Associated Press

HONOLULU - Sen. Daniel Akaka is directing a joint hearing in Washington looking into contractor waste and fraud in Iraq.

The Hawai'i senator says he wants to bring an end to a "crisis of accountability" in the Bush administration and ensure an adequate federal staff to manage and oversee contracts.

In an opening statement released by his office, Akaka said his armed services readiness subcommittee has been examining deeply rooted problems in Army contracting for Iraq.

He says the Pentagon has frozen contracting specialists at 30,000, while the number of contracts has ballooned, resulting in less oversight and accountability.

He also cited recent reports of the unjustified use of lethal force by contract workers against Iraqi civilians.

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