Perhaps it's all just too complicated

U.S. Probing Arms Shipped to Iraq

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 — Federal agents have turned up evidence that U.S. companies may have illegally sold sensitive equipment that wound up helping Iraq’s military, said U.S. officials, who told NBC News that criminal charges were likely.

Criminal charges? How about terrorism charges? For freak’s sake, some slob with a meth lab got terrorism charges. Companies selling arms to Iraq get criminal charges?

The reputation of Halliburton, the oil industry giant once run by Vice-President Dick Cheney, took a new blow yesterday when it admitted one of its subsidiaries had paid millions of dollars to a Nigerian official in return for tax breaks. (Article)

So what charges will that lead to?

The SEC is investigating, and the firm could face a tax bill of up to $5m in Nigeria.

Oh. None. You got caught. Pay it back.

Meanwhile Richard Perle, an influential Pentagon adviser, was accused of a new conflict of interests after it was revealed that he had briefed investors on how to profit from a potential war with Iraq or North Korea after attending a classified intelligence meeting on the two countries.

So what charges will that lead to?

The revelations will increase the pressure on Mr Perle.

Oh. None.

Not to change the subject, but…

Those troops we're supporting are getting testy. (Scoop has a five-part series of interviews on tap.) They can do without the cookies, but could you send them some body armor?

U.S. Troops' Body Armor Delayed



....oh hey, do what you want....you will anyway.