OT: Dick Cheney's company already reaping the benefits of Iraqi war

[Vegas Vic]

http://money.cnn.com/2003/03/25/news...acts/index.htm

[MJ4H]

"Cheney divested himself of all interest in Halliburton after the 2000 election."

It's not his company.

[Hammer755]

Nice misleading title.

Cheney divested himself of all interest in Halliburton after the 2000 election.

[clintl]

His friends are still running it, and apparently most of the other companies being invited to bid have connections to administration officials and were big donors to the Bush campaign in 2000. I read yesterday that the British are annoyed that British companies are being left out of the secret bidding process the administration has set up.

[BucDawg40]

Originally posted by MattJones4Heisman
"Cheney divested himself of all interest in Halliburton after the 2000 election."

It's not his company.

I'm sure his "former" relationship with that company had nothing to do with it getting the contract.

It is always best to avoid the appearance of impropriety even if none exists.

[MJ4H]

I am merely pointing out a factual inaccuracy. The rest of the debate is up to those that care

[Ksyrup]

Has anyone here lived in the real world? This is how things work - in evey facet of life, for as long as people have been on the earth. From getting jobs, attracting clients, and influencing legislators or county officials, to getting tickets to see the effin Rose Bowl. Who here hasn't been helped in a particular situation because of someone you knew?

I don't practice federal administrative law, but I assume that there is a federal equivalent to the state bid protest rights for those companies who submit a bid that was not accepted. If a competing bidder has evidence that there was inappropriate activity which led to Haliburton securing this bid, then they should challenge the award. Otherwise, there is no issue here, IMO.

[Tekneek]

"His friends are probably running it."

Nice jump there. If you are going to say it is happening, I'd ask for a little evidence. I am not saying it isn't happening, but merely making the allegation does not make it so.

[clintl]

From what I read yesterday, the administration has set up a secret bidding process by invitation only that is legal, but looks somewhat shady. And that so far, it appears that the only companies being invited are companies with close personal ties to key administration members. The administration's rationale (or defense, if you want to view it that way) is that they need to have these companies on board as soon as possible to move into Iraq immediately after the war ends. It is probably a legitimate argument.

[Vegas Vic]

Well, for an impartial opinion, let's get Condy Rice's take on the situation.

http://aztlan.net/oiltanker.htm

[Ksyrup]

That would make sense, as putting out oil fires would probably constitute an "emergency."

[Ksyrup]

Originally posted by Vegas Vic
Well, for an impartial opinion, let's get Condy Rice's take on the situation.

http://aztlan.net/oiltanker.htm

And I say again, this surprises people? This stuff happens in every administration - it is hardly a Republican strategy. It happens on the federal level, state level, and local level. Hell, the local BP on the corner of your street is probably locally-owned by someone with ties to your county commission.

You are rewarded in this world for who you know, rarely for what you know. This is not a new concept, and it's not even a political concept.

[sabotai]

"Who here hasn't been helped in a particular situation because of someone you knew?"

ME!! (But that's probably because I haven't known anyone who was in a position to help me, at least on this level. )

[Alf]

Cheney has been the President of this company before.

However, that is pure American politics, all politicians are linked to big US companies....

[GrantDawg]

And French politics are never influenced by business. Riiiiiiiight.

[Hammer755]

Originally posted by GrantDawg
And French politics are never influenced by business. Riiiiiiiight.

That rocket fuel they sold Iraq last year is for educational purposes only.

[Maple Leafs]

This looks bad for the administration. Right or wrong, it's more ammo for the anti-Bush demonstrators.

That said, keep in mind the contract is for putting out oil fires. It's not like it's for creating some software or repaving a driveway. There are a very small number of companies in the world that have the experience/equipment/ability to do this job.

[JPhillips]

I've held off on this because I know what I have to say will get me blasted, but I just can't leave well enough alone.

This situation is outrageous. Not because Halliburton isn't qualified, but because the "bidding" was done in secret and the amount of the contract has remained secret. This administration now feels that it is okay to dispense of the competitive bidding process to reward companies that donate to the party. They also believe that the American public has no right to know how much tax payer money is being spent on these secret contracts. They are trying to cover this all up by saying its an emergency, but hell we have known we were going to go into Iraq for months. They are using the emergency provision to hide the payout.

While this isn't illegal, it certainly is corrupt. I doubt it will happen, but I hope someone in Congress has the balls to stand up and scream about it. This is just another case of the administration putting themselves above the rules and regulations that are designed to minimize corruption.

All of you who threw a fit about Whitwater or Travelgate should be incensed by this. I'm waiting to see Rush dancing his furious jig of righteous indignation over this. Oh wait, I bet he won't because he's a hypocrit.

[Fritz]

FWIW,

There is part of the govt that makes the rules. The rest of the govt looks for ways around the rules. This happens in almost every facet I have seen from human resources, to contracting, to aquisition.

[clintl]

That is true in the private sector, too, Fritz.

[Fritz]

So why should it surprise (or even bother) us that it may go this way at the executive level?

[clintl]

Because other companies that are capable of providing the services are not getting a fair chance at winning the business. Perhaps there are companies out there who could do a better job than Haliburton, and at a lower price? Good government (and good business, for that matter) does not operate that way.

It should bother us, but not surprise us.

[Hammer755]

Originally posted by clintl
Perhaps there are companies out there who could do a better job than Haliburton, and at a lower price?

Or perhaps not. Maybe, just maybe, Halliburton got the bid because they are the biggest and best company at what they do in the country and are the most qualified.

[Fritz]

Originally posted by clintl
Because other companies that are capable of providing the services are not getting a fair chance at winning the business. Perhaps there are companies out there who could do a better job than Haliburton, and at a lower price? Good government (and good business, for that matter) does not operate that way.

It should bother us, but not surprise us.

I agree with you in spirit, but the jaded side of me knows that "best" is rarely the citeria and "cheapest" is almost never the price.

[clintl]

Originally posted by Hammer755
Or perhaps not. Maybe, just maybe, Halliburton got the bid because they are the biggest and best company at what they do in the country and are the most qualified.

That may be true, but if the Administration keeps everything secret, how can we tell?

[Fritz]

Originally posted by clintl
That may be true, but if the Administration keeps everything secret, how can we tell?

decoder rings

[JPhillips]

clintl: Halliburton may be the most qualified, but that still doesn't excuse the administration for having an invite only bidding process that hands out secret contracts. Its corruption plain and simple.

[clintl]

I agree.