Former Raytheon lobbyist, William Lynn, was appointed deputy defense secretary on Wednesday, February 11th after a contentious Senate confirmation hearing that led Republican Senator for Iowa, Charles Grassley, to forcefully object to the appointment on the basis of Mr. Lynn's "very questionable accounting practices that were obviously not in the public interest" while in the position of Pentagon Comptroller during the Clinton administration. The Senator's objection did not go far enough in exploring the "very questionable accounting practices" that Lynn engaged in during his tenure at the Defense Department from 1997 to 2001. The relevant question that should have been asked is "Where did the $3.4 Trillion go?"
In fiscal year 1999, the Department of Defense reported that it was missing $2.3 Trillion. In fiscal year 2000 the Department reported a missing $1.1 Trillion. Total: $3.4 Trillion "missing" taxpayer money. This happened under the watchful eye of the same William Lynn that now passes through the revolving door between the Department of Defense and the Defense industry.
Lynn was the Defense Department's chief financial officer and as such was responsible for all budgetary administration and reporting. He was also responsible for the publication of audited financial statements which he failed to do during his tenure and which have not been published since.
Lynn was nominated by Obama-Biden because "Lynn brings decades of experience and expertise in reforming government spending and making the tough choices necessary to ensure that American tax dollars are spent wisely."
The other appointee, as Undersecretary of Defense (Comptroller), Robert Hale, served as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force in the role of Financial Comptroller from 1994 to 2001. He was also responsible, along with Lynn, for the management of Defense Department funds. Hale is also a Certified Defense Financial Manager with acquisition specialty. This is his particular connection to the Military Industrial Complex.
Between these two appointees, they have lost enough taxpayer money to pay for Obama's Stimulus Plan 4 times over and are now again responsible for overseeing how the Department of Defense manages its appropriations. Obama's promise of fiscal responsibility within his administration can now be dumped in to the already overflowing trash can of broken promises.
©2009 Andrew Hughes, all rights reserved. You must have written permission from the author in order to republish this work.
Published: Friday, February 13, 2009
Last modified: Friday, February 13, 2009
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Reader Comments:
Posted By: Kenn Jacobine
Date: 2009-02-13 08:49:10
Between the tax cheats he nominated, the stimulus bill, and now this, it doesn't seem Obama has much respect for taxpayer funds. "Change" has come to Washington.
Posted By: Jake, the champion of the constitution
Date: 2009-02-13 15:51:52
corruption central from our Dept of "Offense" I have to say my favorite is still Rumsfeld
Donald Rumsfeld: "That's what I was just going to say. This President's pretty much a victim of success. We haven't had an attack in five years. Hell, the perception of the threat is so low in this society today that it's not surprising that the behavior pattern reflects a low threat assessment. The same thing's in Europe, there's a low threat perception. The correction for that, I suppose, is an attack. And when that happens, then everyone gets energized for another [inaudible] and it's a shame we don't have the maturity to recognize the seriousness of the threats - the lethality, the carnage, that can be imposed on our society is so real and so present and so serious that you'd think we'd be able to understand it, but as a society, the longer you get away from 9/11, the less - the less - "
http://www.nolanchart.com/article3806.html
Posted By: In your face
Date: 2009-02-14 16:06:07
I guess after 8 years of having a swindle shoved in our faces we must have gotten used to it. I still think it's too soon to start accusing President Obama of failure, and hypocracy because frankly that's prejudice, but these oppointments are starting to pull the wool off of my eyes.
Posted By: Gen
Date: 2009-03-08 19:00:33
I have the sinking feeling that Hillary really does have dirt on B.O. He's reappointed all of their used administration, contraversies and all. After they were so vicious towards each other, I keep thinking it's the only explaination. Our government watchdog forum is tracking their moves. www.foundingfatherscry.com
Posted By: No Name Supplied
Date: 2009-09-06 23:24:54
William Lynn was appointed Deputy Defense Secretary under Robert Gates. Prior to being a celebrex Raytheon lobbyist, William Lynn was the Pentagon Comptroller between 1997 and 2001 during the Clinton Administration. In Fiscal Year 1999 the Defense Department reported 2.3 trillion dollars missing. In Fiscal Year 2000 the Defense Department lotrel reported 1.1 trillion dollars missing. This is a total of 3.4 trillion dollars for two years in “missing” taxpayer money. Lynn was the Department of Defense’s Chief Financial Officer responsible for all renova budgetary administration and reporting. He was also responsible for the publication of audited financial statements which he failed to do and have never been published since.