ReBelle Dispatch
The Spoils of War
Halliburton subsidiary KBR got $12 billion worth of exclusive contracts for work in Iraq. But even more shocking is how KBR spent some of the money. Former U.S. Army Corps of Engineers official Bunnatine Greenhouse is blowing the whistle on the Dick Cheney-linked company's profits of war
By MICHAEL SHNAYERSON
This time, she was sure, they were going to get her.
Bunnatine Greenhouse had been a huge nuisance since the buildup to the war in Iraq-questioning contracts, writing caveats on them in her spidery script, wanting to know why Halliburton and its subsidiary KBR (formerly known as Kellogg, Brown and Root) should be thrown billions of dollars of government business while other companies, big and small, were shut out.
And Bunny Greenhouse wasn't that easy to ignore: she was the highest-ranking civilian at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
Specifically, she was the officer in charge of ensuring that any work contracted out by the Army Corps to private industry-from help in building bridges and dams and highways to support for wartime troops-was granted in a fair and aboveboard way. For two years, Greenhouse had asked hard questions about why the head of the Corps, to whom she reported directly, kept giving exclusive, non-compete contracts to KBR that now amounted to roughly $10.8 billion. Greenhouse was fearless, and she was blunt. In the Corps's male hierarchy, it probably didn't help that she was a woman-or that she was black.
On October 6, 2004, Greenhouse was summoned by the Corps's deputy commander, Major General Robert Griffin. She knew that the top brass was eager to finalize the Corps's latest contract for KBR, a $75 million extension for troop support in the Balkans. Already it had gone through several drafts, mostly because Greenhouse kept questioning the rationale for giving it to KBR without competitive bidding. What she didn't know was that her superiors had closed ranks against her.
When Greenhouse entered the general's office, he handed her a letter that explained she was being demoted for poor performance-a curious indictment, given that she'd received high performance ratings before the war. The demotion would knock her down to the government rank of GS-15. That was like going from senior vice president in a Fortune 500 company to middle management. She could retire instead with full benefits if she liked, the letter went on to say. She was, after all, 60.
Greenhouse chose a third alternative: she hired a lawyer and began to fight.
http://www.vanityfair.com/commentary/content/articles/050307roco02
---I like this lady. I hope she kicks thier asses and HANGS angina cheney!---
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Feds Suggest Enron Contracts Were Illegal
By GENE JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer
SEATTLE - Government regulators handed a major victory to western utilities and cities trying to get out of exorbitant contracts they made with disgraced energy giant Enron Corp. during the power crisis of 2000-01.
In a six-page order issued Friday evening, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission determined that Enron was engaging in illegal activity at the time it entered in the contracts. It was the first time the commission acknowledged that the contracts were signed under fraudulent pretenses.
The regulatory agency said a hearing should be held to determine whether Enron can collect profits it would have received had those contracts been fulfilled. The hearing is expected in May, followed by FERC's final decision late this year.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=509&ncid=749&e=2&u=/ap/20050312/ap_on_bi_ge/enron_ferc
---And as soon as you start pokin a stick into the Enron mass..you ALWAYS wind up poking ol georgie!---
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U.S., Britain Urged to Count Iraqi Deaths
Friday March 11, 2005 6:31 AM
LONDON (AP) - A group of public health experts sharply criticized Britain and America on Friday for failing to count the number of Iraqis who have died as a result of the war in Iraq.
The group said the United States and Britain rely on the Iraqi Ministry of Health tally and that number was ``likely seriously to underestimate'' deaths.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4857179,00.html
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Army Specialist Joseph Darby to Receive Special Profile in Courage Award
U.S. Army Specialist Joseph M. Darby has been awarded a Special John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award. Darby is recognized for standing up for the principles imbedded in the rule of law when he took action to expose the torture and humiliation of Iraqi prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison. The Profile in Courage Award Committee recognized that although the courage demonstrated by Darby was somewhat different than that required by elective office, it was nonetheless deserving of recognition.
http://www.jfklibrary.org/pr_pica2005_winners_announce.html
---God Bless You Soldier. You ARE a hero. Never let them say different.---
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May we call them fascists NOW?
I just spoke with a barrista at Empire Coffee (the old Map Room at the corner of Madison & Main). On Thursday Empire was contacted by someone who claimed to be a "federal agent" and told that they were not allowed to display any signs critical of President Bush or his plans to dismantle Social Security. Empire posted a sign saying--and this is a paraphrase--- "We have been informed that we aren't allowed to display signs critical of Bush. We would like to remind the authorities that the First Amendment also applies in Memphis."According to the barrista several other business owners in the CBD of Downtown were called and given the same line.Okay guys. Are they fascists yet? Any Rethug wanna try to defend this B.S. under the Constitution without resorting to shameful talking points from the Luntz Playbook >?I mean really.
Coming to town to talk about corporatizing your Social Security and telling people they aren't allowed to express opposing views---that is SO Mussolini.UPDATE: Several people have questioned whether or not the calls came from real Feds. That would be the worst case, but it doesn't really matter. As poster Peej points out the Brownshirts & Nazis start out as party movements. Oh, and PRETENDING to be a Federal Agent is a pretty big crime.
http://thepeskyfly.blogspot.com/2005/03/may-we-call-them-fascists-now.html
---Anyone paying attention saw this coming. ----
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ACLU Says New Detainee Report Does Not Absolve Senior Officials of Responsibility for Abuses
Special Prosecutor Needed
March 10, 2005
WASHINGTON -- Despite aggressive claims to the contrary by the Defense Department, an investigation into detainee torture by American military personnel released today did not and likely could not have absolved senior-level Pentagon officials of responsibility for the widespread abuse of men and women in American military custody, the American Civil Liberties Union said."Military investigations can only look down," said Anthony D. Romero, ACLU Executive Director. "An impartial and comprehensive investigation of senior-level Pentagon officials would require the appointment of a special prosecutor by the attorney general."
http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/m-news+article+storyid-7733.html
---When the Police invesitgate the Police....RUMMY...it still ain't over for you..----
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Dollar Has Biggest Weekly Drop Since December; Trade Gap Widens
March 12 (Bloomberg) --
The dollar had its biggest weekly decline versus the euro in almost three months after a government report showed the U.S. trade deficit widened to $58.3 billion, the second biggest ever.
``It's a large deficit, and we all know how much this has been contributing to the dollar's decline,'' said Michael Woolfolk, senior currency strategist at the Bank of New York. ``As long as we don't see a substantial improvement in the trade figures, the trend will remain negative for the dollar.''
Against the euro this week, the dollar slid 1.6 percent to $1.3457 in New York, according to electronic currency-dealing system EBS. It fell 0.8 percent to 104.00 yen, its fourth straight weekly decline versus Japan's currency. Woolfolk said the dollar may weaken to $1.35 per euro in the next week.
The dollar's weekly slide against the euro was the biggest since the period ending Dec. 24, when it also fell 1.6 percent. The U.S. currency also dropped versus the British pound, Canadian dollar and Swiss franc on concern foreign central banks may diversify their holdings of currency reserves away from dollars.
The U.S. trade deficit in January increased from a revised $55.7 billion in December, the Commerce Department said in Washington. The median forecast of 61 economists in a Bloomberg News survey called for a gap of $56.8 billion. A larger shortfall means more dollars have to be swapped for other currencies to pay for imports.
``This deficit is getting larger and is now spooking the market,'' said Shahab Jalinoos, a currency strategist at ABN Amro Holding NV in London. Jalinoos said the dollar may fall to $1.3666 in two weeks, matching its record low reached Dec. 30.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aYYQ_QeqJXi8&refer=top_world_news
----Those paying attention were already spooked...Wonder how GREENSPAN did NOT notice till VERY recently?---
Halliburton subsidiary KBR got $12 billion worth of exclusive contracts for work in Iraq. But even more shocking is how KBR spent some of the money. Former U.S. Army Corps of Engineers official Bunnatine Greenhouse is blowing the whistle on the Dick Cheney-linked company's profits of war
By MICHAEL SHNAYERSON
This time, she was sure, they were going to get her.
Bunnatine Greenhouse had been a huge nuisance since the buildup to the war in Iraq-questioning contracts, writing caveats on them in her spidery script, wanting to know why Halliburton and its subsidiary KBR (formerly known as Kellogg, Brown and Root) should be thrown billions of dollars of government business while other companies, big and small, were shut out.
And Bunny Greenhouse wasn't that easy to ignore: she was the highest-ranking civilian at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
Specifically, she was the officer in charge of ensuring that any work contracted out by the Army Corps to private industry-from help in building bridges and dams and highways to support for wartime troops-was granted in a fair and aboveboard way. For two years, Greenhouse had asked hard questions about why the head of the Corps, to whom she reported directly, kept giving exclusive, non-compete contracts to KBR that now amounted to roughly $10.8 billion. Greenhouse was fearless, and she was blunt. In the Corps's male hierarchy, it probably didn't help that she was a woman-or that she was black.
On October 6, 2004, Greenhouse was summoned by the Corps's deputy commander, Major General Robert Griffin. She knew that the top brass was eager to finalize the Corps's latest contract for KBR, a $75 million extension for troop support in the Balkans. Already it had gone through several drafts, mostly because Greenhouse kept questioning the rationale for giving it to KBR without competitive bidding. What she didn't know was that her superiors had closed ranks against her.
When Greenhouse entered the general's office, he handed her a letter that explained she was being demoted for poor performance-a curious indictment, given that she'd received high performance ratings before the war. The demotion would knock her down to the government rank of GS-15. That was like going from senior vice president in a Fortune 500 company to middle management. She could retire instead with full benefits if she liked, the letter went on to say. She was, after all, 60.
Greenhouse chose a third alternative: she hired a lawyer and began to fight.
http://www.vanityfair.com/commentary/content/articles/050307roco02
---I like this lady. I hope she kicks thier asses and HANGS angina cheney!---
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Feds Suggest Enron Contracts Were Illegal
By GENE JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer
SEATTLE - Government regulators handed a major victory to western utilities and cities trying to get out of exorbitant contracts they made with disgraced energy giant Enron Corp. during the power crisis of 2000-01.
In a six-page order issued Friday evening, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission determined that Enron was engaging in illegal activity at the time it entered in the contracts. It was the first time the commission acknowledged that the contracts were signed under fraudulent pretenses.
The regulatory agency said a hearing should be held to determine whether Enron can collect profits it would have received had those contracts been fulfilled. The hearing is expected in May, followed by FERC's final decision late this year.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=509&ncid=749&e=2&u=/ap/20050312/ap_on_bi_ge/enron_ferc
---And as soon as you start pokin a stick into the Enron mass..you ALWAYS wind up poking ol georgie!---
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U.S., Britain Urged to Count Iraqi Deaths
Friday March 11, 2005 6:31 AM
LONDON (AP) - A group of public health experts sharply criticized Britain and America on Friday for failing to count the number of Iraqis who have died as a result of the war in Iraq.
The group said the United States and Britain rely on the Iraqi Ministry of Health tally and that number was ``likely seriously to underestimate'' deaths.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4857179,00.html
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Army Specialist Joseph Darby to Receive Special Profile in Courage Award
U.S. Army Specialist Joseph M. Darby has been awarded a Special John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award. Darby is recognized for standing up for the principles imbedded in the rule of law when he took action to expose the torture and humiliation of Iraqi prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison. The Profile in Courage Award Committee recognized that although the courage demonstrated by Darby was somewhat different than that required by elective office, it was nonetheless deserving of recognition.
http://www.jfklibrary.org/pr_pica2005_winners_announce.html
---God Bless You Soldier. You ARE a hero. Never let them say different.---
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May we call them fascists NOW?
I just spoke with a barrista at Empire Coffee (the old Map Room at the corner of Madison & Main). On Thursday Empire was contacted by someone who claimed to be a "federal agent" and told that they were not allowed to display any signs critical of President Bush or his plans to dismantle Social Security. Empire posted a sign saying--and this is a paraphrase--- "We have been informed that we aren't allowed to display signs critical of Bush. We would like to remind the authorities that the First Amendment also applies in Memphis."According to the barrista several other business owners in the CBD of Downtown were called and given the same line.Okay guys. Are they fascists yet? Any Rethug wanna try to defend this B.S. under the Constitution without resorting to shameful talking points from the Luntz Playbook >?I mean really.
Coming to town to talk about corporatizing your Social Security and telling people they aren't allowed to express opposing views---that is SO Mussolini.UPDATE: Several people have questioned whether or not the calls came from real Feds. That would be the worst case, but it doesn't really matter. As poster Peej points out the Brownshirts & Nazis start out as party movements. Oh, and PRETENDING to be a Federal Agent is a pretty big crime.
http://thepeskyfly.blogspot.com/2005/03/may-we-call-them-fascists-now.html
---Anyone paying attention saw this coming. ----
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ACLU Says New Detainee Report Does Not Absolve Senior Officials of Responsibility for Abuses
Special Prosecutor Needed
March 10, 2005
WASHINGTON -- Despite aggressive claims to the contrary by the Defense Department, an investigation into detainee torture by American military personnel released today did not and likely could not have absolved senior-level Pentagon officials of responsibility for the widespread abuse of men and women in American military custody, the American Civil Liberties Union said."Military investigations can only look down," said Anthony D. Romero, ACLU Executive Director. "An impartial and comprehensive investigation of senior-level Pentagon officials would require the appointment of a special prosecutor by the attorney general."
http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/m-news+article+storyid-7733.html
---When the Police invesitgate the Police....RUMMY...it still ain't over for you..----
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Dollar Has Biggest Weekly Drop Since December; Trade Gap Widens
March 12 (Bloomberg) --
The dollar had its biggest weekly decline versus the euro in almost three months after a government report showed the U.S. trade deficit widened to $58.3 billion, the second biggest ever.
``It's a large deficit, and we all know how much this has been contributing to the dollar's decline,'' said Michael Woolfolk, senior currency strategist at the Bank of New York. ``As long as we don't see a substantial improvement in the trade figures, the trend will remain negative for the dollar.''
Against the euro this week, the dollar slid 1.6 percent to $1.3457 in New York, according to electronic currency-dealing system EBS. It fell 0.8 percent to 104.00 yen, its fourth straight weekly decline versus Japan's currency. Woolfolk said the dollar may weaken to $1.35 per euro in the next week.
The dollar's weekly slide against the euro was the biggest since the period ending Dec. 24, when it also fell 1.6 percent. The U.S. currency also dropped versus the British pound, Canadian dollar and Swiss franc on concern foreign central banks may diversify their holdings of currency reserves away from dollars.
The U.S. trade deficit in January increased from a revised $55.7 billion in December, the Commerce Department said in Washington. The median forecast of 61 economists in a Bloomberg News survey called for a gap of $56.8 billion. A larger shortfall means more dollars have to be swapped for other currencies to pay for imports.
``This deficit is getting larger and is now spooking the market,'' said Shahab Jalinoos, a currency strategist at ABN Amro Holding NV in London. Jalinoos said the dollar may fall to $1.3666 in two weeks, matching its record low reached Dec. 30.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aYYQ_QeqJXi8&refer=top_world_news
----Those paying attention were already spooked...Wonder how GREENSPAN did NOT notice till VERY recently?---
posted by Christy at 12:00 AM
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