More Bush "friends" to do business in Iraq & take YOUR MONEY.

[JanMichael]

http://news.yahoo.com/?tmpl=story&cid=68&ncid=68&e=1&u=/nyt/20030930/ts_nyt/washingtoninsidersnewfirmconsultsoncontractsiniraq

Nice, eh?

Edit: I should ad some more...

"WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 A group of businessmen linked by their close ties to President Bush (news - web sites), his family and his administration have set up a consulting firm to advise companies that want to do business in Iraq (news - web sites), including those seeking pieces of taxpayer-financed reconstruction projects."

"The firm, New Bridge Strategies, is headed by Joe M. Allbaugh, Mr. Bush's campaign manager in 2000 and the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (news - web sites) until March. Other directors include Edward M. Rogers Jr., vice chairman, and Lanny Griffith, lobbyists who were assistants to the first President George Bush and now have close ties to the White House."


"At a time when the administration seeks Congressional approval for $20.3 billion to rebuild Iraq, part of an $87 billion package for military and other spending in Iraq and Afghanistan (news - web sites), the company's Web site, www.newbridgestrategies.com, says, "The opportunities evolving in Iraq today are of such an unprecedented nature and scope that no other existing firm has the necessary skills and experience to be effective both in Washington, D.C., and on the ground in Iraq."

Meet your robbers. I hate these people.

[ComerPerro]

1. Rate this story HIGH

This is just getting nauseating...

[Rowdyboy]

2. New Bridge Strategies is also run by two of Haley Barbour's

lobbying partners! Basically, all done work in Iraq, either by American firms, foreigner or Iraqi's must come through "firms' like this.

I e-mailed the info to Gov Musgrove's re-election committee today and hope someone is awake there. This is really news, but it could easily be slid under the rug.

[JanMichael]

3. I hope this doesn't vanish.

It's such a nice portrait of greed and avarice.

[JanMichael]

4. Damn. It's already vanishing...

:kick:

[Rowdyboy]

5. Kick

Why are people raising HELL about Clark/Dean/Kucinich et al when this SERIOUS STORY about corruption in the administration drops like a lead cannonball? Jez, people, get your priorities straight. While we've nyah-nyahing over bullcrap and flaming each other over trivialities, they're raiding the vault 24/7...

[JanMichael]

6. Beats me. I see this sort of cronyism as a weapon.

Why shouldn't we cry "STOP THIEVES!"?

The Wilson story is awesome but, as you said, while we argue and gloat the Treasury is being emptied and corruption run rampent.

[Misinformed01]

7. John Edwards sees it as a weapon too

I am liking him more and more every day. Here is the Atlanta Constitution Journal article on what Edwards had to say about this:

The connections drew criticism Tuesday from Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, who called for an independent oversight board to ensure that Iraq reconstruction money is doled out fairly.

"This is an administration of the insiders, by the insiders and for the insiders. This is just further evidence of it," Edwards, a senator from North Carolina, said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "Vice President Cheney's Halliburton has more than $2 billion in Iraq reconstruction contracts and we now find out that Bush's campaign manager, Joe Allbaugh, who just left government, has set up a business to procure business contracts on Iraq."



http://ajc.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&expire=&urlID=7739879&fb=Y&partnerID=552

[JanMichael]

10. I agree, Edwards is a hell of a candidate..Screw that, he's a great...

...Representative of the People.

Actually my personal favs are Kucinich and Edwards. DK is more to the Left but Edwards is trending that way.

I wish his campaign would get some traction, maybe an all out assualt on this type of cronyism could do it?

[Misinformed01]

12. What are you talking about???

The John Edwards in the article was the guy on TV that talks to dead people, and in this case was relaying a message from Harry Truman-

omg, I am wayy too funny tonight...time for my shower-

Edited for cracking myself up and not checking my spelling-

[laura888]

8. kick! n/t

n/t

[imax2268]

9. Isn't that war profiteering...?

I heard that term used several times today...

[JanMichael]

11. Yes it is. It's disgusting and criminal IMHO.

Once these crooks are pried from office there needs to be some punishment meted out.

[tjdee]

13. John Edwards wants an independent oversight board to

make sure that Iraq reconstruction money is given out fairly--read, not just to Halliburton and people who worked for Bush.

His campaign sent me an email today about this and how pissed Edwards was about it.

on edit--I see someone beat me to posting the story LOL.
:-)