trickle-down screwing of soldiers

The [Defense D]epartment’s authorized 2013 budget, after sequester, totals $565.8 billion - by far the largest chunk of the annual federal budget approved by Congress. Yet the Pentagon is literally unable to account for itself. As proof, consider that a law in effect since 1992 requires annual audits of all federal agencies – and the Pentagon alone has never complied. It annually reports to Congress that its books are in such disarray that an audit is impossible.

This Reuter's series depicts not just mismanagement, but also the very personal and painful fallout experienced by those who are routinely schmoozed as "heroes" and then hung out to dry.