US senators act over Iraq contracts (Bipartisan support)

[NNN0LHI]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3144326.stm

The US administration is to face pressure from two senators to make the contract bidding process in Iraq come under closer scrutiny.

A Republican and Democrat have joined forces to propose a bill to either make the system more competitive, or more clearly justified if open bidding does not take place. snip

One contract, to restore the country's oil supply has gone to a subsidiary of Halliburton, the company run by Vice-President Dick Cheney before he took office. snip

Republican Senator Susan Collins and the Democrat Ron Wyden are jointly sponsoring a bill to make the way future contracts are allocated much more transparent.

more

[revcarol]

1. First rescind the old contracts,

THEN we'll talk about new ones, open to all nations, decided by Iraqis!!

Susan Collins wouldn't by any chance do anything sensible like that. Too much of a Bush-lover.

[MiddleAmericaMan]

3. Halliburton

We need to be careful about dumping on Halliburton. They have been a primary vendor under LogCAp since 1992 under Pres. Clinton.


"With the continued presence of U.S. troops in Bosnia, Brown & Root Services was awarded a two-year sole source contract by the US Army Corps of Engineers' Transatlantic Programs Center, on behalf of US Army Europe. Subsequently, the Corps competitively awarded Brown & Root Services ( Halliburton) a five-year contract, beginning in May 1999, to provide logistics services throughout the Balkans.'

[bearfan454]

4. Welcome to DU

Now you can get the real news.

[jamesinca]

6. Welcome to the DU

"With the continued presence of U.S. troops in Bosnia, Brown & Root Services was awarded a two-year sole source contract by the US Army Corps of Engineers' Transatlantic Programs Center, on behalf of US Army Europe. Subsequently, the Corps "COMPETITIVELY"

That is the difference. What is going on now in Iraq is an open ended contract that was handed to them with no competittiveness about it. I don't have a problem with a company outbidding another company or having a better service record. I do have a problem with shady deals given to these guys on wars that are not justified, that have no majority support anywhere in the world, not even the U.S.

Haliburton does not need to be shut down, this one deal does need to be investigated.

[newyawker99]

8. Hi MiddleAmericanMan!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Jack Rabbit]

5. But then Bush wouldn't have had any reason for the war

Well, we know it wasn't WMDs that didn't exist or phantom Saddam/Osama alliances or Saddam's contribution to 9/11 or anything Bush openly said it was.

If we void the contracts awarded to Bush's cronies, then what good was the war?

[pansypoo53219]

2. more to love

about Wyden!
damn, i don't even LIVE in that state. I need a man.

[MaineDem]

7. I wonder what Susie's agenda is?

She can't really be criticizing the administration in any way, can she?

I'm always wary of any of her actions.

[fabius]

9. Hooray for RON WYDEN!

He also "outed" the terror futures thing. Ron is Awesome!

He's also my Senator! I'm not counting Gordon Smith, the weasel.

I also sent him an email tonight to make sure they get to the bottom of the Plame affair. Keeping him busy. Another outrage (or dozen) every day.