Grand Old Police Blotter: Battles of Bullshit Run Edition

A Republican civilian contracting firm, Custer Battles, stands charged with defrauding its fellow citizens of tens of millions of dollars worth of security services not provided in Iraq.

On at least two occasions, Willis said, the firm was paid $2 million from a vault in the authority's basement, served up in $100,000 plastic-wrapped bricks of cash.

"We called in Mike Battles and said, 'Bring a bag,' " Willis said.

Michael Battles and Scott K. Custer, both former U.S. Special Operations soldiers, founded the company in 2002. Battles ran unsuccessfully as the Republican candidate for Congress in Rhode Island that year.

After an interview with Custer in January 2004, agents from the Pentagon inspector general's office wrote, "Battles is very active in the Republican Party and speaks to individuals he knows at the White House almost daily, according to Custer." A White House spokesman had no immediate comment.

Screw the White House, why didn't you call Alberto Gonzales?

As for the whistleblowers' suit against Custer Battles, "Lawyers representing Custer Battles have denied the charges and have argued that the case should be dismissed because the money that was allegedly stolen belonged to Iraqis, not to Americans." Fair enough. Remand the motherfuckers to the democratically-elected government of Iraq and let justice take its course.