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rosco
07-19-2004, 04:17 PM
Are you kidding me! 800+ soldiers die just to find out they attacked the wrong country. This administration is a Joke! That's another reason to vote against Bush.

Northman
07-19-2004, 04:20 PM
Are you kidding me! 800+ soldiers die just to find out they attacked the wrong country. This administration is a Joke! That's another reason to vote against Bush.


well, there's a word for them ' Warmongers '.

Blueflame
07-19-2004, 04:30 PM
well, there's a word for them ' Warmongers '.

Well, Halliburton is making billions in profits from the war....

rosco
07-19-2004, 05:13 PM
Brings to mind the quote "It's the economy,stupid" Except this time the quote is "It's Iran,stupid"

L.A. BRONCOS FAN
07-19-2004, 05:42 PM
Are you kidding me! 800+ soldiers die just to find out they attacked the wrong country. This administration is a Joke! That's another reason to vote against Bush.

Bingo.

:)

Rohirrim
07-19-2004, 06:31 PM
What was it that Kerry once asked?

How do you ask a man to be the last one to die for a mistake?

L.A. BRONCOS FAN
07-19-2004, 06:41 PM
How do you ask a man to be the last one to die for a mistake?

It's easy when you're a never-worked-a-day-in-your-life, AWOL-going fraud like Dim Son.

watermock
07-20-2004, 02:19 AM
Nice Circle Jerk. Everyone got their shot in.

One at a time.

Rosko:

Are you kidding me! 800+ soldiers die just to find out they attacked the wrong country. This administration is a Joke! That's another reason to vote against Bush.

Now it's the wrong country? A mass terrorist.

Blue:

Well, Halliburton is making billions in profits from the war.

41 killed, and the US didn't have a single contract before the invasion.[/quote]

watermock
07-20-2004, 02:20 AM
This is a circle jerk.

Blueflame
07-20-2004, 03:30 AM
Nice Circle Jerk. Everyone got their shot in.

One at a time.

Rosko:



Now it's the wrong country? A mass terrorist.

Blue:



41 killed, and the US didn't have a single contract before the invasion.

I notice that you didn't challenge the initial point... that Halliburton is making billions of $$$ from the war.

Attempted deflection unsuccessful....

rosco
07-20-2004, 06:19 AM
Nice Circle Jerk. Everyone got their shot in.

One at a time.

Rosko:



Now it's the wrong country? A mass terrorist.

Blue:



41 killed, and the US didn't have a single contract before the invasion.[/QUOTE]
This is a war against terrorism/state sponsored terrorism.Iran is known for sponsoring terrorism as well as assisting 8 or 9 of the hijackers on 9/11 getting into the U.S. Iran is the real threat considering that there's real credible evidence that they have the capability to produce WMD.
Unfortunately Bush was so dead set on Iraq for personal reasons that he dropped the ball when he had a chance to get to the real threat.
This may go down as one of the biggest presidential blunders of all time.

football idiot
07-20-2004, 01:54 PM
show me where Hal is making billions? you think they're getting crazy margins? if they take a billion dollar construction contract, they're on the hook for getting a billion dollars in construction done in a war zone. a) it's not fun work, b) it's dangerous, and c) even if you get things done on time, on budget, and make a 4 or 5% profit, some terrorist is likely to come and screw things up for you, meaning you have to start all over again.

I love when people that have no idea about how business works go on and on about big companies getting big tax breaks or war profiteering.

I'd like to know if there are any numbers for the profits of Hal? Or is this more baseless accusations that certain head-in-the-sand folks like to spout?

it's dangerous work that needs to be done by trained professionals. There are 2 or 3 countries in the world qualified to make a reputable bid on these jobs. I'd rather see these contracts going to American companies creating American jobs, than going to the Arabs, or French, or other global conglomerates.

But capitalism is EVIL and big corporations are EVIL and if anybody gets paid a billion dollars to do anything, they must be EVIL! I love the logic here.

RaiderH8r
07-20-2004, 02:01 PM
I notice that you didn't challenge the initial point... that Halliburton is making billions of $$$ from the war.

Attempted deflection unsuccessful....
Name another company qualified to do the work that Halliburton does over there. (Hint: It's not just flipping burgers)

Blueflame
07-20-2004, 02:11 PM
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5333896/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,912515,00.html

Rascal
07-20-2004, 02:23 PM
okay the first story talks about how halliburton was trying to get away with paying 500 dollars for a toilet bowl cover, but how the government is taking care of it by withholding money. And the second story talks about something that came out in 2000 and everybody knew about. So he decided to have his compensation spread out over several years, sold his stock, and arranged for the profits to be given to charity.

What's the problem? Sounds like a good guy arranging to have all of his profits given to charity. Do you think Kerry or Edwards did that?

Blueflame
07-20-2004, 03:38 PM
FI asked me to provide proof that Halliburton is making billions of $$... the first link states that the no-bid contracts were for $18 billion.

fuzzy
07-20-2004, 03:42 PM
This is a circle jerk.

everyone aim at mock!

;D

Exile_In_SJ
07-20-2004, 04:33 PM
So what if Haliburton is making millions? What other US company does their kind of work? Did you know the Clinton Administration sent tons of money in contracts their way also throughout the years?

And the wrong country wasn't attacked. The right country was attacked and more countries will be attacked First Afghanistan was attacked and liberated, then Iraq attacked and liberated, next on the list? Either Syria or Iran...

What strikes me as amusing by you lefties, is how you attack the intelligence on Iraq and yet unquestioningly accept some intelligence on iran. Looks like selective acceptance to me.

fuzzy
07-20-2004, 06:43 PM
And the wrong country wasn't attacked. The right country was attacked and more countries will be attacked First Afghanistan was attacked and liberated, then Iraq attacked and liberated, next on the list? Either Syria or Iran...

then lets go get north korea... and then why not china.

::)

fuzzy
07-20-2004, 06:45 PM
the republican in me is getting very aroused by listening to all this talk about death and war.

Exile_In_SJ
07-21-2004, 05:54 PM
Sure if you want a world war with China, we can go right into North Korea.

A smart man picks his battles, and contrary to the left-wingnuts, Bush is far from dumb and a very good Politician..

mosca
07-21-2004, 06:49 PM
What strikes me as amusing by you lefties, is how you attack the intelligence on Iraq and yet unquestioningly accept some intelligence on iran. Looks like selective acceptance to me.

this is what an election year brings out in some people...

Hercules Rockefeller
07-21-2004, 06:54 PM
FI asked me to provide proof that Halliburton is making billions of $$... the first link states that the no-bid contracts were for $18 billion.

and what fantasy world do you live in that businesses are able to operate without cost? Halliburton didn't make $18 billion from that contract. Your first post said Halliburton was making billions in profits.

Hercules Rockefeller
07-21-2004, 06:56 PM
oh and your article talking about Cheney's deferred compensation Blue, the Guardian article fails to mention that Cheney agreed to defer some of his salary in '98 or '99, well before he was ever considered for VP.

Blueflame
07-22-2004, 01:56 AM
and what fantasy world do you live in that businesses are able to operate without cost? Halliburton didn't make $18 billion from that contract. Your first post said Halliburton was making billions in profits.

You don't think they're making obscene profits when they're charging the American taxpayer $45 for providing the troops with a case of soda? Wow.

Blueflame
07-22-2004, 01:58 AM
oh and your article talking about Cheney's deferred compensation Blue, the Guardian article fails to mention that Cheney agreed to defer some of his salary in '98 or '99, well before he was ever considered for VP.

The point was that Halliburton is still paying Cheney while he steers lucrative no-bid contracts to their subsidiaries.

L.A. BRONCOS FAN
07-22-2004, 02:39 AM
The point was that Halliburton is still paying Cheney while he steers lucrative no-bid contracts to their subsidiaries.

What's the over/under on Potty Mouth going back to work for Halliburton in '05?

watermock
07-22-2004, 03:40 AM
Your an idiot.

Halbitron isn't paying Cheney.

Listen you stupid fool, there was not ONE COMPANY during the cease fire in the United States you dimwit.

41 people have died for Halibatron, including one they just dug his decomposed head out of the Tigris.

Your an idiot.

L.A. BRONCOS FAN
07-22-2004, 04:01 AM
Halbitron isn't paying Cheney

You're so misinformed it's downright embarrassing.

Cheney is still receiving compensation from Halliburton.

BTW, the question was "what are the odds that Potty Mouth will go back to working for Halliburton when he returns to civillian life in '05?"

41 people have died for Halibatron...

More like 900.

900 American soldiers who were lied to by the court-appointed fraud you defend and whose real job is providing personal security for the war profiteers you defend.

watermock
07-22-2004, 04:46 AM
Halbitron isn't paying Cheney

You're so misinformed it's downright embarrassing.

Cheney is still receiving compensation from Halliburton.

what a line of crap he may have some compensation.
so what.

BTW, the question was "what are the odds that Potty Mouth will go back to working for Halliburton when he returns to civillian life in '05?"

What are the odds you make it to the set of who wants to be a millionaire. Your an idiot.

41 people have died for Halibatron...

More like 900.

Your an idiot.

900 American soldiers who were lied to by the court-appointed fraud you defend and whose real job is providing personal security for the war profiteers you defend.

Look you dimwit, I talked about security from day one. it's documented here. Your idiot scewing that says 900 died for Halibartron is pathetic. I know damn well how many have died. Your a disgrace.

L.A. BRONCOS FAN
07-22-2004, 04:55 AM
what a line of crap he may have some compensation.
so what

But ass monkey:

In your last post you said:

Halbitron(sic) isn't paying Cheney.

Looks like somebody forgot to take his Ritalin.

watermock
07-22-2004, 04:57 AM
Halbitron isn't paying Cheney.

Show me they are you dimwit.

L.A. BRONCOS FAN
07-22-2004, 04:57 AM
Halbitron(sic) isn't paying Cheney.

If you're going to be Potty Mouth's cabana boy you should at least learn how to spell the name of his company.

watermock
07-22-2004, 04:59 AM
It's not his company. You brought it up.

There wasn't one US company during the the 90's.

**** you. Your an idiot.

L.A. BRONCOS FAN
07-22-2004, 05:26 AM
Halbitron isn't paying Cheney.

Show me they are you dimwit.

You really enjoy embarrassing yourself, don't you Goober?

Even your fellow right-wingnuts will grudgingly admit Cheney is still cashing checks from Halliburton.

L.A. BRONCOS FAN
07-22-2004, 05:31 AM
Halbitron isn't paying Cheney.

Show me they are you dimwit.

Here ya go, jaggoff:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,912515,00.html

Looks like you're the real "dimwit" here--as usual.

L.A. BRONCOS FAN
07-22-2004, 05:33 AM
Heh heh heh.

Look at the moron backpedal.

L.A. BRONCOS FAN
07-22-2004, 05:35 AM
CBS News: Cheney's Halliburton Ties Remain

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/09/26/politics/main575356.shtml

I got your "dimwit" swingin,' biotch.

L.A. BRONCOS FAN
07-22-2004, 05:39 AM
Congressional report finds Vice President still has financial interest in his old company.

http://money.cnn.com/2003/09/25/news/companies/cheney/?cnn=yes%20

Cheney Is Still Paid by Pentagon Contractor

http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/oil/2003/0312paid.htm

L.A. BRONCOS FAN
07-22-2004, 05:40 AM
Wow, I can't take much more of this.

Waterschmuck is "beating me down."

LOL

Rascal
07-22-2004, 06:51 AM
The point was that Halliburton is still paying Cheney while he steers lucrative no-bid contracts to their subsidiaries.

And what he should stop getting all of his deferred paychecks?

The guy earned the money and signed an agreement that his retirement would be spread out over several more years. Who cares? The guy becomes VP, so he should stop getting his retirement?

You are making an issue out of a non-issue.

Hercules Rockefeller
07-22-2004, 06:54 AM
The point was that Halliburton is still paying Cheney while he steers lucrative no-bid contracts to their subsidiaries.

Yeah they were still paying him money they owed him from 5 years ago. He wasn't getting anything new, just what he was owed. The concept of a contract must be hard to understand Blue.

Hercules Rockefeller
07-22-2004, 06:56 AM
You don't think they're making obscene profits when they're charging the American taxpayer $45 for providing the troops with a case of soda? Wow.

and if you'd read the article, you'd see that the Pentagon is with holding money owed on those contracts until Halliburton fixes some this stuff. If they don't, they don't get paid what they charged.

Still waiting for something that shows they were making billions in profits like you originally said.

C'mon Queen of Links, surely you can find something somewhere that says that.

Captain_Poncho
07-22-2004, 07:58 AM
I keep hearing whining about "no-bid" contracts.

Here's a bit of a nugget for those of you who seem to enjoy posting it: there aren't any other companies capable of doing what Halliburton is doing. They're rebuilding the entire infrastructure of a nation.

Howzabout somebody pull up a list of other American companies that could do such.

Blueflame
07-22-2004, 11:26 AM
and if you'd read the article, you'd see that the Pentagon is with holding money owed on those contracts until Halliburton fixes some this stuff. If they don't, they don't get paid what they charged.

Still waiting for something that shows they were making billions in profits like you originally said.

C'mon Queen of Links, surely you can find something somewhere that says that.

How many links do you want, HR? ;D

From a Google search of "Halliburton + Iraq profits".... please keep in mind that I recognize some biased sources in this sampling of articles. Normally, I wouldn't cite these sources, but Google listed them.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article4311.htm
http://us.oneworld.net/article/view/61618/1/
http://truthout.org/docs_03/060403A.shtml
http://www.counterpunch.org/leopold03202003.html
http://www.rense.com/general39/sky.htm
http://www.whodies.com/lies_profits.html
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Iraq_Halliburton_082803.htm
http://www.ccmep.org/2003_articles/Iraq/031903_cheneys_lies_about_halliburton.htm
http://www.tompaine.com/feature2.cfm/ID/8612http://money.cnn.com/2003/10/29/news/companies/halliburton_earns/?cnn=yes
http://www.rense.com/general29/dbus.htmhttp://www.endevil.com/warprofiteer.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~platter/who-profits.html
http://www.opctj.org/articles/jason-leopold-05-12-2003-001358.html

Blueflame
07-22-2004, 11:27 AM
I keep hearing whining about "no-bid" contracts.

Here's a bit of a nugget for those of you who seem to enjoy posting it: there aren't any other companies capable of doing what Halliburton is doing. They're rebuilding the entire infrastructure of a nation.

Howzabout somebody pull up a list of other American companies that could do such.

The point is that no other American companies were given the chance, Captain.

Captain_Poncho
07-22-2004, 12:53 PM
The point is that no other American companies were given the chance, Captain.

The point is, sweetie, that no other American company could do it. Should we have given McDonald's a chance to bid? They're a multi-billion dollar company and all...

Blueflame
07-22-2004, 01:24 PM
The point is, sweetie, that no other American company could do it. Should we have given McDonald's a chance to bid? They're a multi-billion dollar company and all...

If, as you say, Halliburton is the only company in America that could do the job, then why is there a controversy over the lack of bids? I don't buy it.

Captain_Poncho
07-22-2004, 01:35 PM
If, as you say, Halliburton is the only company in America that could do the job, then why is there a controversy over the lack of bids? I don't buy it.

So, in other words, you don't know that there is any other company who could pull it off, but since a lot of people are lobbing it around on the internet, it must be true. I guess it's easier than finding out if it's really true or not.

I see your standard for "fact" is still set where you said you'd be keeping it.

Blueflame
07-22-2004, 02:14 PM
So, in other words, you don't know that there is any other company who could pull it off, but since a lot of people are lobbing it around on the internet, it must be true. I guess it's easier than finding out if it's really true or not.

I see your standard for "fact" is still set where you said you'd be keeping it.

What proof has been presented that no other American company besides Halliburton could have handled the job? None. If you want me to buy that wild claim, I'd suggest that you post some substantiation...

Rascal
07-22-2004, 02:17 PM
What proof has been presented that no other American company besides Halliburton could have handled the job? None. If you want me to buy that wild claim, I'd suggest that you post some substantiation...

Nice spin. But he asked you provide proof that another company could do it.

I challenge you to do the same.

I work for the Federal Gov't actually, and I can tell that almost every contractor I have talked to (from Honeywell, Boeing, and others) thought that the magnitude of the Haliburton contract was staggering in terms of its size and complexity.

Every company that is in the same field as Halliburton doesn't have the capabilities to do such a project as this. They might be able to do some smaller ones, but not the whole thing.

You can argue that maybe it should have been broken up, but you haven't. And even if they did break it up, there would more problems with communication and optimization of resources. And it would have been more expensive. I can vouch for that. Any time we have project it is always easier and cheaper to have it be a big massive project then a bunch of smaller ones.

Blueflame
07-22-2004, 02:23 PM
Nice spin. But he asked you provide proof that another company could do it.

I challenge you to do the same.

I work for the Federal Gov't actually, and I can tell that almost every contractor I have talked to (from Honeywell, Boeing, and others) thought that the magnitude of the Haliburton contract was staggering in terms of its size and complexity.

I've defended my comment that Halliburton is making billions in profits from the war... the contention that they're the only American company who could handle the government contracts was not mine to prove or disprove. The fact still remains that no other American companies were given the opportunity to submit a bid on the contracts, as they were awarded without bids.

Captain_Poncho
07-22-2004, 02:38 PM
the contention that they're the only American company who could handle the government contracts was not mine to prove or disprove.

So in short, you'll believe it in spite of there being no basis in fact besides conjecture and you don't want to be bothered with actually finding out if the contrary is true.

Classic.

Blueflame
07-22-2004, 02:55 PM
So in short, you'll believe it in spite of there being no basis in fact besides conjecture and you don't want to be bothered with actually finding out if the contrary is true.

Classic.

In short, I consider the onus to be on you to prove your statement; not on me to refute it. Where's your link, Captain? :P

Captain_Poncho
07-22-2004, 03:40 PM
Wow. A spin meister extraordinaire.

Now I have to prove a negative in order for you to believe it.

Since that's impossible, I'll leave it at that, and just chalk one up to your longing to wallow in an information vacuum. I shan't be losing any sleep over your willful ignorance.

L.A. BRONCOS FAN
07-22-2004, 03:48 PM
In short, I consider the onus to be on you to prove your statement; not on me to refute it.

But Flame, this would presuppose that Panocha understands the rules of debate.

In Panocha's religiously insane world, the only rules of debate are:

a) To note that your opponent has expressed a liberal point of view and/or doesn't unconditionally smooch dubya's butt/unconditionally support the GOP.

b) To call him/her (and his sources) a few choice names and repeat a few ready-made anti-liberal epithets he learned at freerepublic.com

c) Declare victory.

Where's your link, Captain?

LOL

Good one!

Captain_Poncho
07-22-2004, 03:57 PM
I do so love you, Pinhead.

In this ever-changing world, it's nice to know there's a few constants.

Have fun spamming the board tonight.

L.A. BRONCOS FAN
07-22-2004, 04:11 PM
Just like that, Snapperhead offers us a demonstration to support those observations in post #56.

Have fun reading freerepublic.com with your lips moving, little buddy.

Blueflame
07-22-2004, 04:38 PM
Wow. A spin meister extraordinaire.

Now I have to prove a negative in order for you to believe it.

Since that's impossible, I'll leave it at that, and just chalk one up to your longing to wallow in an information vacuum. I shan't be losing any sleep over your willful ignorance.

Does this statement sound familiar to you, Captain?


"The point is, sweetie, that no other American company could do it."

You have yet to provide the slightest smidgen of proof that your statement is true; instead attempting to turn me into your personal research serf in an effort to refute said wild assertion.

When requested, I've backed up my statements... :P

L.A. BRONCOS FAN
07-22-2004, 04:48 PM
You see, Flame, Panocha is one of those religious nutters who starts from the foregone conclusion that The Bible/BushCo/GOP are always right--and then he sets out to ignore and/or discount all facts which disconfirm this belief.

Arguing politics w/ Panocha is like trying to discuss religion w/ a Jehovah's Witness.

Blueflame
07-22-2004, 04:56 PM
You see, Flame, Panocha is one of those religious nutters who starts from the foregone conclusion that The Bible/BushCo/GOP are always right--and then he sets out to ignore and/or discount all facts which disconfirm this belief.

Arguing politics w/ Panocha is like trying to discuss religion w/ a Jehovah's Witness.

LOL

While I haven't gone back through the Captain's posts...right off the top of my head, I can't recall him posting a single article in support of any of his statements. He appears very quick to require links from others, however... both to "prove" their statements and to refute his. It's like his comments are automatically presumed to be true until disproven and any other perspective must be undeniably proven down to the tiniest minutiae or it's considered false. Rather a double standard, wouldn't you say? :twitch:

L.A. BRONCOS FAN
07-22-2004, 05:14 PM
Rather a double standard, wouldn't you say?

Just like most denizens of the extreme right-wing fringe, Panocha has two sets of standards where debate is concerned: one for him and his buddies and one for all BushCo/GOP critics.

Once you've read enough of his posts, you'll see that he comes from that typical, fundamentalist "right because so-and-so says so" school of ethics.

No critical thinking required--just obedience and the 'correct' interpretation of The Bible and GOP doctrine.

It's disturbing how Rush and Fox News have indoctrinated people like Panocha with the belief that they're always right in any given political debate and that they need not provide facts or valid arguments to support their views.

L.A. BRONCOS FAN
07-22-2004, 05:16 PM
"The point is, sweetie, that no other American company could do it." --Cap'n Panocha

Is this a true statement?

Do you have actual facts/data/links to support this assertion, or are you just parroting freerepublic.com again?

Rock Chalk
07-22-2004, 06:17 PM
If, as you say, Halliburton is the only company in America that could do the job, then why is there a controversy over the lack of bids? I don't buy it.

Other countries and conglomerates outside the US didn't get a chance to bid is the controversy. While it may spring from the uneducated public in America, it was foreign nations that were intitally complaining about it if you recall correctly.

There may be American companies that can do some of the jobs required, but Haliburton is the only one I know of that is capable of handling it all from not only a professional/technical level, but more importantly an ORGANIZATIONAL level, the likes of which few companies in the world are capable of.

Haliburton is also not the only company over there doing business to my understanding. America is not the only nation doing things over there. Haliburton got its contract because of its ability to do the job and because it is an American company with American workers which helps our economy. We spent billions in the war, time for some of that to come back to us. Other companies got their contracts for their parts of which they are capable of handling and which are independant of Haliburton as well so its not like Haliburton is doing everything.

So the French get screwed, this is the price you pay for not supporting your ALLIES.

Hercules Rockefeller
07-22-2004, 06:47 PM
How many links do you want, HR? ;D

From a Google search of "Halliburton + Iraq profits".... please keep in mind that I recognize some biased sources in this sampling of articles. Normally, I wouldn't cite these sources, but Google listed them.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article4311.htm
http://us.oneworld.net/article/view/61618/1/
http://truthout.org/docs_03/060403A.shtml
http://www.counterpunch.org/leopold03202003.html
http://www.rense.com/general39/sky.htm
http://www.whodies.com/lies_profits.html
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Iraq_Halliburton_082803.htm
http://www.ccmep.org/2003_articles/Iraq/031903_cheneys_lies_about_halliburton.htm
http://www.tompaine.com/feature2.cfm/ID/8612http://money.cnn.com/2003/10/29/news/companies/halliburton_earns/?cnn=yes
http://www.rense.com/general29/dbus.htmhttp://www.endevil.com/warprofiteer.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~platter/who-profits.html
http://www.opctj.org/articles/jason-leopold-05-12-2003-001358.html

#1- $26 mil profit in 2nd quarter 2003
#2- a petition
#3- nothing about profits, just a Rep Waxman complaint letter
#4- lefty rant from Mar, 2003
#5- says same thing as #1
#6- nothing about profits, complaints on Cheney statements before the 2000 election
#7- nothing, though mentions the $26 mil profit number
#8- exact same article as #4
#9- general talk of people profiting from Iraq contracts
#10- busted link
#11- nothing
#12- same article as #4 and #8

Not one said Halliburton is making billions in profits like you claimed Blue.

watermock
07-23-2004, 12:02 AM
Kofi's cover up



Despite U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's promises to fully investigate the scandal in the Oil for Food program, United Nations officials have been doing their level best to conceal information from investigators and the public. The office of Benon Sevan, the outgoing boss of the program, has sent at least three letters to companies who participated in it urging them not to hand over documents to investigators without first clearing their release with the United Nations. Unfortunately, while Mr. Sevan has continued to stonewall, Ambassador Paul Bremer, head of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), is undercutting efforts by the Iraq Governing Council to conduct its own audit of the program.
One of Mr. Sevan's letters was sent to a firm called Cotecna Inspection SA, which for five years had responsibility for verifying that relief shipments provided through the Oil for Food program actually reached Iraqis in need. Cotecna once employed Mr. Annan's son, Kojo, according to scholar-journalist Claudia Rosett, who has played a major role in exposing the scandal. Mr. Sevan's letter to Cotecna warns that all information "shall be treated as confidential and shall be delivered only to United Nations authorized officials."

Coming from Mr. Sevan, this should raise red flags. A veteran U.N. bureaucrat, he has been at the very heart of the scandal ever since his name turned up in records found in former dictator Saddam Hussein's Oil Ministry in Baghdad. The records suggest that Mr. Sevan was given a voucher enabling him to receive 11.5 million barrels of oil as a result of Saddam's manipulation of the program — enough to earn him a profit of up to $3.5 million. Mr. Sevan, who is retiring at the end of the month, has refused to respond to press questions about his management of the program.
In his own defense, Secretary-General Annan has repeatedly asserted that he didn't know about the myriad problems in the program. He may want to take a look at some of the more than 50 reports put together by the United Nations' own Office of Internal Oversight Services — reports that he refuses to release to Congress. Just one of these reports (which was published earlier this week on the Web site www. mineweb.com), produced in 2002, goes on for close to 20 pages about U.N. malfeasance in the handling of the Cotecna contract. According to Mr. Annan, all of these problems will be fixed thanks to the work of the United Nations' own investigative team headed by former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker. Don't believe it. Given the fact that Mr. Volcker lacks subpoena power, his investigation will likely go nowhere.
Meanwhile, Claude Hankes-Drielsma, who is heading the IGC's investigation, told this newspaper yesterday that he continues to face interference from the CPA's Mr. Bremer. Mr. Hankes-Drielsma suggests that Mr. Bremer is motivated by concern that public attention to the scandal will undermine support for transferring responsibility for Iraq to the United Nations on June 30. Whatever the motivation, his refusal to release funds to pay for continuing the IGC's audit of the Oil for Food program is delaying this critical investigation. Mr. Bremer should reverse course and permit the IGC's investigation to proceed.

Your an idiot.

Captain_Poncho
07-23-2004, 08:27 AM
When requested, I've backed up my statements... :P

Sugarbritches, maybe you're not reading slowly enough - what you're asking me to do is to go out and find companies that DO NOT EXIST as "proof."

If you can't grasp the idiocy of that, then there's really nothing I can do for you.

Blueflame
07-23-2004, 03:09 PM
Sugarbritches, maybe you're not reading slowly enough - what you're asking me to do is to go out and find companies that DO NOT EXIST as "proof."

If you can't grasp the idiocy of that, then there's really nothing I can do for you.

... and we know for a fact this is true because you told us so, right? Gotcha.

It looks to me like Halliburton hasn't handled those contracts all that well, either...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=536&ncid=536&e=6&u=/ap/20040722/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/iraq_contracts

Rohirrim
07-23-2004, 03:48 PM
I'm going back through this thread to find where Blue insulted CP, and can't find any, but he keeps insulting her. Why is that? The little wienie syndrome?

Anyway, the answer to the question is real simple. Can one American company do what Halliburton does? Maybe not (though there is Bechtel). Could ten different companies do what Halliburton does? Sure, no problem. I'm sure the Cheney connection has nothing to do with it. rofl

Blueflame
07-23-2004, 04:20 PM
If I have tossed out an insult toward the Captain, it's been unintentional, Roh... normally I save the insults for the Chefs and Fade fans. ;D :P Some people do go directly to the personal remarks, however... and he appears to be one of those. Eh... whatever makes him happy, I guess. ???