Dean Campaign Still Presses the Issue of Halliburton Scandal

[slinkerwink]

Dirty Contract

You'd think, if you were selling our government, you'd be more discreet about it.

The Bush administration awarded the vice president's old firm, Halliburton, no-bid contracts in Iraq to the tune of $2.26 billion -- a scandal by itself. But you would think that the administration would take care to ensure that Halliburton fulfilled its contracts competently -- and thus quietly.

Nope. First came news that Halliburton is trying to squeeze another $61 million out of the contract by overcharging for fuel it is supposed to provide to the Iraqi people, an episode embarrassing enough that the president himself was forced to call on his number-two's old friends to repay the money. (Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz promptly moved to prevent any further investigations like the one that led to the price-gouging revelation.)

Today Paul Krugman cited an article that makes the reality of crony contracting even more clear:

The Pentagon repeatedly warned contractor Halliburton-KBR that the food it served to US troops in Iraq was "dirty," as were as the kitchens it was served in, NBC News reported on Friday.

Halliburton-Kellogg Brown and Root's promises to improve "have not been followed through," according to a Pentagon report that warned "serious repercussions may result" if the contractor did not clean up.

The Pentagon reported finding "blood all over the floor," "dirty pans," "dirty grills," "dirty salad bars" and "rotting meats ... and vegetables" in four of the military messes the company operates in Iraq, NBC said, citing Pentagon documents.


Krugman wrapped up his piece with a history lesson and a reminder about this president's priorities:

Some Americans still seem to feel that even suggesting the possibility of profiteering is somehow unpatriotic. They should learn the story of Harry Truman, a congressman who rose to prominence during World War II by leading a campaign against profiteering. Truman believed, correctly, that he was serving his country.

On the strength of that record, Franklin Roosevelt chose Truman as his vice president. George Bush, of course, chose Dick Cheney.


You can change all this.

http://blog.deanforamerica.com

[slinkerwink]

1. while the coverage of Saddam is going on, it's amazing that DFA

is still focusing on corporate wrongdoings. Mark my word, Dean will keep bringing this up in his speeches....

[SahaleArm]

2. Are you responding to yourself? ;) n/t

[Demobrat]

3. A friend of mine heard him speak in person

for the first time Sunday. Afterwards she told me that when he was talking about taking the country back from the corporations he had her in tears. What really matters to people is their day-to-day lives, not the proverbial War On Terror. As much as the Bushies may wish otherwise.

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

4. Excellent!

Keep pouring salt on Dick Cheney's wound!

[quaker bill]

5. Excellent work as usual Slink

Change is needed. Now is the time. I hope the supremes rule that Cheney must disclose the Enron BS too.

This is the most corrupt administration since McKinley. We can count on Howard to lift the carpet to see what has been swept beneath it.

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

6. Since I have no memory of McKinley

I'll just say this is the most corrupt administration EVER.

[shanti]

8. and it won't be pretty

THE DOCTOR IS IN!!

[Eric J in MN]

7. Who writes Dean blogs?

Are those employees who travel with Dean? Volunteers around the country? How many people write the blog?

[slinkerwink]

9. it's part employees/guest writers/and volunteers