WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Democrats opened a new front in their battle for the White House, attacking Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) and his old company Halliburton for alleged "cronyism" that reaped billions of dollars of business in Iraq (news - web sites).
Kerry said Cheney, who was chief executive officer of Halliburton from 1995 to 2000, received nearly two million dollars from the company since becoming vice president despite his contention he severed all financial ties.
"It is clear: George W. Bush and Dick Cheney have mismanaged every aspect of the war in Iraq," Kerry said, accusing the two men of turning a blind eye to price gouging in Iraq by "their big money friends."
"We need a president and a vice president who won't sacrifice the taxpayers' money on the altar of no-bid cronyism while our fighting men and women go without the armor and equipment they need," said the Massachusetts senator.
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