Blood Money
Government auditors told Congress that a review of the $57 billion of Iraq contracts, they could get access to, they have found more than $10 billion in unaccounted spending. That’s nearly one stolen dollar for ever six actually spent. In addition there’s the $9 billion of Iraqi money that’s unaccounted for.
More than $2.7 billion of the unaccounted for money was paid to Halliburton. Its CEO, David Lesar, took home more than $12 million in 2005, according to “Forbes” magazine. Since the war began Lesar’s stock gained over $100 million, thanks to Halliburton’s previous CEO, Vice President Dick Cheney, the single greatest advocate of the Iraq war.
David Lesar is not only a Bush donor, but he sits on the board of the American Iranian Council, which identifies itself as “a catalyst for change through dialogue and understanding.” He and the other contractor CEOs seek to get pro-war candidates elected to office.
The heads of these corporations are funding candidates who will give them business, and look the other way. They expect no oversight, transparency, or checking on the contracts. Corporations want a blank check and to be able to fill in the zeros. We keep hearing about Halliburton because they have a lock on the government and the military. Interconnecting board of directors are composed of former generals, senators, congressmen and high elected officials.
Democrats are holding hearings to expose the problem and have introduced legislation to stiffen penalties for war profiteers. They want to make contracts more competitive and require qualifications for the some of the contracting oversight positions now held by Republican political appointees.
For every dollar Democrats spend in oversight, they get $106 dollars back for the taxpayer. Nevertheless, there are elected officials, who are resisting any oversight of corporations and contractors.
More than $2.7 billion of the unaccounted for money was paid to Halliburton. Its CEO, David Lesar, took home more than $12 million in 2005, according to “Forbes” magazine. Since the war began Lesar’s stock gained over $100 million, thanks to Halliburton’s previous CEO, Vice President Dick Cheney, the single greatest advocate of the Iraq war.
David Lesar is not only a Bush donor, but he sits on the board of the American Iranian Council, which identifies itself as “a catalyst for change through dialogue and understanding.” He and the other contractor CEOs seek to get pro-war candidates elected to office.
The heads of these corporations are funding candidates who will give them business, and look the other way. They expect no oversight, transparency, or checking on the contracts. Corporations want a blank check and to be able to fill in the zeros. We keep hearing about Halliburton because they have a lock on the government and the military. Interconnecting board of directors are composed of former generals, senators, congressmen and high elected officials.
Democrats are holding hearings to expose the problem and have introduced legislation to stiffen penalties for war profiteers. They want to make contracts more competitive and require qualifications for the some of the contracting oversight positions now held by Republican political appointees.
For every dollar Democrats spend in oversight, they get $106 dollars back for the taxpayer. Nevertheless, there are elected officials, who are resisting any oversight of corporations and contractors.
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