All $8.7 billion of it!

Those top a long list of questions we would expect all Americans to be asking in the wake of a July audit showing the Department of Defense could not account for $8.7 billion in funds it received for reconstruction activities in Iraq recently.

Yet it's been almost a month since the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction issued that finding, and the silence is deafening.

No grassroots uprisings. No Defense Department plans to change accounting practices. Not even one election-hungry candidate stumping for office by demanding hearings, resignations, etc.

Sadly, this silence is likely simply another sign that America -- from the White House to your house -- has low or no expectations about getting its money's worth in reconstructing Iraq. Disagree? Read from the inspector general's audit:

"Weaknesses in DOD's financial and management controls left it unable to properly account for $8.7 billion of the $9.1 billion in [the Development Fund for Iraq] it received for reconstruction activities in Iraq. This situation occurred because most DOD organizations receiving DFI funds did not establish the required ... accounts and no DOD organization was designated as the executive agent for managing the use of DFI funds. The breakdown in controls left the funds vulnerable to inappropriate uses and undetected loss. ... More importantly, most DOD organizations ... did not follow the guidance. Only one of these organizations established the required account and, as a result, accounts were not established for $8.7 billion (96 percent) of the DFI funds.

... Due to the lack of records and personnel knowledgeable about financial and management decisions, we could not determine why the guidance was not followed. Because the accounts were not reconciled, DOD must rely on its organizations' accounting records to determine the status of DFI funds. Our selective review shows the records were not always complete. For example, DOD could not provide documentation to substantiate how it spent $2.6 billion. ..."

The entire audit report is available at the inspector general's website, www.sigir.mil/directorates/audits/auditReports.html.

In fact, the site contains scores of reports that are as depressing as they are outrageous. From reports about funds unaccounted for to recommendations for improving record-keeping, this temporary federal agency's work shows taxpayers endless examples of how their money either is abused and overlooked.

Considering Congress created the agency as oversight, it is astounding that those elected leaders routinely stand silent upon the release of such reports.

What -- or rather, how much lost money -- will it take until there is accountability?