Daylight Robbery: Your Comments

Panorama: Daylight Robbery was shown on BBC One at 9pm on Tuesday 10 June 2008

Thank you for sending us your comments on Panorama: Daylight Robbery.

The debate is now closed but a selection of your opinions are published below.

Read programme synopsis

Iraq's missing millions

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Excellent programme, I am glad the BBC still has the guts to broadcast real journalism like this. I bet this will never be shown on US television.
Peter Walker, Cologne, Germany

Well it would not surprise me in the least that money is made. There is always money to be made from conflicts. War or even poverty.
George, Crewe

I thought that the style of the programme was atrocious. True dumbing down. We gave up watching after about twelve minutes as it had taken that long to make one point. Take all the silly graphics away and the programme content could probably have been delivered in five sentences.
Kevin Cleary, Swaffham, Norfolk, UK

Please let the Americans watch this.
Xin, Amsterdam, NL

I thought this was in the great tradition of Panorama programmes of the past that hit hard on issues that mattered and this was right on the money. The scandal of war profiteering was forensically brought to light by the excellent Jane Corbin. I agree with other commentators that some of the old movie stuff was irritating but the dollar graphics were brilliant. Worthy of Michael Moore... congratulations
Alex McDonnell, London, England

I have a countdown calendar for when Bush leaves office. Now, I wish I had one counting down for his trial.
Bill Kieffer, Brick, NJ

The daylight robbery programme touched on some serious and interesting points. Unfortunately the presentation was so bad (endless background music, repetitive cartoon graphics) that I switched off after 20 minutes. Why does the BBC insult its viewers by this childish dumbing down?
Alan Dunworth, Lymington

I found the programme to be highly misleading to the point of in factual. The programme is also about 3 years behind that of the book by the Washington Post former correspondent. I used to work for KBR and have nothing but respect for the guys that who risked their lives to earn a bit extra and to do their bit serving the troops. You failed to address the KBR-Halliburton split and the fact that KBR has repaid monies that were overcharged to the DoD. If KBR was such an overcharging dishonest company then why would the British and Australian MoDs give them contracts?
Dave, Guildford, Surrey

It was disappointing that this serious item was diluted by trivial graphics and silent film clips which had absolutely no contribution to the topic. Do you think your viewers are airheads that need constant stimulation, relevant or not? Cant the BBC produce at least one programme without needing to dumb it down? The facts were important, almost drowned out by the trivia.
Ken Joy, Kenilworth, Warwickshire

One of the best pieces of investigative journalism since the days of This Week and Man Alive. Very brave to take on this subject - although I believe the program exposed only the tip of the iceberg. Michael Moore also exposes the Halliburton duplicity in his docudramas also. Well done!
Edmund Farquhar, London, UK

Excellent reporting - but who on earth was the person responsible for splicing in the facile graphics and gratuitous soundtracks? I really don't think viewers for this kind of programme need MTV film loops and background music to help keep their attention for a full hour. I almost switched off in irritation several times, which would have been a shame as it was a very important issue for the BBC to cover.
Paul Rex, Hook, UK

I thought the programme was excellent. Very informative and well researched. The graphics and film clips used illustrated perfectly the "cowboy mentality" Bush seems to have adopted over this War....Good job all round.
Anon, London

We were so disappointed to see a serious and interesting subject dealt with in such a trivial manner. How dare you treat us as if we could not stick with this subject without cartoons, inappropriate film clips and stupid music? Dumbing down? Absolutely and also showing awful disrespect to the subject and your viewers.
D Gaubert, Sheffield UK

I'm disgusted. Troops can't get the equipment they need and billions are being stolen and wasted. Ultimate responsibility has to go to Bush, Cheney and Blair! The level of incompetence and underhand dealing could easily be classed as war crimes!
Paulo, Newcastle

..and then America wonders why the rest of the world doesn't like them
JP, London, U.K

While I congratulate the BBC's Panorama team of another excellent program about Iraq. I am beginning to question the effectiveness of these programs specially when all those people in question got away scotch free, living the luxury lives while their victims suffer endlessly. the survivors of Iraqi madness will continue to suffer financially for years to come, because some one has to pay this expensive American adventure and ultimately it will be the Iraq's. We the world had a chance to stop this Iraq massacre but we watched as it happened and continue to watch the aftermath unfolding of the true intentions of Iraq war. our generations will always be remembered for letting this happen in our clock, lets hope programs like are seen by next generation so they don't get fooled as we did.
Abdul Rahman , London

My thanks to the BBC for finally having the courage to expose the insatiable, shameless profiteering that has been engendered by the Iraq war. There is no substitute for the truth and this documentary oozed it like the oil supplies in Kurdistan. I actually felt nauseous watching, but this is the kind of detoxification I need: programmes that have the integrity and courage to show the truth about global affairs. If there were more BBC programmes like this, I would have more faith in the media. Well done to Jane Corbin and all the Panorama team. PS Please pass on these comments to Mark Thompson
Marion Storey, Westcliff, Essex

This was an interesting and serious subject that warranted serious debate. Instead Panorama presented us with yet another magazine programme - dumbed-down facts interjected with a handful of film clips and cartoons on repeat. I do not need to see a shot of a pedestrian 'Stop' sign to understand what the word 'stop' means nor a harass of horses to indicate a stampede. I felt bored and insulted by this programme. When will the BBC credit its viewers with a modicum of intelligence?
Anne, Co Antrim

Good topic, some good facts and reporting but if you continue with the 'yoof tv' graphics and annoying loop tape interludes you will put me and many more loyal panorama viewers turning off! It gives the feel of a 'cheap' production making 40mins real content 'stretch' to 60!
Mark Jagger, Bolton uk

We were taught the US Government had "checks and balances" and we See in fact they have "GAG ORDERS" to protect themselves not the people. John Stewart
John Stewart, Koh Samui,Thailand

At last some real news on TV, well done BBC. War is about money, what a surprise (not), good timing too with Bush's reign of terror over the world coming to a close, I feel sorry for the next president who has to clear up his mess. Gorbachev summed up the "military-industrial complex" best - look up his interview on YouTube - that's if the real life "big brother" media monitors haven't deleted it yet. Democracy is great isn't it?....
Otto, London

At last a real Panorama programme as we have come to know them. Well researched and documented and the articulate Jane Corbin commenting in a neutral and informed fashion. Such a relief after Jeremy Vine who, while presenting worthwhile topics, spoiled them with his obvious comments and his desire to shock.
Gladys Woodward, Geneva, Switzerland

I thought that this was an excellent programme apart from the graphics with the old newsreel and movie inserts in fact I found these so irritating that I eventually closed my eyes, as did my husband, and we just listened to the, narrative.
Allie Barnicoat, Enfield, Middlesex UK

Many people said that this war would make some people rich and the one's with the power even richer. If Gordon Brown wants to make himself lots of friends perhaps now is a good time to bring our troops home and save some money at the same time
Paul Harrison, Middleton Tyas England

After viewing this Panorama prog. Daylight Robbery-Nobody watching it could allow another soldier to die for these corrupt gangsters and low-lifes! Why on earth do we allows these human lice to come into this country to live. This most excellent prog is perfectly timed for Bush's visit-Sadly it won't upset his conscious one iota-The families of boys that have been killed must be devestated -Get them all home now! Tomorrow is not soon enough!
Derek, Thornton Cleveleys UK

I was shocked by the frivolous style of your report which trivialized the issues. Populist analogies to the Wild West with accompanying Country and Western music made me wonder whether your heart was really in this investigation into the greatest act of embezzlement and fraud ever to take place. What a wasted opportunity to really stimulate public debate.
Ian Haywood, London

Your Daylight Robbery feature would have been a lot more interesting if you'd cut out the ludicrous old film clips liberally interspersed throughout the programme. I was looking forward to seeing a serious insight into the use/misuse of money in Iraq, but found this superfluous film footage and music totally distracting. It leaves me thinking you don't feel confident that the programme has enough strength in its own right and needs this input to keep us idiots interested.
Geoff Sleight, Aylesbury