| Despite Halliburton airing a barrage of new ads touting its virtuous nature, the Pentagon said yesterday it "opened a criminal investigation of fraud allegations against a unit of Vice President Cheney's former company, including possible overpricing of fuel delivered to Iraq." And while the Kuwaiti Parliament has opened a similar probe, the U.S. Congress continues to sit idly by, its members seemingly paralyzed by the thousands of dollars in campaign contributions Halliburton has lavished on them for years . The company has come under increased scrutiny after it was inexplicably given almost $3 billion in contracts with no competition, and then mistreated U.S. troops and allegedly bilked U.S. taxpayers through overcharging/kickback schemes. The new investigation adds to the growing list of criminal probes of the company.
QUESTIONABLE ALLEIGENCE, PART I: While the new investigation appears to be a positive step in holding Halliburton accountable for its behavior, it appears the probe may already be tainted. Specifically, the investigation being run out of a wing of the Pentagon's Inspector General Office – an office whose Chief of Staff is Whitewater figure L. Jean Lewis . As Joe Conason reported, "Lewis proved repeatedly that her relationship with the truth was rather distant, even while under oath -- and she was deeply partisan and incompetent as well." Her partisan sensibilities are so honed that she "used to peddle 'Presidential BITCH' memorabilia, betokening her hatred of Hillary Clinton." |
I have more links to Halliburton hijinks on my web page.
Please note that bit about Congress and Halliburton's campaign contributions. We cannot count on this Congress to help us out of our dire straits. Members of both parties are equally beholden to corporate interests. This is the issue Ralph Nader is pursuing. And it is arguably the most important issue of all, as its tentacles reach into every other aspect of our American lives and policies.
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
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