Report links Iraq contracts with Bush donations - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Bill O'Rights · 10-30-2003, 03:09 PM

Quote:

WASHINGTON (AP) - Companies awarded $8 billion in contracts to rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan have been major campaign donors to President Bush, and their executives have had important political and military connections, according to a study released Thursday.

The study of more than 70 U.S. companies and individual contractors turned up more than $500,000 in donations to the president's 2000 campaign, more than they gave collectively to any other politician over the past dozen years.

The report was released by the Center for Public Integrity, a Washington-based research organization that produces investigative articles on special interests and ethics in government. Its staff includes journalists and researchers.

The Center concluded that most of the 10 largest contracts went to companies that employed former high-ranking government officials, or executives with close ties to members of Congress and even the agencies awarding their contracts.

Major contracts for Iraq and Afghanistan were awarded by the Bush administration without competitive bids, because agencies said competition would have taken too much time to meet urgent needs in both countries.

"No single agency supervised the contracting process for the government," Center executive director Charles Lewis said. "This situation alone shows how susceptible the contracting system is to waste, fraud and cronyism."

J. Edward Fox, an assistant administrator at the U.S. Agency for International Development, took issue with Lewis' statement and aspects of the report.

"It would ... be incorrect to suggest that there is no overall oversight of this process," he wrote the Center. "The USAID inspector general's review of all Iraq contracts which was requested by USAID Administrator Andrew S. Natsios on April 14th has shown that all Iraq contracts to date have been done in compliance" with federal regulations.

The top contract recipient was the Halliburton subsidiary KBR, with more than $2.3 billion awarded to support the U.S. military and restore Iraq's oil industry.

Halliburton was headed by Vice President Dick Cheney before he resigned to run with Bush in 2000.

Halliburton's top executive, Dave Lesar, said Wednesday he was offended by criticism of the company's Iraq work but believed it was "less about Halliburton and more about external political issues."

"As a company uniquely qualified to take on this difficult assignment, we will continue to bring all of our global resources to bear at this critical time in the Middle East. We have served the military for over 50 years and have no intention of backing down at this point," he said.

Bechtel was second with a $1 billion capital construction contract involving Iraq's utilities, telecommunications, railroads, ports, schools, health care facilities, bridges, roads and airports.

The company's Internet site says, "We do engage in the political process, as do most companies in the United States. We have legitimate policy interests and positions on matters before Congress, and we express them in many ways, including support for elected officials who support those positions.

"We do not expect or receive political favors or government contracts as a result of those contributions."

The Center's analysis of contractor political donations showed:

-The top 10 contractors contributed $11 million to national political parties, candidates and political action committees since 1990.

-Fourteen of the companies won contracts in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Those companies, combined, have given more than $23 million in political contributions since 1990.

-Most contractors, their political action committees and their employees have contributed just under $49 million to national political campaigns and parties since that year.

-In the same time period, contractor donations to Republican Party committees outpaced contributions to the Democrats, $12.7 million to $7.1 million.

Many of the companies with large contracts have important political connections.

Former Secretary of State George Shultz is a member of Bechtel's board of directors, although he has no management role, according to the company's Web site.

Riley Bechtel, the chairman and chief executive officer, was named early this year to the President's Export Council, which advises the president on programs to improve U.S. trade.

Jack Sheehan, senior vice president in Bechtel's petroleum and chemicals business, served on the Defense Policy Board, which advises the defense secretary on a variety of issues.

Other contractors also had connections. Among those cited by the Center:

David Kay, head of the Bush administration's search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, is a former vice president of Science Applications International Corp. He left the company in October 2002.

Christopher "Ryan" Henry left the same company as a vice president in February 2003 to become principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy.

Scott Spangler, principal owner of Chemonics International, was a senior U.S. Agency for International Development official during the first Bush administration. The company receives 90 percent of its business from USAID.

Sullivan Haave Associates Inc. was founded by Carol Haave, currently the deputy assistant secretary of defense for security and information operations.

The Center's findings are based, in part, on 73 Freedom of Information Act requests and an analysis of a federal contractor database.

Yeah, this doesn't smell...at all. /sarcasm

The_Dude · 10-30-2003, 03:15 PM

the first sign of this was all the un-bidded contracts that halliburton got in the rebuilding.

you can buy yourself contracts by donating to gwb/dc.

eple · 10-30-2003, 03:29 PM

Gosh, this Bush dude sure gets mixed up in a lot of really weird coinidences.

Food Eater Lad · 10-30-2003, 04:21 PM

Still not as bad as Clinton selling Long Range Rocket tech to Communist China for campaign funds. The single most treacherous act commited by a president in the history of the USA.

eple · 10-30-2003, 04:26 PM

Well, as long as the corruption level is equal between the parties, it's all A-OK I guess.

Superbelt · 10-30-2003, 04:29 PM

That's a whole lot of hyperbole FEL. Besides,

Bush's father did it and Bush II is doing it now.

2wolves · 10-30-2003, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Food Eater Lad
Still not as bad as Clinton selling Long Range Rocket tech to Communist China for campaign funds. The single most treacherous act commited by a president in the history of the USA.

I don't recall Ken Starr even mentioning this. Do you know something that over $70 million in tax payer dollars failed to uncover? Have you notified your local F.B.I. office of this treason?

What facts do you have to back up such wild accusations?

2Wolves

Food Eater Lad · 10-30-2003, 06:34 PM

Yes i do know something, and if you dont well shame on you. Clinton sold CHina the technology to launch long range nuclear rockets. He was denied doing this by the defence department and his responce was rerouting the information so he could do it anyway.

It's sad that you dont know this. The fact that the Communist Chinese donated money to his campaign had nothing to do with his decision to sell them this information, right?

onetime2 · 10-30-2003, 06:47 PM

Wait a second. Political donors get things from the politicians they help elect? I'm sure that is truly unique to the Bush administration.

I'm all for full disclosure of donations, a ban on soft money, and campaign finance reform. Unfortunately both parties are against it. Perhaps if we were all outraged at every instance of it rather than only being pissed off when it's the "other guy" something would be done about it.

HarmlessRabbit · 10-30-2003, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by onetime2
Wait a second. Political donors get things from the politicians they help elect? I'm sure that is truly unique to the Bush administration.

I'm all for full disclosure of donations, a ban on soft money, and campaign finance reform. Unfortunately both parties are against it. Perhaps if we were all outraged at every instance of it rather than only being pissed off when it's the "other guy" something would be done about it.

I agree. We democrats sacrificed Gray Davis for the greater good. Now it's your turn. Impeach Bush, it's the only honorable thing to do!

FAIR AND BALANCED!

onetime2 · 10-30-2003, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HarmlessRabbit
I agree. We democrats sacrificed Gray Davis for the greater good. Now it's your turn. Impeach Bush, it's the only honorable thing to do!

FAIR AND BALANCED!

Well if you can get a Presidential recall amendment passed and enough people to agree to it then I say more power to you.

Interesting that the Dems can't stand the rules when they benefit the other guy but love them when they can manipulate them to their advantage (as done here in NJ when the would be Republican Senate candidate was defeated after the sure to lose Democratic candidate pulled out at the last minute).

A good portion of politics is manipulating the rules, it happens on both sides.

HarmlessRabbit · 10-30-2003, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by onetime2
Well if you can get a Presidential recall amendment passed and enough people to agree to it then I say more power to you.

It's called impeachment. Remember that one guy, Clinton? It's not that hard. I suggest you start writing to your congressman now!

Quote:

A good portion of politics is manipulating the rules, it happens on both sides.

That logic can be used to justify any action, up to and including murder. When did the republicans lose their moral compass and declare "all's fair!"

I, myself, am shocked, yes, shocked, to find this outrageous behavior on the part of the Bush administration. Where is the republican outrage? Was it all used up on Clinton? BRING BACK THE PARTISAN WITCH HUNTS!!!

Food Eater Lad · 10-30-2003, 08:47 PM

So Harmless how do you feel that Clinton sold that tech to China for campaign funds? I would like to hear your spin.

seretogis · 10-30-2003, 09:27 PM

Harmless, organize a mass-hanging of all corrupt Republican and Democrat politicians and I will gladly provide you with the rope.

eple · 10-30-2003, 11:26 PM

You must have a lot of rope.

onetime2 · 10-31-2003, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by HarmlessRabbit
It's called impeachment. Remember that one guy, Clinton? It's not that hard. I suggest you start writing to your congressman now!

That logic can be used to justify any action, up to and including murder. When did the republicans lose their moral compass and declare "all's fair!"

I, myself, am shocked, yes, shocked, to find this outrageous behavior on the part of the Bush administration. Where is the republican outrage? Was it all used up on Clinton? BRING BACK THE PARTISAN WITCH HUNTS!!!

Such a groundless argument.

An impeachment is not a recall. Impeachment requires a crime be committed and the Senate makes the call. In the recent recall it was the VOTERS who decided and it did not require a crime.

Nothing like ignoring my stand on the matter completely. When you are equally outraged by the exact same actions of members from your own party then I might believe you're sincere. Where is the Democratic outrage at similar infractions?

Until BOTH sides get equally outraged over the PRINCIPLE of it, it will continue.

rgr22j · 10-31-2003, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The_Dude
the first sign of this was all the un-bidded contracts that halliburton got in the rebuilding.

you can buy yourself contracts by donating to gwb/dc.

This is absolutely wrong. I've addressed this before, so I'll summarize. Halliburton won the competitive emergency services contract known as LOGCAP in 1992, 1999, and 2001. It would be absurd to spend weeks opening up a competitive bidding process while oil fires raged and emergency reconstruction sat idle.

Quote:

"To invite other contractors to compete to perform a highly classified requirement that Kellogg Brown & Root was already under a competitively awarded contract to perform would have been a wasteful duplication of effort," the Army Corps of Engineers commander has written.

KBR is a subsidiary of Halliburton.

It might surprise you that after Halliburton lost the competition for LOGCAP in 1997, the Clinton administration awarded it an unbidded contract to continue its work in Kosovo, in part because of Al Gore's praise. LOGCAP exists because it makes sense to employ private contractors on multi-year contracts for emergency services -- whatever that may entail -- rather than devote military personnel to train for and handle every possible emergency requirement that may arise. It's cheaper and more effective to farm it out in the form of a competitive contract that companies bid for every few years. Halliburton is apparently good at what it does, seeing that it won the contract under both the Clinton and Bush 43 administrations.

-- Alvin

prb · 10-31-2003, 09:35 AM

We all knew where the trail would lead if we began to follow the money. Here's a chance (among others already provided) for Republicans to show they are sincere when they profess outrage at political corruption and immorality - - show that you are not "party-blind."

/not holding my breath.

10-30-2003, 03:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
The_Dude The GrandDaddy of them all! Location: Austin, TX	the first sign of this was all the un-bidded contracts that halliburton got in the rebuilding. you can buy yourself contracts by donating to gwb/dc. __________________ "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal

10-30-2003, 06:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
onetime2 Junkie Location: NJ	Wait a second. Political donors get things from the politicians they help elect? I'm sure that is truly unique to the Bush administration. I'm all for full disclosure of donations, a ban on soft money, and campaign finance reform. Unfortunately both parties are against it. Perhaps if we were all outraged at every instance of it rather than only being pissed off when it's the "other guy" something would be done about it. __________________ Strive to be more curious than ignorant.

10-30-2003, 09:27 PM	#14 (permalink)
seretogis Huggles, sir? Location: Seattle	Harmless, organize a mass-hanging of all corrupt Republican and Democrat politicians and I will gladly provide you with the rope. __________________ seretogis - sieg heil perfect little dream the kind that hurts the most, forgot how it feels well almost no one to blame always the same, open my eyes wake up in flames

10-30-2003, 03:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
eple Banned Location: norway	Gosh, this Bush dude sure gets mixed up in a lot of really weird coinidences.

10-30-2003, 04:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
Food Eater Lad Banned	Still not as bad as Clinton selling Long Range Rocket tech to Communist China for campaign funds. The single most treacherous act commited by a president in the history of the USA.

10-30-2003, 04:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
eple Banned Location: norway	Well, as long as the corruption level is equal between the parties, it's all A-OK I guess.

10-30-2003, 04:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
Superbelt This vexes me. I am terribly vexed. Location: Grantville, Pa	That's a whole lot of hyperbole FEL. Besides, Bush's father did it and Bush II is doing it now.

10-30-2003, 06:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
Food Eater Lad Banned	Yes i do know something, and if you dont well shame on you. Clinton sold CHina the technology to launch long range nuclear rockets. He was denied doing this by the defence department and his responce was rerouting the information so he could do it anyway. It's sad that you dont know this. The fact that the Communist Chinese donated money to his campaign had nothing to do with his decision to sell them this information, right?

10-30-2003, 08:47 PM	#13 (permalink)
Food Eater Lad Banned	So Harmless how do you feel that Clinton sold that tech to China for campaign funds? I would like to hear your spin.

10-30-2003, 11:26 PM	#15 (permalink)
eple Banned Location: norway	You must have a lot of rope.

10-31-2003, 09:35 AM	#18 (permalink)
prb Psycho	We all knew where the trail would lead if we began to follow the money. Here's a chance (among others already provided) for Republicans to show they are sincere when they profess outrage at political corruption and immorality - - show that you are not "party-blind." /not holding my breath.