posted April 13, 2003 at 8:58 a.m. MDT"Uncle Sam" loves peace but is willing to wage war in defense of civil society and democracy, right? "Uncle Sam" succors the victims and scourges the corrupt, right? "Uncle Sam" abhors criminality and the abuse of political power, right?
Perles was acting as chairman of the defense committee while in conflict of interest. He has stepped down ... as chairman. His business relations have not changed, but he still sits on the committee ... unpaid, no doubt.
VP Cheney's last civilian job was CEO of Halliburton. Halliburton was one of the first [the first?] corporations to land Iraqi reconstruction contracts [without even filing a bid, I've heard] ... revenue from this deal is estimated at US$7B; US$2B over the first two years.
What's this I hear about Iraq's new Czar, "Jay" Garner, being connected with the corporation that builds the Patriot missile system?
This optional war was about democracy, wasn't it?
Scandal-hit US firm wins key contracts - "A US military contractor accused of human rights violations has won a multi-million-dollar contract to police post-Saddam Iraq ... DynCorp, which has donated more than £100,000 to the Republican Party, began recruiting for a private police force in Iraq last week on behalf of the US State Department.
[...]
Despite DynCorp's demands for US citizens only, it is offering the private contracts through its British office in Aldershot. Former Labour Defence Minister Peter Kilfoyle said last night: 'I find it difficult to believe that, at a time when bringing law and order to Iraq needs to be handled with delicacy and sensitivity, a private American firm like DynCorp is entrusted with this job.'
DynCorp's advert, posted on a US website and headed 'Iraq mission', stated that it was acting on behalf of the US Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. It was seeking 'individuals with appropriate experience and expertise to participate in an international effort to re-establish police, justice and prison functions in post-conflict Iraq'.
[...]
DynCorp personnel contracted to the United Nations police service in Bosnia were implicated in buying and selling prostitutes, including a girl as young as 12. Several DynCorp employees were also accused of videotaping the rape of one of the women.
Welcome aboard the Iraqi gravy train - "Well the war has been a huge success, and I guess it's time for congratulations all round. And wow! It's hard to know where to begin.
[...]
I'd also like to add congratulations to Dick Cheney, who was chief executive of Halliburton from 1995 to 2000, and who currently receives a cheque for $1 million a year from his old company. I guess he may find there's a little surprise bonus in there this year. Well done, Dick.
Congratulations, too, to former Secretary of State, George Schultz. He's not only on the board of Bechtel, he's also chairman of the advisory board of the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq, a group with close ties to the White House committed to reconstructing the Iraqi economy through war. You're doing a grand job, George, and I'm sure material benefits will be coming your way, as sure as the Devil lives in Texas.
[...]
It's so neat it makes you want to run out and buy shares in Fluor. As one of the world's biggest procurement and construction companies, it recently hired Kenneth J. Oscar, who, as acting assistant secretary of the army, took care of the Pentagon's $35bn-a-year procurement budget. So there could also be some nice extra business coming its way soon. Bully for them."
We know that bin Ladin is a dangerously deranged man, of course ... but damn, I sure do wish Bush et al would stop proving him right!!
