[Mo Noyz]

Originally Posted by Mini Me

Ever heard of Haliburton?

Yes, I have.

They started contracting with the U.S. government as early as World War II. They built the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station. They also built warships during that era.

Ever since then, our government has contracted them for various projects. Including LOGCAP. A contract they actually lost the bid on in 1997, under President Clinton, but were awarded anyway.

Most folks, yourself included, were not even aware of this.



Bonus round:

You gave me an easy one, so I will allow you another.

[FantasyGod]

LOGCAP

Under the contract, known as "LOGCAP" (or Logistics Civilian Augmentation Program), Halliburton is responsible for providing supplies and services to the military on a global basis. In 1985, the military created LOGCAP with the purpose of privatizing more of the duties involved in civil logistics. The military first used LOGCAP in 1988 to construct and maintain two petroleum pipeline systems in Southwest Asia in support of contingency operations. But most of the military's civil logistics activities were still not privatized.
It was Dick Cheney, as defense secretary in 1992, who spearheaded the movement to privatize most of the military's civil logistics activities. In 1997, two years after Cheney became CEO of Halliburton, Haliburtion unit KBR's LOGCAP contract was not renewed and the government alleged the company engaged in fraudulent billing practices. The independent auditing arm of Congress, the GAO, had criticized KBR's performance during America's war in the Balkans. GAO said KBR's cost-overruns in the Balkans inflated the original contract price by 32 percent. After KBR was effectively fired by the Army in 1997, the LOGCAP contract was awarded to Halliburton competitor DynCorp. But, after Cheney became vice president in 2001, DynCorp was fired and KBR was re-awarded the contract.

Haliburton's condensed rap sheet

Fact #1
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Vice President Dick Cheney, who has called Iran "the world's leading exporter of terror," pushed to lift U.S. trade sanctions against Tehran while chairman of Halliburton Co. in the 1990s. Even with the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act in place, Halliburton continues to operate in Iran. It pays the Department of Commerce $15,000 to settle allegations that the company has broken anti-boycott provisions of the U.S. Export Administration Act for an Iran-related transaction, without admitting wrongdoing. Halliburton also continues to do business in Libya throughout Cheney's tenure. And his company's offshore subsidiaries also expanded business in Iran. Halliburton's foreign subsidiaries did about $65 million in business with Iran last year, company documents say. A federal grand jury is investigating whether Halliburton or its executives deliberately violated the U.S. ban on trade with Iran.

Fact #2
The GAO (General Accounting Office), the auditing arm of Congress, reports that KBR overbilled the Army for costs associated with its work in Kosovo. It is revealed that the firm used more workers and equipment than necessary to clean offices and provide electricity and backup power supplies to bases, and charged nearly $86 per sheet for plywood that it bought for $14.06.

Fact #3
Documents from the Army Corp of Engineers show Halliburton overcharged the government for importing gasoline into Iraq from Kuwait. The company was charging $2.64 per gallon to transport gasoline into Iraq while its competitors were transporting gasoline for less than half that price. For example, the Iraqi state oil company and the Pentagon's Defense Energy Support Center had been transporting gasoline from Kuwait to Iraq for less than half of Halliburton's price.

Fact #4
Halliburton unit KBR overcharged the U.S. government for meals supplied to troops at five military bases in Iraq and Kuwait during 2003. The company had overcharged by $27.4 million over a 9-month period. In one military camp in July 2003, KBR billed the government for an average 42,000 meals a day but served only 14,000 meals.

Fact #5
In May of 2003, Halliburton reported to the Security Exchange Commission (SEC) that company employees made $2.4 million in "improper payments" to officials of Nigeria's Federal Inland Revenue Service in 2001 and 2002 "to obtain favorable tax treatment." "Based on the findings of the investigation we have terminated several employees," Halliburton said in the filing, adding that none of its senior officers was involved in the bribe. But the Houston Chronicle later pointed out, "left unanswered is how a 'low-level employee could channel that much money from the company to the pockets of a corrupt official."

Fact #6
Halliburton failed to disclose the change in its accounting practice to investors for over a year, thereby allowing the company's financial statements to appear more profitable than was actually the case. According to Newsday, the cost overruns accounted for a growing portion of Halliburton's book revenues every year, climbing from $89 million in 1989 to $234 million in 2001. Several shareholder class action lawsuits were filed against Halliburton, alleging the company violated U.S. securities laws and defrauded stockholders.

[phobiaphobe]

Presidential debates would be so much cooler with Google.

[Mo Noyz]

"In 1997, when LOGCAP was again put up for bid, Halliburton/Brown & Root lost the competition to another contractor, Dyncorp. But the Clinton Defense Department, rather than switch from Halliburton to Dyncorp, elected to award a separate, sole-source contract to Halliburton/Brown & Root to continue its work in the Balkans. According to a later GAO study, the Army made the choice because 1) Brown & Root had already acquired extensive knowledge of how to work in the area; 2) the company "had demonstrated the ability to support the operation"; and 3) changing contractors would have been costly. The Army's sole-source Bosnia contract with Brown & Root lasted until 1999. At that time, the Clinton Defense Department conducted full-scale competitive bidding for a new contract. The winner was . . . Halliburton/Brown & Root. The company continued its work in Bosnia uninterrupted."

http://www.nationalreview.com/york/york070903.asp

Originally Posted by Fantasy World

But, after Cheney became vice president in 2001, DynCorp was fired and KBR was re-awarded the contract.

Brilliantly worded. KBR won the contract bid in '01.

" The LOGCAP arrangement began in 1992, with KBR's predecessor Brown & Root the first winner. It held the contract until 1997 when the General Accounting Office discovered Brown & Root had overcharged the Army for its work on the war and peacekeeping mission in Bosnia. DynCorp won the contract in 1997, but KBR won it back in December 2001 and will hold it for 10 years, according to the contract terms."

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/022605A.shtml


Halliburton was not fired in '97, and Dyncorp was not fired in '01.

[FantasyGod]

Originally Posted by Mo Noyz

Halliburton was not fired in '97, and Dyncorp was not fired in '01.

???

I couldn't locate that 'later GAO study' as quoted by Byron. I still can't.

[Bacchus]

I simply do not have the energy, or the desire, to argue politics any more on the internet. It is butting heads to the nth degree. That said, bless you FantasyGod, for picking up my slack. Good research, no matter what the "rightie" says.

[Mo Noyz]

Originally Posted by FantasyGod

???

I couldn't locate that 'later GAO study' as quoted by Byron. I still can't.

I'm not getting you here.

Nobody was fired.

If you can show me differently, I'm listening.

Originally Posted by Mini Me

I simply do not have the energy, or the desire, to argue politics any more on the internet.

Of course not. You have no ammunition. Only pointless and unfounded thoughts that are being fed to you by(insert your favorite rag/op-ed columnist here).

That said, bless you FantasyGod, for picking up my slack.

Yes, thank you FantasyGod for actually doing your homework. God knows it's far beyond the miniature one to do so.

[stegen]

Originally Posted by Bacchus

I simply do not have the energy, or the desire, to argue politics any more on the internet. It is butting heads to the nth degree. That said, bless you FantasyGod, for picking up my slack. Good research, no matter what the "rightie" says.

hell, if i can do it, you can.

[Bacchus]

Originally Posted by stegen

hell, if i can do it, you can.

Just don't give a ****... Let these poor deluded beings enjoy while they can - all things come full circle, and one day shrub will be out to pasture. Just not soon enough, I fear.

[Mo Noyz]

Keep talking **** you cannot back up.

It makes my day.

[Bacchus]

I am so glad that this is all it takes to "make your day". How sad. Have you tried getting a real life?

[Mo Noyz]

Here fishy, fishy.................

You have zero credibilty when it comes to politics, Bacchus. Even though I think you are a good person.

[Bacchus]

Originally Posted by Mo Noyz

Here fishy, fishy.................

You have zero credibilty when it comes to politics, Bacchus. Even though I think you are a good person.

Well, thanks for the compliment - really. For some reason unknown, I have respect for you also. As for credibility, I tend to shoot from the hip regarding politics, or is that shoot my mouth off? Just don't have the desire to take the time to attach a bizillion links when the truth is already so obvious. That said, let's just say that we disagree. /insert semi-serious fingertip handshake here/...

[FantasyGod]

Originally Posted by Mo Noyz

I'm not getting you here.

Nobody was fired.

If you can show me differently, I'm listening.

I was referring to Bryon York, the author of the article you sourced. The GAO report I was looking for is the Byron refers to.

From Byron's article:
"In 1997, when LOGCAP was again put up for bid, Halliburton/Brown & Root lost the competition to another contractor, Dyncorp. But the Clinton Defense Department, rather than switch from Halliburton to Dyncorp, elected to award a separate, sole-source contract to Halliburton/Brown & Root to continue its work in the Balkans. According to a later GAO study, the Army made the choice because 1) Brown & Root had already acquired extensive knowledge of how to work in the area; 2) the company "had demonstrated the ability to support the operation"; and 3) changing contractors would have been costly. The Army's sole-source Bosnia contract with Brown & Root lasted until 1999. At that time, the Clinton Defense Department conducted full-scale competitive bidding for a new contract. The winner was . . . Halliburton/Brown & Root. The company continued its work in Bosnia uninterrupted."

Because of expertise and experience of the Haliburton subisidiary in the region, the Defense Department awarded a contract separate of LOGCAP specific to the Balkans. LOGCAP is much larger than just the Balkans and, if my memory serves me correct, extends from Haiti to halfway around the world in Somalia. In essence, Haliburton lost LOGCAP for a few years but was employed through a different contract.

[matt232]

Originally Posted by Bacchus

Just don't have the desire to take the time to attach a bizillion links

WHAT!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Take that back!!! Now!!!!!!

[Mojave954]

Originally Posted by Bacchus

Just don't have the desire to take the time to attach a bizillion links when the truth is already so obvious. That said, let's just say that we disagree. /insert semi-serious fingertip handshake here/...

Wow, this is almost as bad as when they stopped Calvin and Hobbes.

Another era ends....

[aussie_929]

Originally Posted by Bacchus

I simply do not have the energy, or the desire, to argue politics any more on the internet. It is butting heads to the nth degree. That said, bless you FantasyGod, for picking up my slack. Good research, no matter what the "rightie" says.

Especially with the people in this forum.

[Bacchus]

Originally Posted by aussie_929

Especially with the people in this forum.

Exactly!!

Just thought a jump start would be humorous, if nothing else...

[Mo Noyz]

*ahem*

I'm sorry, Bacchus. Is there something you'd like to discuss?

[Bacchus]

Ah, ah, ahhhhh! It's obvious what you're up to!

You know, I really would like to sit across from you and discuss things one day. Would probably be quite the conversation - yes, I would behave you loser leftie.

[Mo Noyz]

Awwww...............

C'mon, Bacchie. Just this one time. Any subject. Your choice.

[jaim]

Oh, don't forget to mention that Haliburton is running some of its contracts in Iraq out of the cayman islands. Of couse to avoid U.S. taxes. And don't forget to mention
http://www.whistleblowers.org/Army_Contract_Official_Critical_of_Halliburton_Pac t_Is_Demoted_-_New_York_Times.htm

Also, why do right wingnuts always reference stuff from 8-10 years ago? I work with a guy such that when ever I point out the obvious corruption in the current administration he always starts talking about the 1990's and how bad Clinton was then. We are living in the here and now. Haliburton is getting my tax money, now, in no bid contracts because this administration has the second in command still on Haliburton's payroll.

[oldgoat]

Originally Posted by FantasyGod

LOGCAP

Under the contract, known as "LOGCAP" (or Logistics Civilian Augmentation Program), Halliburton is responsible for providing supplies and services to the military on a global basis. In 1985, the military created LOGCAP with the purpose of privatizing more of the duties involved in civil logistics. The military first used LOGCAP in 1988 to construct and maintain two petroleum pipeline systems in Southwest Asia in support of contingency operations. But most of the military's civil logistics activities were still not privatized.
It was Dick Cheney, as defense secretary in 1992, who spearheaded the movement to privatize most of the military's civil logistics activities. In 1997, two years after Cheney became CEO of Halliburton, Haliburtion unit KBR's LOGCAP contract was not renewed and the government alleged the company engaged in fraudulent billing practices. The independent auditing arm of Congress, the GAO, had criticized KBR's performance during America's war in the Balkans. GAO said KBR's cost-overruns in the Balkans inflated the original contract price by 32 percent. After KBR was effectively fired by the Army in 1997, the LOGCAP contract was awarded to Halliburton competitor DynCorp. But, after Cheney became vice president in 2001, DynCorp was fired and KBR was re-awarded the contract.

Haliburton's condensed rap sheet

Fact #1
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Vice President Dick Cheney, who has called Iran "the world's leading exporter of terror," pushed to lift U.S. trade sanctions against Tehran while chairman of Halliburton Co. in the 1990s. Even with the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act in place, Halliburton continues to operate in Iran. It pays the Department of Commerce $15,000 to settle allegations that the company has broken anti-boycott provisions of the U.S. Export Administration Act for an Iran-related transaction, without admitting wrongdoing. Halliburton also continues to do business in Libya throughout Cheney's tenure. And his company's offshore subsidiaries also expanded business in Iran. Halliburton's foreign subsidiaries did about $65 million in business with Iran last year, company documents say. A federal grand jury is investigating whether Halliburton or its executives deliberately violated the U.S. ban on trade with Iran.

Fact #2
The GAO (General Accounting Office), the auditing arm of Congress, reports that KBR overbilled the Army for costs associated with its work in Kosovo. It is revealed that the firm used more workers and equipment than necessary to clean offices and provide electricity and backup power supplies to bases, and charged nearly $86 per sheet for plywood that it bought for $14.06.

Fact #3
Documents from the Army Corp of Engineers show Halliburton overcharged the government for importing gasoline into Iraq from Kuwait. The company was charging $2.64 per gallon to transport gasoline into Iraq while its competitors were transporting gasoline for less than half that price. For example, the Iraqi state oil company and the Pentagon's Defense Energy Support Center had been transporting gasoline from Kuwait to Iraq for less than half of Halliburton's price.

Fact #4
Halliburton unit KBR overcharged the U.S. government for meals supplied to troops at five military bases in Iraq and Kuwait during 2003. The company had overcharged by $27.4 million over a 9-month period. In one military camp in July 2003, KBR billed the government for an average 42,000 meals a day but served only 14,000 meals.

Fact #5
In May of 2003, Halliburton reported to the Security Exchange Commission (SEC) that company employees made $2.4 million in "improper payments" to officials of Nigeria's Federal Inland Revenue Service in 2001 and 2002 "to obtain favorable tax treatment." "Based on the findings of the investigation we have terminated several employees," Halliburton said in the filing, adding that none of its senior officers was involved in the bribe. But the Houston Chronicle later pointed out, "left unanswered is how a 'low-level employee could channel that much money from the company to the pockets of a corrupt official."

Fact #6
Halliburton failed to disclose the change in its accounting practice to investors for over a year, thereby allowing the company's financial statements to appear more profitable than was actually the case. According to Newsday, the cost overruns accounted for a growing portion of Halliburton's book revenues every year, climbing from $89 million in 1989 to $234 million in 2001. Several shareholder class action lawsuits were filed against Halliburton, alleging the company violated U.S. securities laws and defrauded stockholders.

Wow !

[oldgoat]

Originally Posted by Bacchus

I simply do not have the energy, or the desire, to argue politics any more on the internet. It is butting heads to the nth degree. That said, bless you FantasyGod, for picking up my slack. Good research, no matter what the "rightie" says.

I agree Bach, it looks like we have Fantasygod to do the work that I admit I'm to lazy to do. Thanks fantasyGod