Jan. 24, 2004 - 19:18 MST

THE WONDERING JEW

Chin Chin

More personal opinion based on what I read and hear.

An article in the Rocky Mountain News, January 24, headed "Cheney Under Attack" by M.E. Sprengelmeyer which concerns an interview Cheney gave said newpaper recently.

"Critics are blasting Vice President Dick Cheney for his recent interview with the Rocky Mountain News, in which he said the, "Best source of information" about alleged connections between Iraq and al-Qaida was a magazine article that the Pentagon had already labeled as "inaccurate" and based on "deplorable" intelligence leaks."

"Cheney cited "a few quick for instances" of alleged ties going back to the early 1990's and said once U.S.officials sift through data and evidence discovered since the war, "We'll find ample evidence confirming the link . . . . between al-Qaida and the Iraqi intelligence services."

"He also referred a reporter to a recent article in The Weekly Standard that goes through and lays out in some detail, based on an assessment that was done by the Department of Defense and forwarded to the Senate Intelligence Committee some weeks ago."

"Much of the controversial article, titled, "Case Closed," was based on materials sent from Douglas Feith, under secretary of defense for policy, to members of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Attached to the letter were classified reports the committee requested about the alleged relationship between Iraq and Al-Qaida."

"After the magazine article was published, the Department of Defense issued a press release saying that its contents were inaccurate, and the reports on which was were "not an analysis of the substantive issue of the relationship between Iraq and al-Qaida."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Geez, smoke and mirrors plus Horse Puckey . . . . . Citing magazine articles as being definitive about anything ? ? ? ? ? Guess it sounded good to him when he said it. Still sifting ? Sifting on something that was positive in their mind like weapons of mass destruction ?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Another article in the same paper of the same day by The Associated Press headed: "Halliburton to repay Pentagon."

"Washington -- Halliburton will pay the Pentagon $6.3 million for possible overcharges by a subcontractor accused of giving kickbacks to supply U.S. soldiers in Iraq, a spokeswoman for Vice President Dick Cheney's former company said Friday."

"We will bear the cost of the overcharge -- not the federal government," said Wendy Hall."

"Halliburton fired the employees involved and notified Defense Dapartment investigators when it discovered that one or two workers may have gotten improper payments from the Kuwaiti firm, Hall said."

"In the latest investigation, Halliburton auditors found a $6 million overcharge by a Kuwaiti subcontractor in its army supply contract, "Hall said."

"Both investigations involve the Halliburton subsidiary KBR, which has a contract to supply the Army with food service, mail and other amenities and a separate one to rebuild Iraqi oil facilities. Pentagon auditors found KBR may have overcharged by $61 million for deliveries of gasoline from Kuwait to Iraq from May through September. KBR's Kuwaiti supplier, Altanmia Marketing Co., charged more than twice what Turkish suppliers did."

"The kickback probe is the first admission by Halliburton that its employees may have been involved in corruption involving contracts in Iraq."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Early on I began reading about Halliburton and other biggies getting contracts for work in Iraq without bidding for it. Now why is it I wonder that Halliburton is pogeying up $6.3 million when the $61 million is still under investigation ? Smoke screen maybe ?

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In an earlier item of national news that appeared on January 16 in the same paper. "District of Columbia - Washington" -- "Halliburton Took 1 Day To Choose Expensive Oil Bid"

"Halliburton chose a high-priced Kuwaiti supplier for gasoline in Iraq in just one day after considering bids from only three companies, an Army document says."

"The Army Corps of Engineers document, obtained Thursday by the Associated Press, raises new questions about Vice President Dick Cheney's former company two days after Pentagon auditors requested an investigation of possible criminal wrongdoing."

"Halliburton has denied doing anything wrong and called criticism of its actions unfair and politically motivated. "The company charged the Army more than double the cost for fuel it trucked into Iraq from Kuwait than for fuel it brought in from Turkey."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Seems to me to be a squirming ball of worms going on in Iraq and boardrooms in the USA.

Do I believe implicitly what each side says ? No, not by the hair of your chinny Chin Chin . . . . . . . .

Blog