Cheney firm's £40m MoD deal

[cal04]

THE MULTIBILLION-pound project to build Britain’s biggest ever warships will be placed under the control of controversial American military firm Halliburton, under an extraordinary deal to be announced this week. The Ministry of Defence is expected to confirm that the controversial firm, closely linked to US vice-president Dick Cheney, will be installed to manage the construction of the two "super-carriers", in a move that will have far-reaching implications for Scottish shipbuilding.

But Scotland on Sunday understands that, in an unprecedented move, ministers will retain a "veto" over major decisions relating to the £4bn construction contract - in particular where the massive vessels will be assembled.


Opposition parties, and Labour MPs, have warned that giving a huge American organisation a central role in the most important defence contract issued by Tony Blair’s government will renew complaints about his close links with the US and the Bush administration. But Halliburton has also attracted criticism over its business dealings, particularly relating to other contracts it has won around the world.


"This group appear to have the finger of suspicion pointing at them over bribery and corruption in their own country and elsewhere in the world," the Gordon MP said. "The British government does not seem to have investigated whether the British subsidiary is operating to the same standards. We should be investigating thoroughly before entering into arrangements like this." Halliburton’s record in the UK has also provoked concerns. The group has only been awarded one major UK defence contract, to construct earthquake-proof docks for refitting Trident nuclear submarines at Devonport shipyard in Plymouth, but the costs eventually soared beyond £900m, almost double the estimate

http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=85902005&20050123121141

[LynnTheDem]

1. bush Cartel; so far beyond mere CORRUPTION.

Imagine a Prez (D) and VP (D) doing ANY SINGLE ONE of these constant streams of connections and war-profiteering and corruption and law-breaking of bushCartel. ANY SINGLE ONE would have a (D) impeached and in f*cking JAIL!

[McKenzie]

2. there aren't more than a handful of locations

where the ships could be built in Scotland. The Forth and Clyde yards are the only places that have the infrastructure to accommodate big projects like this one.

Given the boost to Scotland's economy there'll be a lot of glossing over of the issues. And the local MSP's will be desperate to secure jobs for their constituencies. Another powerful reason to avoid probing too deeply into the murkier aspects of Halliburton's operations.

I'm deeply saddened. There has always been a strong socialist tradition in Clydeside. The Red Clydesiders scared the shit out of the government of the time, so much so that Scottish troops were replaced by English regiments in case the Scots mutinied. Tanks were even deployed in central Glasgow on 31 January 1919.

If Halliburton set up in Clydeside it'll be an irony. The birthplace of today's Labour Movement.

[Goldeneye]

3. well, well, well. I can't say that I'm surprised.

Cheney's old pals get another contract...this time from Britain.