It seems that the Coalition Provisional Authority could have used a good CPA or two itself.

Behind the obvious political overtones of the hearings, the bottom line is that the Authority, led by L. Paul Bremer, has no clue how it spent billions of dollars.

Waste in War: Where Did All the Iraq Reconstruction Money Go?

I guess bush had a different standard when he awarded Bremer the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

From a White House press release -

THE PRESIDENT: For 14 months, Jerry Bremer worked day and night, in difficult, dangerous conditions, to stabilize the country, to help its people rebuild, and to establish a political process that would lead to justice and liberty. The job was demanding, requiring personal courage, calmness under fire and hundreds of decisions every day.

Yet, Jerry not only rose to the challenge, he found time nearly every day to study the Arabic language. Jerry Bremer earned the respect and admiration of Iraqis, and helped to assemble an exceptional group of Iraqi leaders for the Governing Council. With his help, these leaders drafted the Transitional Administrative Law which charted the country's political future and established a bill of rights. In the final days of hammering out consensus on this landmark law, Jerry sat through day-long meetings, sometimes without ever speaking. His silence was essential to reassure Iraqis that the new law was entirely their own. Yet his presence was essential to reassure Iraqis of our coalition's steadfast commitment to their future and their success. Every political benchmark that the Iraqis set for themselves and that Jerry helped them meet was achieved on time or ahead of schedule, including the transfer of sovereignty that ended his tenure.

When Jerry Bremer greeted visitors at his office in Baghdad, he always began, "Welcome to free Iraq." Jerry, Iraq is free today and you helped make it so. And a free Iraq will help make generations of Americans more secure. Our nation will always be grateful to Ambassador Jerry Bremer and his good work.

These three men symbolize the nobility of public service, the good character of our country, and the good influence of America on the world.

I guess bush forgot to say, "Heck of a job."

"I think pre-war planning was inadequate," Bremer repeated.'

Blindingly obvious statement of the week.