Legacy Of Incredibly-Stupid Bush Administration Decisions

One thing that really chafes military folks in wartime is having to comply with onerous federal requirements regarding the disbursement of money. The procedures just aren't suited for rapid, on-the-fly decision-making, like which tribal chieftain is going to get bribed, or which family of unintended victims is going to get instant restitution.

And you can understand, of course. Despite the desire of corraling corruption, paperwork is just too hard!

So planeloads of cash - cash! - were sent to Iraq in 2003, to give military commanders some walking-around money for contingencies that might arrive, and for contractors to pay workers. And no paperwork either! Nice!

Surprisingly, however, a lot of that cash disappeared.

Whatever happened to that cash anyway? Here's part of the answer:

A former employee of a New Mexico construction company with contracts in Iraq has pleaded guilty to illegally bringing more than $800,000 into the United States.

The Albuquerque Journal reports in a copyright story Wednesday that Ishmael "Mike" Salinas admitted to bulk cash smuggling and failing to make a required report on currency brought into the country from Baghdad.

Salinas also agreed to forfeit $804,000 found on him, at his home or at his mother's home in Odessa, Texas.

The newspaper says Salinas formerly worked for Laguna Construction Co., whose principal owner is Laguna Pueblo. Salinas, who was arrested last January, left the company in mid-2008 to work for another firm.