Halliburton Questioned on $1.8 Billion Iraq Work -WSJ

[papau]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=578&e=17&u=/nm/20040811/pl_nm/energy_halliburton_iraq_dc

Halliburton Questioned on $1.8 Billion Iraq Work -WSJ

Wed Aug 11, NEW YORK (Reuters) - Pentagon auditors have concluded that Halliburton Co. failed to adequately account for more than $1.8 billion of work in Iraq (news - web sites) and Kuwait, the Wall Street Journal said on Wednesday, citing a Pentagon report.

The amount represents 43 percent of the $4.18 billion that Houston-based Halliburton's Kellogg Brown & Root unit has billed the Pentagon to feed and house troops in the region, the newspaper said.

It said the findings in the 60-page Pentagon audit report, dated Aug. 4 but not publicly released are likely to increase pressure on the U.S. government to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars of payments to Halliburton.

This, it said, potentially threatens the services that KBR provides U.S. troops and other personnel in Iraq and Kuwait. <snip>

[rkc3]

1. Really? Can't account for it? On a no-bid contract? Who'd a thunk it?

[whistle]

2. Only $1.8 billion, I thought they were awarded $7.0 billion....

...in non-competitive contracts. Plus what about all of the fuel they were selling to the military at 50% over market, again by exclusive no competition contract. Halliburton, the so-called bastion of "free enterprise". Dick Cheney's model of the prema-corporation spreading American values around the world. What a crock of sh*t!:hurts:

[gratuitous]

3. Only three months left

Halliburton has to steal as fast as it can -- Unka Dick expects his annual bonus!

How naked does the corruption have to be? Is the entire media totally asleep?

[papau]

5. The media is asleep - or controlled by the GOP boardroom control of pay

I think it is the later -

We have wimps in our media - or, if you prefer - there are so many GOP media whores behind the folks now in the job they feel that nothing is gained by being ethical.

Hell of a media moment.

[saigon68]

6. Be quiet---They're busy with Scott Peterson RIGHT NOW

Can't upset the SHEEP

[Jack The Tab]

4. What a shock. People will be outraged.

The media will investigate this, for sure.

[chelsea0011]

7. Right after the Peterson trial

[DFWJock]

8. Put me down as

shocked, just shocked.

[struggle4progress]

9. Jeez, give 'em a break! Anybody could lose $1.8 billion! eom

[banana republican]

10. Pardon Me says cheney

[struggle4progress]

12. After * pardons everyone in sight, we should scream for ...

... a constitutional amendment to clarify that pardons can only be issued AFTER convictions are obtained. The founders didn't intend the Presidential pardon authority to be used as a blanket shield against all members of a corrupt administration.

[stegosaurus]

11. simple explanation

Well, some of the sandwiches had cheese on them.
That probably explains the missing $1.8 billion.
Why do you guys hate America so much?

</sarcasm>

<Joke stolen from tonight's Ron & Fez show (local radio program-- they're non-political but have been making fun of W a lot lately!)>