Iraq

Senate snubs contractor measures

WASHINGTON - The Senate on Wednesday defeated Democratic-led efforts inspired by controversies in Iraq to institute tougher criminal penalties for companies that overcharge on war and relief efforts and to ban private contractors in military interrogations.

Both measures grew out of events in Iraq, where some American companies have been accused of overcharging the government for goods and services, and where employees of private companies have been implicated in the prison abuse scandal.

Opponents said the proposals could disrupt military operations in Iraq and impair U.S. intelligence and supply efforts.

DETAINEE HELD: The military improperly held a suspected Iraqi terrorist in secret for more than seven months, Pentagon officials acknowledged Wednesday. The military has held the man in Iraq since October without assigning him a prisoner number or notifying the International Committee of the Red Cross that he is a prisoner, Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman said Wednesday night.

Whitman said the military made a mistake in the case, which was first reported Wednesday night by NBC and CBS.

IRAQIS IN CHARGE: With two weeks to go until full sovereignty, Iraqis already are running more than half the government's ministries, making key decisions, setting policy and managing their own budgets without direction from the U.S.-led coalition. As of this week, Iraqis are in full control of 15 of the 26 ministries.

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