01-01-2004, 09:22 PM
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#15 (permalink)
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Junkie
Location: In the land of ice and snow.
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It is interesting that during the vietnam war, rumsfeld, then a congressman, levelled criticism against halliburton division Brown and Root for possible war profiteering.
http://www.counterpunch.org/carter12112003.html
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From 1964 into 1965, the experiment was vastly militarized. From around 23,000 troops in Vietnam by the end of 1964, the next year there were 185,000, and the next there were over 385,000. American force levels peaked at around 542,000. By all accounts a traditional society, southern Vietnam needed an infrastructure to receive this influx of military aid. Responsibility for building that necessary infrastructure was given over to the largest construction entity ever, the RMK-BRJ (Raymond International, Morrison-Knudsen, Brown & Root, and J.A. Jones Construction). Calling itself "The Vietnam Builders" and receiving highly lucrative "no bid" contracts, this consortium of private corporations was to turn southern Vietnam into a modern, integrated military installation that would enable the United States to properly defend its client. The Vietnam Builders entered into a contract with the federal government, via the U.S. Navy, as the exclusive contractor for the huge military buildup that was to come; there would be no open bidding or otherwise competitive process.
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Rumsfeld argued on behalf of serious inquiry into the whole affair saying, "under one contract, between the U.S. Government and this combine, [RMK-BRJ(Raymond International, Morrison-Knudsen, Brown & Root, and J.A. Jones Construction)] it is officially estimated that obligations will reach at least $900 million by November 1967...why this huge contract has not been and is not now being adequately audited is beyond me. The potential for waste and profiteering under such a contract is substantial." (Cong. Rec., August 30, 1966)
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Apparently they are trustworthy now. |
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