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**Snowolf** · 06-13-2008, 04:34 AM

Thanks to Perp for posting this at TOS!

Capitalism is alive and well in Iraq.....

Halliburton and other top contractors continue to steal billions from the American tax payer while being protected by the Bush administration.

Quote:

BBC uncovers lost Iraq billions
By Jane Corbin
BBC News

Waxman: "It may well turn out to be the largest war profiteering in history."

A BBC investigation estimates that around $23bn (£11.75bn) may have been lost, stolen or just not properly accounted for in Iraq.

The BBC's Panorama programme has used US and Iraqi government sources to research how much some private contractors have profited from the conflict and rebuilding.

A US gagging order is preventing discussion of the allegations.

The order applies to 70 court cases against some of the top US companies.

War profiteering

While Presdient George W Bush remains in the White House, it is unlikely the gagging orders will be lifted.

To date, no major US contractor faces trial for fraud or mismanagement in Iraq.

The president's Democratic opponents are keeping up the pressure over war profiteering in Iraq.

Henry Waxman, who chairs the House committee on oversight and government reform, said: "The money that's gone into waste, fraud and abuse under these contracts is just so outrageous, it's egregious.

"It may well turn out to be the largest war profiteering in history."

In the run-up to the invasion, one of the most senior officials in charge of procurement in the Pentagon objected to a contract potentially worth $7bn that was given to Halliburton, a Texan company which used to be run by Dick Cheney before he became vice-president.

Unusually only Halliburton got to bid - and won.

Missing billions

The search for the missing billions also led the programme to a house in Acton in west London where Hazem Shalaan lived until he was appointed to the new Iraqi government as minister of defence in 2004.

Judge Radhi al Radhi: "I believe these people are criminals."
He and his associates siphoned an estimated $1.2bn out of the ministry. They bought old military equipment from Poland but claimed for top-class weapons.

Meanwhile they diverted money into their own accounts.

Judge Radhi al-Radhi of Iraq's Commission for Public Integrity investigated.

He said: "I believe these people are criminals.

"They failed to rebuild the Ministry of Defence, and as a result the violence and the bloodshed went on and on - the murder of Iraqis and foreigners continues and they bear responsibility."

Mr Shalaan was sentenced to two jail terms but he fled the country.

He said he was innocent and that it was all a plot against him by pro-Iranian MPs in the government.

There is an Interpol arrest warrant out for him but he is on the run - using a private jet to move around the globe.

He stills owns commercial properties in the Marble Arch area of London.

Source

PaoloSmythe · 06-16-2008, 05:26 AM

i thought gezsweet was the one to start the thread elsewhere
(which in any event was a mere repetition of my own suggestion that y'all go check it out once it is on line....?)

**Snowolf** · 06-16-2008, 05:47 AM

Ah, you are right, my bad...it was Gezsweet. Yeah, we have to go to the BBC or other European media to get any semblance of the truth. Somehow it does not surprise me that you knew of this story before us, we can`t get objective reporting here anymore.

Thanks to Bill Clinton signing the 1994 Telecommunications Act, our entire media is the hands of a very few extremely powerful people like Rupert Murdock and AOL-Time Warner and GE; all big supporters of the Republican machine. Welcome to the redux of the old Soviet TASS News Agency! I view Air America and Nova M as the modern day equivalent of Radio Free Europe! I urge anyone who has questions about what you are being told and more importantly what you`re not being told, to find an Air America or Nova M affiliate in your area for progressive talk radio! You can also pod cast on line. This kind of talk radio will be a breath of fresh air to you after being subject to Limbaugh and all his wannabes up and down the AM dial!

Air America Radio

Nova M Radio - The Home of Randi Rhodes & Mike Malloy

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