I consider myself a Conservative more than a Republican.
The problem is that every time the Republicans try to find common ground the Democrats slap their hand away and say not good enough. And if a Democrat tries to find common ground or become moderate their own party crucifies them.
Look at Joe Lieberman. He has been a loyal Democrat for years. He agrees with Bush on one issue and his own party turns on him. This it the Democrats way of telling everyone to stay in line and tow the party line. You step out, you lose support.
So what Democrat is going to dare to meet someone half way after that? The only good that does is lose a long time blue state held Senate seat that will now become independent. They Democrats have become so foaming at the mouth mean they are self destructing.
September 21st, 2006 at 8:04 amThis is continuing the reichwing theme that, “Big government doesn’t work, and we are out to prove it.” This is another “Heck of a job, Brownie,” type of an appointment. Bush consistently put people who have no experience in the area they are being appointed to, or they have failed miserably elsewhere. This is a very distinct pattern. It’s go to be on purpose.
September 21st, 2006 at 8:28 pm[...] And he chose the guy in charge of the Big Dig, so what could possibly go wrong? [...]
October 18th, 2006 at 3:29 amHi Please a neet, Ther E- mail Andresse from Mr. Andrew Natsios.I Im Working here in Germany for Aaffes Europe ;GDC giessen,I have some problems whit some Bad People,Thank you! GEORGES Natsios, AAFES GDC EUROPE:
January 27th, 2007 at 10:15 am