FBI agents paid overtime for parties

What a surprize! The federal government, who wants to control the huge sums of money that flows through the healthcare system, can't keep track of who they're paying to do what. And we consistantly re-elect a huge majority incumbants. We have the government that we deserve.

This is a small example of what goes on more than we know. The only way to reduce systemic federal corruption is to reduce the size, scope, power and funding of the feds. The federal cancer is slowly, incrementally killing our country.

Any time spent in a war zone doing work on behalf of all Americans should count as such when paid. Put yourself in their place and honestly tell me you would not expect consideration as well.

dixiepixie: Did you miss the part about "violated federal pay statutes, regulations and FBI policies." Is is asking too much to get law enforcement agencies to not break the law?

This statement is unclear: "A tour in Iraq or Afghanistan is lucrative for an FBI agent. Agents who volunteer to travel to a war zone can triple their income during a tour, according to the report." If agents received "danger pay" and other extras, there is no way to justify this "overtime" pay.

This story certainly should take the heat off Barney Frank and Chris Dodd...why worry about billions and possibly trillions in the mtg industry when the FBI is wasting money like this! Wow where are our priorities. We just gave DC 1.3 trillion dollars and no investigation by the Times. Come on guys. Why the deflection?

If anyone who has posted the previous indignant comments has any experience working in a war zone, I would be thoroughly surprised. Walk a mile in their shoes before you judge them. Or better yet, get off your high horse and do the job yourself.

Sport: Yeah, this is small potatoes compared to low-lifes Frank and Dodd but it is indicative of the systemic culture of corruption in all levels of the federal gov. The FBI shouild be especially ashamed because we trust them to enforce laws, not break them. They should set the standard for ethical behavior.

And another thing. These FBI people in Iraq are volunteers. If they can't handle the stress of their assignment without abousing taxpayers they shouldn't volunteer.

If the FBI can identify the overtime offenders then have the offenders spend a week at the VA with the soldiers wounded in Iraq. Then move on. There are more important and pressing problems at hand

Would the Justice Department do an audit on Halleburton Co., who are contractors paid billions to provide services in Iraq ?

YAWN. This is very tough duty. They should have found a better way to compensate these agents rather than resorting to what could be called fraud.

Speaking as someone who served in Iraq as a medic with an infantry platoon, I would encourage people not to instantly defend these people as patriots. I do not doubt their sacrifice, but their pay is disproportionate to the military. If the amount of money is indicative of the danger, why does it not extend to the front lines?