WAR CRIMES DOSSIER: War Profiteers articles

 Dogs of War: Inherently governmental?

by David Isenberg, United Press International
May 9th, 2008
Amid all the polemics over the use of private military and security contractors by the U.S. government there are two words one rarely sees, but they lie at the very heart of the debate: "inherently governmental."

 KBR puts more emphasis on construction
by John Porretto, Associated Press
May 7th, 2008
KBR Inc.'s proposed $550 million acquisition of an Alabama engineering and construction company is further evidence of its drive to expand its presence in industrial construction, the top executive of the military and engineering contractor said Tuesday.

CorpWatch’s Pratap Chatterjee and Ex-Titan Translator Marwan Mawiri on Corporate Cronyism and Intelligence Outsourcing in Iraq

by Juan Gonzalez, Democracy Now!

April 30th, 2008
A Senate Democratic committee heard testimony Monday alleging fraud and waste by the Pentagon’s largest contractor in Iraq, Kellogg Brown and Root, or KBR. KBR denied all the allegations. It used to be a subsidiary of Halliburton, the company formerly headed by Vice President Dick Cheney.

5th Circuit to Weigh Jurisdiction Over Contractors in Iraq 

by Daphne Eviatar, The American Lawyer

January 29th, 2008
CorpWatch's Pratap Chatterjee is referenced regarding the Iraq War outsourcing of military functions to KBR

 The Great Iraq Swindle
by Matt Taibbi, Rolling Stone
August 23rd, 2007
Rolling Stone's Matt Taibbi chronicles how the U.S. government botched the reconstruction of Iraq, drawing on examples from CorpWatch's new book: Baghdad Bonanza (City Lights Books, 2008) 

 Houston Chronicle: Though CEO leaving for Mideast, he says city is still key
by Brett Clanton, Houston Chronicle
May 17th, 2007
Halliburton CEO David Lesar distances himself from problems with former subsidiary in Iraq, in reply to CorpWatch questions at the company annual meeting.

 Democracy Now! Iraq's Missing Oil and Halliburton's Houston Send-Off
by Amy Goodman
May 15th, 2007
Democracy Now!'s Amy Goodman interviews CorpWatch about the new "Goodbye, Houston" alternative annual Halliburton report on the eve of CEO David Lesar's departure for Dubai

 Independent: Halliburton: From Bush's favourite to a national disgrace

by Andrew Buncombe, Independent (UK)

March 14th, 2007

CorpWatch's Pratap Chatterjee is prominently featured in this article about Halliburton's move to Dubai.

 Sunday Times (UK): How the West short-changed Afghanistan
by Fariba Nawa, Sunday Times (London)
October 29th, 2006
CorpWatch's Fariba Nawa reports on the troubles of her homeland, Afghanistan, in the Sunday Morning Times.

 CNN International: Hurricane Katrina One Year Later

by Jonathan Mann, CNN International

August 29th, 2006

CNN International interview about CorpWatch's new report on disaster profiteering after Hurricane Katrina

 Independent: Katrina: disaster profiteers pocket millions in deals
by Andrew Buncombe, The Independent (UK)
August 20th, 2006
The Independent examines CorpWatch's report on the reconstruction following Hurricane Katrina.

 New Orleans Times Picayune: FEMA contracts reignite protests 

by James Varney, New Orleans Times Picayune

August 18th, 2006
The Times Picayune references CorpWatch's report on Hurricane Katrina in this article discussing how travel trailer contracts were awarded to a Californian and Texan firm that were supposed to benefit small local firms.

 Marketplace (National Public Radio): Katrina Profiteering
by Kai Ryssdal , Marketplace Radio
August 17th, 2006
Marketplace host Kai Ryssdal speaks to CorpWatch's Pratap Chatterjee about the parallels between Iraq and Hurricane Katrina, where reconstruction has been marred by profiteering.

 Financial Times: Weapons and dice, and all things vice

Financial Times

June 1st, 2006
Financial Times Money Management feature cites CorpWatch as a source in review of 'corporate social responsibility' 

 Bergen Record: Watchdog group accuses contractor of shoddy Afghan work

by Hugh R. Morley, Bergen Record

May 21st, 2006

New Jersey newspaper reports on CorpWatch criticism of a local multinational, the Louis Berger group, in our new report, "Afghanistan, Inc." 

 Morning Edition: Report Takes Dim View of Afghan Rebuilding Work 
by Renee Montagne, Morning Edition (NPR)
May 5th, 2006
Writing for the non-profit group CorpWatch, journalist Fariba Nawa tells Renee Montagne she found evidence of flawed work on schools, health clinics, roads and other public projects financed by the United States and other countries.

 Denver Post: Lewis: Dubai deal business as usual

by Al Lewis, The Denver Post

February 25th, 2006

CorpWatch's Pratap Chatterjee is quoted in a Denver Post article about the Dubai Ports World acquisition.

 East Bay Express: Far From Home 
by Chris Thompson, East Bay Express
February 8th, 2006
CorpWatch's Afghan investigative correspondent, Fariba Nawa, gets featured in this cover article for our local weekly newspaper. 

 MSNBC: The Abrams Report
MSNBC
February 2nd, 2006
MSNBC's Abram Report interviews CorpWatch's Pratap Chatterjee about fraud involving Defense Department contractors.

 New York Newsday: Christian right exhorts consumer crusades
by Carol Eisenberg, Newsday
December 14th, 2005
CorpWatch is quoted in an article about the consumer activism of the religious right.

 Boston Globe: Raytheon to employ retired officers 
by Robert Weisman, The Boston Globe
December 10th, 2005
CorpWatch's Pratap Chatterjee comments on the hiring of retired high-ranking Army, Navy, and Air Force officers for a new line of executive jobs.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Workers from poor countries serve the 48th
by Moni Basu, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
November 6th, 2005
CorpWatch's research cited in this article about third country nationals (TCNs) from Asia who work for low pay to support the U.S. occupation of Iraq.

 CNN International: Investment Activism
by Jonathon Mann, CNN
August 24th, 2005
CNN interviews Pratap Chatterjee of CorpWatch about shareholder activism on the left and on the right.

 Washington Post: Halliburton's Higher Bill
by Griff Witte, Washington Post
July 6th, 2005
Washington Post quotes our research as source for new secret $5 billion contract with Halliburton. Our military correspondent provided the Post with military contracts that the Pentagon refused to release.

 New York Newsday: Working in a war zone
by Patricia Kitchen, Newsday
February 13th, 2005
In an article about job recruiting and conditions for military contractors in Iraq, CorpWatch explains how people will often contact CorpWatch, looking to get hired by these firms.

BBC uncovers lost Iraq billions

By Jane Corbin BBC News

Waxman: "It may well turn out to be the largest war profiteering in history."

A BBC investigation estimates that around $23bn (£11.75bn) may have been lost, stolen or just not properly accounted for in Iraq.

The BBC's Panorama programme has used US and Iraqi government sources to research how much some private contractors have profited from the conflict and rebuilding.

A US gagging order is preventing discussion of the allegations.

The order applies to 70 court cases against some of the top companies.

War profiteering

While President George W Bush remains in the White House, it is unlikely the gagging orders will be lifted.

To date, no major US contractor faces trial for fraud or mismanagement in Iraq.

The president's Democratic opponents are keeping up the pressure over war profiteering in Iraq.

Henry Waxman, who chairs the House committee on oversight and government reform, said:

"The money that's gone into waste, fraud and abuse under these contracts is just so outrageous, it's egregious.

"It may well turn out to be the largest war profiteering in history."

In the run-up to the invasion, one of the most senior officials in charge of procurement in the Pentagon objected to a contract potentially worth $7bn that was given to Halliburton, a Texan company which used to be run by Dick Cheney before he became vice-president.

Unusually only Halliburton got to bid - and won.

Missing billions

The search for the missing billions also led the programme to a house in Acton in west London where Hazem Shalaan lived until he was appointed to the new Iraqi government as minister of defence in 2004.

Judge Radhi al Radhi: "I believe these people are criminals."

He and his associates siphoned an estimated $1.2bn out of the ministry. They bought old military equipment from Poland but claimed for top-class weapons.

Meanwhile they diverted money into their own accounts.

Judge Radhi al-Radhi of Iraq's Commission for Public Integrity investigated.

He said:

"I believe these people are criminals.

"They failed to rebuild the Ministry of Defence, and as a result the violence and the bloodshed went on and on - the murder of Iraqis and foreigners continues and they bear responsibility."

Mr Shalaan was sentenced to two jail terms but he fled the country.

He said he was innocent and that it was all a plot against him by pro-Iranian MPs in the government.

There is an Interpol arrest warrant out for him but he is on the run - using a private jet to move around the globe.

He stills owns commercial properties in the Marble Arch area of London.

This week's earthchanges bulletin

BULLETIN ITEM: Earth Changes Bulletin Weekly Update As Of May 26 2008

NO FORMAL UPDATE ON THE WEB THIS WEEK, this advisory is the full update for the past seven days.

CRITICAL ALERTS [Earth Week Summary]

Forgive the repetition in this part, it is cut and pasted together from previous material

[5-26-08 0300 UTC - MSM, Arizona] - for universal release

DANGER FROM EARTHQUAKES IS AT LEVELS OF PROBABILITY SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN NORMAL. NOW IS THE TIME TO BE PREPARED AND WATCH ALERTLY. IF YOU ARE IN AN EARTHQUAKE PRONE ZONE AND THINGS SUDDENLY ARE "WEIRD" WITH YOUR ENERGY, THE BEHAVIOR OF OTHERS AND CRITTERS AROUND YOU, OR WITH WATER LEVELS AND WELLS, OR THE "SETTLING" OF BUILDINGS OR ROADS OR ETC, ASSUME A STRONG EARTHQUAKE IS ABOUT TO OCCUR DURING THE FOLLOWING 96 HOURS OR LESS.

HEADS UP ALERT FOR EASTERN ASIA, THE PACIFIC RIM OF FIRE SUBDUCTION ZONES, AND THE MAJOR CONTINENTAL COMPRESSION FAULT ZONES IN THE INTERIOR OF NORTH AMERICA - MAINTAIN VIGOROUS WATCH THROUGH TO THE END OF JUNE.

SPECIAL HIGH ALERT THIS DAY/WEEK THROUGH TO THE END OF THE NEW MOON SYZYGY JUNE 1-6:

Earth movements in these zones are in a major surge induced by accelerated shape-shift rifting in the Atlantic portion of the Great Rift

SICHUAN
CENTRAL AMERICA - CALIFORNIA
JAPAN
ALASKA - KODIAK to ANCHORAGE & NORTH
ANDES MOUNTAINS

WATCH OUT ESPECIALLY IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA

Gaian signals (local psychic/behavorial changes in the web of living cells) indicate STRESS IS UP in the ground to extraordinary levels in the Bakersfield/ Tehachapi portion of Central California (google "frogs" in California).

5-24-08 ECB] MW Mandeville - for release to all media

HEADS UP NEXT 30 DAYS ALL COMPRESSION ZONES. Earth is accelerating into another major shape-shifting period during late May and June with Major and Great Quakes more possible than normal in any of the compression/ subduction zones. A major surge is most likely due this next New Moon period in Lunar Perigee (closest approach of the Moon to the Earth) at or near Extreme Northern Node Lunar Declination during the week of June 1-6. These are the same lunar characteristics which brought the Class 8 Great Quake to Sichuan, but the EMS (Earth-Moon- Sun) gravity vectors will become even more sharply focused, . More probable than not, five or more Major or Great Quakes WILL fall somewhere during this time period. More probable than not, Western Hemisphere coastal zones will experience a surge of Class 4 + quakes, with much greater probability of Class 5+ quakes. Major continental compression faults, such as in the New Madrid, Wabash, and St. Lawrence Seaway zones, will experience greater stress and motion. Recommended: attend assiduously to all LOCAL biological and psychic portents in Gaia during this period of time, seek verification of portents, upon verification take precautions to improve personal safety.

The EC Bulletin was mainly designed originally as a trip wire for impending events in the tectonic activity of the Earth. YOUR TRIP WIRE IS RINGING OFF THE HOOK. By this alert you are being made aware that tectonic motion is way up and effects in the Earth in the form of major quakes and volcanic eruptions is an almost certain outcome. Specific locations and exact timing cannot be predicted from this planetary perspective, only very general zones can be defined within an approximate time period. But specific locations CAN be predicted if you tune to LOCAL signs from Gaia (the web of life to which even your cells are responsive).

On the subject of earthquakes, some academics are arguing that Great Quakes (such as the Sichuan Mag 8 quake) ring (oscillate) the Earth's crust and this ringing induces an increase in smaller quakes, even on the other side of the planet. How they can conceive that energy works like this is beyond me but nonetheless here is a summary of what they have to say.

http://www.scienced aily.com/ releases/ 2008/05/08052513 2352.htm

What they need is the absolutely critical concept of the spinning mass vortex. The energy which produces ALL tectonic motion is in the spinning mass of the Earth and the gravity vectors of the EMS (Earth-Moon- Sun System). Change the shape in one place with a little shape adjustment, the force vectors in the spnning mass change and these induce a change of stress in other zones, which respond by releasing the stress with another reactive shape shift, usually in synchronity with the changing slopes of gravity created by the orbital cycles. Things above and things below combine in certain ways and then crraaaaaaaaaack. This is the mechanism but remarkably, most geophysicists are oblivious of the enormous energy which is the spinning Earth on which they stand. The key to this is the rifting in the Earth. It is accelerating in a surge right now and thus quakes throughout the world increase in both frequency and magnitude to "reflect" the increased rifting. Why the increased rifting? Many theories possible but mainly it is ultra-simple. The distribution of mass of the planet has become so unbalanced that the spin energy in the Earth is forcing the crust of the Earth to change its orientation in the Solar Sytem, thus the spin axis poles are drifting towards the equator at a slightly faster rate, the equator is tilting at a slightly faster rate, and all of this forces the entire shape of the Earth to shift at a slightly faster rate to properly align the "bulge" of the Earth (which is entirely a product of the spin) with the true but constantly changing Equator. Hence the increased Changes In The Earth, including Global Warming. I can pretty well show all this now with many numbers and graphs and correlations, and this will become available this year.

[May 19, 2008 ECB; MWM] "Current Week's Summary"

COSMIC FACTORS:

After a four day surge in the Sunspot Count on a Flux around 70 for the Mars | Saturn alignment, Solar Activity dropped to zip for the past few days and currently the Flux is about 69. None can be seen on the farside. After a small surge, the Planetary A Magnetic Index (upper atmosphere field strength) is stable again below 5. Alaska's Fluxgate Monitor Graph shows almost nothing now. For the next 48 hours, NASA predicts a 1% or less probability of major explosive or flare events on the Sun with only a 1% to 10% probability of major magnetic disturbances in the Earth's atmosphere in the higher latitudes. A small coronal hole in the Sun's atmosphere may send a solar wind to change this somewhat on about May 27/28 but don't count on much. As a sailor used to say when the wind was not blowing, "we are becalmed". It is likely to stay this may until about the first of June when a major new surge of activity will begin for the Mercury | Earth alignment on June 6 or so.

Last week's update (May 19, 2008) on the web provides lots of information about the implications of this alignment and others in June.
http://www.earthcha nges-bulletin. com/earthchanges /bulletin/ 2008/a5_May/ ecb_wupdate_ 5-19-08.htm

Currently weather in North America will continue in the current mode and track for at least a few days. Conditions are moderating out into normal ranges and this will continue until the first week in June. Then chaos will set in and rule the greater portion of June while the Sun produces at least two major Sunspot surges, probably the greatest of the past six months.The middle of June should easily exceed March in overall storminess and the weather may not "normalize" until July.

ATMOSPHERICS: La Nina has dissolved but the North Atlantic Oscillation is re-emerging with warmer than usual water around Ireland and the North Seat. So also is the North Pacific Gyre Hot Spot rapidly re-emerging and it appears to be moving East to suggle up alongside the Gulf of Alaska and California. No sign of El Nino Conditions are looking better and better for a surge in East Pacific hurricanes (warmer than normal water off Central America) even though Atlantic hurricanes are likely to have a "dull" season (Equatorial Atlantic is normal, which is not supportive of extreme hurricanes). The North Atlantic Oscillation, if it continues to grow warm more rapidly than the equatorial Atlantic, is likely to suck hurricanes to the North Atlantic before they can fully form and enter into the Carib Basin.

Last week I predicted: "For the PSW, it may seem that the Monsoon has come a few weeks early." Amazingly we got a major storm front which dropped an inch of rain in many areas. But it was very cold. No exactly monsoon, but rain in late May is as unheard of as temperatures of 60 degrees which greeted Ron Paul in Phoenix last Thursday.

GEOPHYSICAL FACTORS: No new news on the Wobble this week as it continues to expand. No major change from prior weeks. For lunar cycles which begin to have influence on June 1, go to

http://www.earthcha nges-bulletin. com/earthchanges /bulletin/ 2008/planets/ moon_cycles_ perigee_full_ dec_2008. gif

To review current quake activity, go to

http://www.iris. edu/seismon/

Volcanic activity may be a little muted this past few days. I have not reviewed the lists with care this week, looking only at the tripwires, which have little to say at the moment. Of note, Etna erupted vigorously until about the 19th of May and tapered off with just minor emissions of lava an ash reported on May 22, which is th date of the last report. Watch for signs of sudden flare-up during the coming syzygy, this could be a signal about major quake activity soon to follow, esp. on Eurasia.

OVER-RIDING CONDITION ON WAR AND PEACE EVOLVES: Both overt and covert manipulation of U.S. Warcast Media has become obviously pronounced. There is little new this past week except more revelations from whistle-blowers and insiders who continue to appear to rat out some aspect of the 911 Profiteering Scams.

What is the LAST straw? The Pen says HELP SHIRLEY GOLUB

Are you as outraged as we are?

The Senate just waved through another 163 billion dollars in war
profiteering, and they were all crowing about how they snuck in a
couple billion dollars of life and death social funding. The last
time anyone claimed such a victory it was Neville Chamberlain in
Munich. They aren't even bothering to pretend with lame non-binding
benchmarks anymore. It's just full speed ahead surrender to the
lunatic hawks.

What the hell are we going to do about this Congress run amok with
cowardice?? When are we going to stop apologizing for gutless wonders
who think they can just completely ignore their constituents on the
BIG issue that is destroying our country, emergency appropriation by
emergency appropriate. What would you give to stop them in their
tracks RIGHT NOW!??

There is a courageous candidate in the congressional primary in the
8th District of CA named Shirley Golub, who is challenging Nancy
Pelosi for the Democratic party nomination there. If we do EVERYTHING
we could have done to support her she will win, and in doing so
Congress will get the coldest wake up call they ever had. It's the
only message we can send now that matters at all.

If Shirley wins we can stop the occupation before it takes our entire
country into the abyss of endless generational religious war.
Otherwise they attack Iran before the general election and we all
need fallout shelters again. Friends, those are the stakes.

Shirley Golub Contributions:
http://www.shirley2008.com/stop_the_funding.php

Shirley Golub is the ONLY other Democrat in the CA 8th Congressional
District primary. Cindy Sheehan is not running until the November
general election, and as an independent. ONLY Shirley Golub can stop
the senseles death and mutilation of thousands more of our brave
service men and woman, the squandering of whatever is left of our
children's future, by defeating Nancy Pelosi on June 3. And she can
only do it with your help.

Primary election day is just 10 days off. In the next 10 days we need
to pull out all the stops. Shirley needs your valiant contribution to
run the biggest display ad she can in the last Sunday San Francisco
chronicle before then, to articulate the real choice we have. Please
read the definitive statement below and consider making a donation to
make this possible.

S.F. Chronicle Ad Contributions:
http://www.shirley2008.com/stop_the_funding.php

Text of Proposed S.F. Chronicle Ad:

We Have A Choice

Nearly every day in the Congress of the United States, those we have
designated as our representatives cast votes on the policies that
will control our lives in matters great and small. And it is our
right, indeed it is our duty, that when those representatives
persistently disregard the will of their constituents, that we cast
our votes on election day for someone else who would represent us
more faithfully.

When our founders created this grand experiment in self-government,
enshrined in our Constitution, they did not do so in the name of we
the media barons, or we the campaign consultants, or we the giant
corporations. This nation was founded for the good of "We The
People", and perhaps we should all take pause, to appreciate the
truly awesome responsibility with which that endows each of us.

It is not always the case that those who have failed us will even
have a challenger, who will step forward to present a positive
alternative. Too many times, we people have been beaten into
submission, by those who tell us that our voices don't count and will
not be heard. Too many times we have allowed those who have not acted
in our best interests to escape accountability. But when we do have a
choice, a real choice, there is no more urgent task than to cast our
votes in favor of that choice.

I am Shirley Golub, and I am challenging Nancy Pelosi for the
Democratic party primary nomination on June 3rd. If I receive the
most votes on that day, I will become the congressional nominee
representing the 8th Congressional District for the Democratic party.
If not, Nancy Pelosi will be that nominee. But one way or another,
YOU, the citizens of my district, have the absolute power to
determine the result, by coming out to vote on election day, and by
voting your conscience.

This very week, Nancy Pelosi again defied us as the Speaker of the
House, to push a war occupation funding bill opposed by the majority
of her own party. This bill would never have even come to vote in the
House of Representatives, but for her obstinate determination to
disregard the will of her people. And, in the grandest act of
hypocrisy of all, when put to vote, she herself voted against the
very bill she was trying to force on the rest of us.

But if anyone thought the failure of the House bill was a victory,
the Senate waved through the same thing a couple days later. And if
this bill were to pass back in the House and be signed into law, we
would be surrendering our brave men and women in our armed forces to
yet another year of senseless mortal danger in Iraq, with no
prospects for actual strategic success, with no hope of making
America any safer in the world. This is exactly what we the
constituents of the 8th Congressional district do NOT want.

So what is this charade where Nancy Pelosi votes against her own
bill, as if she had no choice in the matter of bringing it up in the
first place? Well, WE do have a choice. And if we accept our
responsibility of exercising that choice, we can change the dynamic
in the Congress of the United States in a way that will affect every
other district in the country. People all over the country will take
note that the citizens of San Francisco have finally had it.

Great social movements in our country's history have been founded in
the struggle to win the right to vote. The civil rights movement, the
women's suffragette movement, were for the very soul of our nation.
Even today the struggle goes on, with reactionary elements in some
states pushing to curtail the right to vote with various voter ID
schemes, poll restrictions, and other devices, some already rubber
stamped by an undeniably right wing Supreme Court.

But for the moment, we of the 8th Congressional District of CA retain
our unrestricted right to do as we always have, to take a couple of
minutes on election day, to make our voices heard, in the most clear
possible way, to turn thumbs up or thumbs down on the current
incumbent.

And that is why I am asking you, if you are as unhappy about the war
funding put forward by the Speaker that we have endured for going on
the last two years, that you must come out and support me in that
very simple and fundamental way. I would not have entered this race
unless I believed that I would be the faithful representative that
Nancy Pelosi most decidedly is not.

I am asking you to believe that you CAN make a difference, and to
believe that change is possible, long enough for that change to
actually happen.

Thank you for your kind attention, and I will see you at the polls on
election day.

Paid for by Shirley Golub for Congress

Please take action NOW, so we can win all victories that are supposed
to be ours, and forward this alert as widely as possible.

If you would like to get alerts like these, you can do so at
http://www.impeachplay.com/in.htm

Or if you want to cease receiving our messages, just use the function
at http://www.impeachplay.com/out.htm