Det danske Fredsakademi
Kronologi over fredssagen og international politik 29. August 2003 / Timeline August 29, 2003
Version 3.528. August 2003, 30. August 2003
08/29/2003
Campaign to Stop the War Profiteers
The folks at the Institute for Southern Studies have launched an
ambitious and important "Campaign to Stop the War
Profiteers". Newly-launched Campaign to Stop the War Profiteers
says recent revelations of secrecy, ballooning tax-payer funded
contracts underscores need for action. The Campaign, launched by
the Institute earlier this month, has quickly galvanized veteran,
peace, and other public interest groups across the country.
Veterans for Peace, New York Labor Against the War, Peace Action,
and other leading organizations have signed on to the campaign, as
well as national progressive luminaries Noam Chomsky, Bill
Fletcher, Jim Hightower, Noami Klein, and Howard Zinn.
Yesterday's reports concerning Halliburton (Washington Post) and
Bechtel (Wall Street Journal) revealed vital new information about
the scope of insider deals and war profiteering, including:
- The Washington Post reports that "As much as one-third of the
monthly $3.9 billion cost of keeping U.S. troops in Iraq" is being
handed out to for-profit, big business contractors, led by
Halliburton and Bechtel - both major contributors to and allies of
the Bush Administration.
- Halliburton, including its subsidiary Brown and Root, has been
handed "contracts worth more than $1.7 billion - and stands to make
hundreds of millions more," mostly under contracts in which other
companies were not allowed to bid. At least one contract had "not
previously publicly acknowledged" by the Pentagon. (Washington
Post).
- According to the Wall Street Journal, Bechtel's Iraq contract was
increased by $350 million - "more than 50%" - on top of the $680
million already given to the company in a "secret, no-bid
contract." Bechtel has former board members, former and current VPs
and Presidents, the current CEO, and "friends" with seats in the
President's Export Council, the Defense Policy Board, Committee for
the Liberation of Iraq, USAID, the CIA, and several other
government agencies.
"Ever since Halliburton received a secret, unlimited contract for
logistical support operations in 2001 for the 'war on terror,' it's
been clear that Bush-connected corporations have had an inside
track," said Chris Kromm, director of the Institute and a
coordinator with the campaign.
"When Halliburton reports that the company's profits jumped $26
million in the second quarter of 2003 while the rest of the economy
is stalling, it's also clear they're making a killing off the
business of war," Kromm added, writes The Arms Trade Resource
Center, New York.
08/29/2003
Borgerkrigen i Peru 1980-2000 kostede ifølge den peruvianske
sanhedskommission over 75.000 mennesker livet, skriver
MetroXpress.
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