Howard Dean - Profiteering and the Rising Cost of the Iraq War

[RogueTrooper]

TACOMA, WA--Governor Dean issued the following statement about the increasing cost of the Iraq war and new revelations of war profiteering:

"Little did we know that the real 'Shock and Awe' campaign being conducted by the Bush administration was right here at home.
"Are we shocked any more that the Bush Administration pushed the price tag for this war above $200 billion yesterday?

"Are we in awe that the latest $50 billion for the war will come on top of the outrageous half-trillion dollar deficit the President is already running up next year?

"Are we shocked that large corporate interests close to the President are making out like bandits? That on top of overcharging for gas and engaging in kickbacks, Halliburton now stands accused of overcharging the U.S. military $16 million for meals?

Howard Dean

[jean]

1. Please keep hanging in there, Gov Dean!

[blm]

2. Isn't Dean advisor Toby Moffett a lobbyist for war profiteering firms?

Shouldn't Dean DEMAND his own advisor quit profitting from Iraq FIRST?

washingtonpost.com > Politics > Federal Page
Lobbyists Set Sights On Money-Making Opportunities in Iraq

By Thomas B. Edsall and Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, October 2, 2003; Page A21


Some of Washington's top Republican lobbyists are counting on ties to the Bush administration, the congressional leadership and the Iraqi provisional government to turn the embattled country into a major new profit center.


"It's like a huge pot of honey that's attracting a lot of flies," said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).
>>>>>>>
Another lobbying firm run by former House Appropriations Committee chairman Bob Livingston (R-La.) is representing well-placed Iraqi families seeking to form business alliances with U.S. and foreign companies interested in setting up operations in the country, and the firm is exploring working with a Jordanian pharmaceutical firm and an Iraqi business family to produce antibiotics for Iraq.

The Livingston Group is also working on behalf of De La Rue, a British printing and paper company that has won a contract to print some of Iraq's currency, and is now seeking to produce secure travel documents for the fledgling government. Anthony J. "Toby" Moffett Jr., a former Democratic representative from Connecticut who works with Livingston, said his firm's first task was to "make sure the people in decision-making positions knew the severity of the problem as regards to security documentation. We had to try to convince the U.S. government they need to fix this issue sooner rather than later."
>>>>>>>>

[joshcryer]

6. Um, Dean's position is "what's done is done."

So I doubt very seriously he needs to demand that someone who works for, you know, getting Iraqi's back into civilization, quit.

The question is whether or not said people had vested interest before the war, and had the power to make the war a reality (ie, the puppetmaster).

[maddezmom]

8. was he also a VP of Monsato?

http://www.livingstongroupdc.com/practiceareas/internationalrelations.html

Director: Honorable Anthony J. Moffett -- Former subcommittee chairman on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Named "Best Member of Congress" by Consumer Federation of America. Served as Vice President of The Monsanto Company, responsible for international external affairs.

[blm]

13. And in alliance with Livingston (R-pervert) ?????

.

[Cheswick2.0]

16. Isn't Kerry special interest money whore of the senate?

for the past 15 years too.

[Straight Shooter]

3. Ringing the bell for a deaf population, Howard

But I'm sure Kerry will notice when they begin to respond to your words and he'll begin to repeat your message. Kerry the Parrot.

[jean]

4. his bell gets a head jerk response from the media - keep it up!

[blm]

5. I dare you to read their foreign policy and environment speeches

from earlier last year and then post your review about who parroted who. Please note that Kerry made his speeches before Dean.

Too bad some of you are only listening to Kerry now so you THINK he's stealing from your boy who only switched to left positions last year while Kerry's left positions are over his entire career.

[joshcryer]

9. Did Kerry make these supposed speeches on the campaign trail?

I'd be curious to read one... does Kerry keep his speeches arvhived anywhere?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

10. Comparison made easy

But the burden is also clearly on the Bush Administration to do the hard work of building a broad coalition at the U.N. and the necessary work of educating America about the rationale for war.

As I have said frequently and repeat here today, the United States should never go to war because it wants to, the United States should go to war because we have to. And we don't have to until we have exhausted the remedies available, built legitimacy and earned the consent of the American people, absent, of course, an imminent threat requiring urgent action.

The Administration must pass this test. I believe they must take the time to do the hard work of diplomacy. They must do a better job of making their case to the American people and to the world.

I have no doubt of the outcome of war itself should it be necessary. We will win. But what matters is not just what we win but what we lose. We need to make certain that we have not unnecessarily twisted so many arms, created so many reluctant partners, abused the trust of Congress, or strained so many relations, that the longer term and more immediate vital war on terror is made more difficult. And we should be particularly concerned that we do not go alone or essentially alone if we can avoid it, because the complications and costs of post-war Iraq would be far better managed and shared with United Nation's participation. And, while American security must never be ceded to any institution or to another institution's decision, I say to the President, show respect for the process of international diplomacy because it is not only right, it can make America stronger - and show the world some appropriate patience in building a genuine coalition. Mr. President, do not rush to war.
--John Kerry Jan. 23, 2003
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2003_0123.html




In short, America may have to go to war with Iraq, but we should not rush into war - especially without broad international support.

Now, I am not among those who say that America should never use its armed forces unilaterally. In some circumstances, we have no choice. In Iraq, I would be prepared to go ahead without further Security Council backing if it were clear the threat posed to us by Saddam Hussein was imminent, and could neither be contained nor deterred.

However, that case has not been made, and I believe we should continue the hard work of diplomacy and inspection.

We should work with the Security Council to push the UN inspection process as hard as possible, as fast as possible, and with as much help as possible from our intelligence assets. We should continue as long as there is progress toward disclosure and disarmament and the inspectors tell us credibly that there is promising work to be done. We should have the inspectors report back every 30 or 60 days, so that we can assess whether to continue on course or take tougher action.

If particular weapons of mass destruction are discovered, by the inspectors or otherwise, they must be destroyed immediately, by the inspectors or by the Iraqi government. If they are not, their destruction should be accomplished by military action under the UN. I believe that every member of the Security Council would support such an approach.
--Howard Dean Feb. 17 2003
http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2004/dean/dean021703sp.html

[joshcryer]

11. Yet Kerry voted for IWR.

Hmm...

[Straight Shooter]

12. Dares are childish taunts. And Howard Dean is a man, not a boy

I have no dog in this fight. I support Howard Dean, Clark and Kucinich. Kerry will never get my support. Watch for the sewage to start seeping out in the future on your "boy."

[blm]

14. Hah..the GOP has tried to bring him down for 30 years. He endured.

If they had anyhting they would have used it long ago when he was exposing BCCI and IranContra and CIA drugrunning.

[TLM]

15. He endured by voting for their shit BLM...

Repukes won't worry about taking you out when you vote with them for IWR, NCLB, the patriot act, and prop up the Bush lie about his tax cuts helping the middle class.... etc.

[blm]

20. So...don't vote for him.

Vote for a career compromising, corporatist centrist who is masquerading as an internet message board.

I won't look back when we cross the finish line so we can say our goodbyes here if you like.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

7. This is the Howard Dean I can support

Excellent statement.

[slinkerwink]

17. great statement!

[RetroLounge]

18. Notice the usual ignore the message attack the messenger

responses...

[Emillereid]

19. You got that right -- I don't usually get very involved in these

discussions, but I did yesterday and much to my chagrin most of the retorts were simply awful attacks. What was particularly discouraging was that many responses appeared to be 'shoot from the hip' type, with little regard for what had already been said and refuted (clear that people were not reading the posts). I found that my feeble attempt to reach out to other Dean supporters just encouraged smart aleck remarks instead of a thoughtful discussion. I'll stay with my yahoo Dean group for meaningful, serious discussion. Too much rapid-fire vituperative outbursts here.