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The United States funded the Iraqi National Congress Support Foundation (INCSF) with nearly $33 million from 2000 to 2003 through short-term agreements to establish programs like a satellite television station called Liberty TV. Liberty TV broadcast from 2001 to 2002 but stopped due to funding disputes between the State Department and INCSF. The State Department had concerns about INCSF's accountability and resisted its operations in Iraq. This inability to reach a long-term agreement prevented Liberty TV from restarting and missed an opportunity to inform Iraqis during critical times before and during the 2003 war in Iraq.

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30 views

D 04559 High

The United States funded the Iraqi National Congress Support Foundation (INCSF) with nearly $33 million from 2000 to 2003 through short-term agreements to establish programs like a satellite television station called Liberty TV. Liberty TV broadcast from 2001 to 2002 but stopped due to funding disputes between the State Department and INCSF. The State Department had concerns about INCSF's accountability and resisted its operations in Iraq. This inability to reach a long-term agreement prevented Liberty TV from restarting and missed an opportunity to inform Iraqis during critical times before and during the 2003 war in Iraq.

Uploaded by

politix
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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April 2004

STATE DEPARTMENT

Issues Affecting Funding of Iraqi National


Highlights of GAO-04-559, a report to Congress Support Foundation
congressional requesters

As part of the efforts by the United State’s funding of INCSF programs totaled nearly $33 million for the period
States to oust Saddam Hussein, a March 2000 through September 2003. This money was made available
critical element of U.S. policy through 23 cooperative agreements and amendments that provided short-
included funding the Iraqi National term funding at irregular intervals. The funds were provided for several
Congress as the lead Iraqi purposes, including establishing new satellite television capability (Liberty
opposition coalition. In 1999, the
Iraqi National Congress Support
TV), newspaper publication, and information collection programs. About
Foundation (INCSF) was $10 million was earmarked for Liberty TV broadcasting activities, which
established to provide an included hiring staff, establishing studio operations, and actual broadcasting.
organizational structure for There were several periods during which State did not have an agreement to
Department of State funding. From fund INCSF’s program, causing State to later fund INCSF activities
March 2000 until September 2003, retroactively. State’s funding approach affected INCSF’s ability to conduct
the Department of State funded television broadcast operations. Liberty TV broadcasted from August 2001
several INCSF programs, including to May 2002, when funding shortages caused by funding and policy disputes
television broadcasting. INCSF’s between State and INCSF resulted in termination of broadcasting. Attempts
broadcasting goals included to restart Liberty TV failed due to a combination of factors, including
broadcasts into Iraq focusing on continued disagreements between INCSF and State over funding
providing the Iraqi people unbiased
requirements for the broadcasts, the rapidly changing conditions associated
news and information and updating
them on efforts to bring democracy
with the war in Iraq, and INCSF’s relocation of operations to Iraq in May
to Iraq. 2003. INCSF repeatedly complained to State that the short-term nature of
the funding agreements made it difficult to run an effective television
GAO was asked to review (1) the broadcasting operation.
history of the Department of State’s
funding of INCSF broadcasting State cited three reasons why it was unable to reach long-term funding
activities and (2) the key issues agreements with INCSF: (1) State was concerned about INCSF’s
affecting State’s funding decisions. accountability for funds and operational costs, based largely on results of
audits of INCSF, and remained concerned even after INCSF took steps to
improve its accountability during late 2001 and 2002; (2) INCSF resisted U.S.
government policy prohibiting INCSF operations inside Iraq; and (3) State
questioned both the usefulness of INCSF’s information collection program
and whether it was appropriate for State to fund it. (In May 2002 State
decided to drop its funding for the information collection program, effective
August 2002.) Against this background and the sporadic funding
arrangements that characterized the program, the process of proposal and
counterproposal continued without producing agreements that could lead to
restarting Liberty TV. Through their inability to work together to restart
Liberty TV, State and INCSF missed a chance to reach the Iraqi people at
critical times prior to and during the March 2003 war in Iraq.

www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-559.

To view the full product, including the scope


and methodology, click on the link above.
For more information, contact Jess Ford at
(202) 512-4268 or [email protected].

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