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| CORRUPTION
IN KUWAIT - ARMY CHIEF The chief had it "made in the shade." A CW5 at only 39 years of age, a soft job as the Army's food service advisor for Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan, all he had to do was keep his nose clean and stay out of trouble. Soon he could retire on a fat pension. But apparently greed got the better of him. According to a Federal Court indictment unsealed in Illinois, (CW5 "Pete" Peleti Jr. was charged there because he served in the Logistics Civil Augumentation Program at Rock Island Arsenal), the career officer took a bribe while stationed at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. He was, court documents revealed, accused of "steering" a contract for paper products and plastic flatware away from a government contactor. Then, the indictment alleged, Peleti got himself in more trouble by trying to sneak $40,000 in undeclared cash into the United States on a Dec. 2005 flight from Kuwait City to Dover, Del. If Peleti had turned down the "bribe" and reported the illegal offer to the CID, he might have received a medal. Now, unless a miracle occurs for the Kapolei, Hawaii resident, he stands a good chance of losing his rank, pension and benefits and spending the next few years in prison. Pelleti could get up to 15 years in the slammer and pay a fine of $250,000 if convicted of accepting the bribe. On the cash smuggling count, the chief faces another $250,000 fine and five more years behind bars. This is not the first time MilitaryCorruption.com has reported on fraud and corruption in Iraq and nearby areas. Note our "Related Stories Box" below. GEN. CASEY CLAIMS HE KNOWS LITTLE ABOUT CORRUPTION IN IRAQ We hear there are many cases of outright theft and corruption among U.S. forces in and around Iraq. But you'd never know it watching on C-SPAN, like we did recently, the Congressional hearings on proposed new Army Chief of Staff, Gen. George Casey. In our opinion. Casey was evasive and less than forthcoming when repeatedly asked whether or not the United States had sufficent "boots on the ground" when the latest war began. Also, it was Casey - a Rumsfeld "yes man" - that was part of the problem, not the solution, when previous Iraqi war policies were tried and failed. One senator appropriately asked "why" our nation should "reward" a general like Casey with a prior record of failure? Is he the best we can do for COS? Or is it politics as usual? Screw up and move up? Time will tell whether or not Casey will prove a disaster as COS. We wish him well, but will be watching his every move. Nothing gets past us.
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