Want to choke on your own rage for a bit? Here ya go...War profiteers, get 'em while they're hot...

[WilliamPitt]

Yeah. This'll do it.

===

Inside the world of war profiteers
From prostitutes to Super bowl tickets, a federal probe reveals how contractors in Iraq cheated the U.S.

By David Jackson and Jason Grotto | Tribune reporters
February 21, 2008

ROCK ISLAND, Ill.—Inside the stout federal courthouse of this Mississippi River town, the dirty secrets of Iraq war profiteering keep pouring out.

Hundreds of pages of recently unsealed court records detail how kickbacks shaped the war's largest troop support contract months before the first wave of U.S. soldiers plunged their boots into Iraqi sand.

The graft continued well beyond the 2004 congressional hearings that first called attention to it. And the massive fraud endangered the health of American soldiers even as it lined contractors' pockets, records show.

Federal prosecutors in Rock Island have indicted four former supervisors from KBR, the giant defense firm that holds the contract, along with a decorated Army officer and five executives from KBR subcontractors based in the U.S. or the Middle East. Those defendants, along with two other KBR employees who have pleaded guilty in Virginia, account for a third of the 36 people indicted to date on Iraq war-contract crimes, Justice Department records show.

On Wednesday, a federal judge in Rock Island sentenced the Army official, Chief Warrant Officer Peleti "Pete" Peleti Jr., to 28 months in prison for taking bribes. One Middle Eastern subcontractor treated him to a trip to the 2006 Super Bowl, a defense investigator said.

(snip)

A common thread runs through these cases and other KBR scandals in Iraq, from allegations the firm failed to protect employees sexually assaulted by co-workers to findings that it charged $45 per can of soda: The Pentagon has outsourced crucial troop support jobs while slashing the number of government contract watchdogs.

The dollar value of Army contracts quadrupled from $23.3 billion in 1992 to $100.6 billion in 2006, according to a recent report by a Pentagon panel. But the number of Army contract supervisors was cut from 10,000 in 1990 to 5,500 currently.

Last week, the Army pledged to add 1,400 positions to its contracting command. But even those embroiled in the frauds acknowledge the impact of so much war privatization.

"I think we downsized past the point of general competency," said subcontractor Christopher Cahill, who for a decade prepared military supply depots under LOGCAP. Now serving 30 months in federal prison for fraud, Cahill added: "The point of a standing army is to have them equipped."

More: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-kbr-war-profiteers-feb21,0,195925,full.story

===

The last line above kinda rang my bell. "The point of a standing army is to have them equipped," says Mr. Cahill. Yes, but no and no and no again.

History tells the tale.

The point of a standing army, more often than not for the last 30,000 years of human history, is to fight so the guys running that army can get wildly rich with plunder and power. Even in "good wars," someone is always getting paid.

Always. We've spent almost a full trillion on Iraq since 2003. That money didn't go to heaven or the zoo. That's our school funding, infrastructure repair, levee maintenance, etc.

Someone got P.A.I.D. Maybe we'll find out how bad we got robbed someday...yeah, sorry, that's just silly talk. :grr:

Love and respect to all troops and vets. They ain't getting rich...and when they try to, the get busted. See above.

[shaniqua6392]

1. It just kills me to think of the things we could have done with all that money!

But we still have a terrible educational system, bridges falling down plummeting people to their deaths and American's still in danger with levee construction. Our priorities are a mess and I don't see any of our candidates really addressing these issues. I wish we would be more demanding of answers, but we seem to be satisfied with candidates calling for "change" without really being specific. I just sit back and watch people swooning over Obama and criticizing Clinton for all the wrong things knowing in my heart that nothing will get done on the really important issues.

[DrDan]

2. war is good business

"Even in "good wars," someone is always getting paid."

Not only do lot of people make lots of money, a war also offers those running the government, and hence the wars, an unparalled opportunity to rally citizens to their "cause".

And we in the U.S. have become more vulnerable to this.
- we have been taught to value patriotism to a fault - as long as someone else does the fighting
- we are not students of history
- we have allowed special interests to rewrite history
- we value agressive behavior - particularly as it relates to our sense of nationalism
- our sense of priorities is all screwed up - we are indifferent to $45 cans of soda but
wildly lash out at intentional damage to a piece of cloth that represents our flag

We will not lead this century. We are rapidly becoming a third-world power.

[trusty elf]

3. There was a clip of an interview with Felonious Monkey

posted here yesterday in which he had the unmitigated gall to say that he thought that the Iraq war was actually good for the economy.

"I think, actually, the spending on the war might help with jobs. (smirk) Yeah, 'cuz we're buying equipment and people are working."

His disaster-capitalist cronies have certainly reaped huge rewards.

My outrage pedal has been mashed to the floor for so long that it's rusted stuck.

[WilliamPitt]

4. What's outrageous is that he's right.

A warfare economy needs warfare to boost the economy.

Krugman: http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/bush-is-right-about-something/

That's what is truly outrageous. Maybe the sickest thing he's ever said in public - and there's some tall competition on that list - and he was dead-on correct.

*sigh*

It's the freakin' 21st century, right? I want my flying car. Enough of this shit already.

:(

[Lochloosa]

11. I want my flying car

Did you put your deposit down way back when?



:rofl:

[trusty elf]

15. Yes, he is right, though isn't the game never to admit it?

Dubious Seizer, by describing a sort of trickle-down effect (more like being pissed on by the military-industrial complex) inadvertently drew attention to the obscene fact that war is an essential driver of the US economy.

This was one of junior's rare moments of candor that, in this case, ocurred because he's simply an incompetent liar. At other times, especially when he mangles a phrase, he will shrub-consciously offer a glimpse of what is really in the back of that pea-brain of his. An example that springs to mind is his immortal line "Nothing could be further than the truth".

[barbtries]

5. thank you

my daily outrage. it's like a cup of strong coffee laced with pure adrenaline. the mother motherfuckers! there should be a hell especially for them. one where the bushes and the cheneys are the teensiest most beat up bastards burning.

[Cassandra]

6. The Bush/Walker family have been war profiteers...

for at least four generations. They looooooooooooove war, as long as they don't have to fight.

[annabanana]

7. My outrage is compounded by the fact that this isn't on the GODDAM FRONT PAGE

of every rag that dares call itself a newspaper.

[lonestarnot]

8. I didn't need to see the numbers here. My rage has been flaming

since it all started. You know when you just know you know. :grr: Know what I mean Vern? :grr:

[malaise]

9. One of the authors coming up now on Washington Journal

Should be interesting.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

10. of course the bad news is classified. Can't have an informed public

not when massive fraud, corruption, and disease transmission is taking place.

[lisainmilo]

12. Money shifting.....

I am by no means an expert at all, just common sense. It seems to me what has happened is the US Treasury is being and has been robbed by Bush & Co.. They have shifted OUR money into their pockets. They don't seem to care at what expense as long as they get theirs! To me it is total BULLSHIT, Bush says, "too many houses were built and the economy is adjusting"

In my opinon, too many jobs have gone overseas or across the border and too many fraudulent loan sharks used the smallest font to write up adjusting interest loans on these houses that "American Joe" can no longer afford causing a foreclosure crisis.

Bush and Co. aren't just shifting the our taxpaying dollars into the private war profiteers pockets, he is also shifting OUR taxpaying dollars with the "no child left behind" B.S.

<snip>

We’ll begin by looking at the Bush family. Everyone knows the president’s brother Jeb is the governor of Florida. But, less well known is his second youngest brother, Neil Bush. Years ago, he hit the front pages for his role in the Savings and Loan scandal. He was director of the Silverado Savings and Loan when it collapsed in 1988, costing taxpayers more than $1 billion. As a result, he was banned from banking activities. So when Neil Bush was banned from banking, he banked on education.

In October 2001, shortly after the United States began bombing Afghanistan, Neil attended an international technology conference in Dubai. He was fishing for investors for his latest business venture—Ignite Incorporated, an interactive education software company that he founded in March 1999. Ignite says its goal is to help students improve their standardized test scores. And that’s where No Child Left Behind comes into play.

Neil Bush’s company sells software to prepare students to take comprehensive tests required under “No Child Left Behind.” Schools that fail the tests will face termination of federal assistance. The contracts for these test programs are very lucrative. Ignite is currently running a pilot program at a Middle School in Orlando, Florida--where Neil’s brother Jeb is governor. The company hopes to sell the software throughout Florida at $30 per pupil per year.

<snip>
Democracy Now: http://www.democracynow.org/2004/3/12/no_bush_left_behind_when_youre

Sorry to leave the subject of war profiteering, it just pisses me off that we AVERAGE American are the ones being left behind. I only hope all the scandels will come to light. My biggest dream would be........they will be held responsible and they will have to REPAY the United States taxpayer and replenish the piggy bank from which they have run off with!

[bigbrother05]

16. Remember, Babs' donation to Katrina with strings attached?

The money had to be spent to buy Neil's software in the Houston school district.

Oh yeah, can you guess who got the contract to provide ed software in Iraq?

This family takes greed and duplicity to levels unseen in recent memory.

[Turbineguy]

13. According to my calculations

Rush Limbaugh has made $3700 for every American soldier killed or maimed since the war began. This war has been good to Rush too.

[PsN2Wind]

14. Being an Arizona resident

I've emailed my Senator (McCain) asking why, if we are in a war for our very survival and way of life as he, the pResident and almost all repubs say over and over. there is no draft, so everyone had a chance to join in the festivities, why is there no surtax to pay for the war as it is being waged, and WHY are there no anti-profiteering laws to keep some entities from reaping huge financial benefits while others are dying?
Never heard a word back.

[drmeow]

25. I don't even bother to write to McCain anymore

If he doesn't win the presidency (I'd say when but I'm a pessimist), I hope Janet takes away his Senate seat.

[RuleOfNah]

17. Why is sentencing so lenient for these traitors?

I see equal enforcement has also become a farce in this country. If war crimes and war profiteers are not prosecuted aggressively, Republicans will be promoting lawlessness on a massive scale. Of course, that has probably been their plan from the outset...

[The Wizard]

21. It's their core

A major plank in their platform, Always has been always will be.
"Republicans will be promoting lawlessness on a massive scale."

[parkeradison]

18. corruption in our military contracts

Wow! It seems like every day brings a new revelation, doesn't it? These crooks are basking in "blood money",

[walldude]

19. So KBR throws a couple of Execs under the bus..

and continues as the largest military contractor in the country. Sickening.

[bbgrunt]

20. I am once again reminded of the honorable General Smedley Butler

and his treatise about war being a Raquet

[mirrera]

22. Choke on rage... mmm kay, now I know i'm sick cause I gotta click...n/t

[varelse]

23. Even in "good wars," someone is always getting paid.

How many times will that lesson be repeated before it is finally learned????

:(

[mirrera]

24. Have you read Imperial Life in the Emerald City?

Inside Iraq's Green Zone by Rajiv Chandrasekaran

Great book that lays the ground work for every fubar that followed.

http://www.amazon.com/Imperial-Life-Emerald-City-Vintage/dp/0307278832/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203823005&sr=1-1

[drmeow]

26. Call it what it is.

"And the massive fraud endangered the health of American soldiers even as it lined contractors' pockets, records show."

I call that treason.

[KharmaTrain]

27. Jackson Was On Washington Journal

He described several of the KBR crimes...and said how cavalierre most of these guys were and how widespread the fraud was. This was the era were money was virtually rolling off the pallets and they were like pigs in slop.

The money that's been squandred on this war for profiteers will be felt in this country for years to come as we'll be hard-pressed to come up with the funds to improve schools or health care...and will have to rebuild a military totally ruined by boooosh/cheney/rumsfeld incompetence.

[Baby Snooks]

28. All war is a class war...

I can't remember who told me that but upon reflection it is true. Wars are not fought over anything other than greed as reflected by the "war profiteers" and the reality of the Nazi Party is it was fueled by the greed of German steel tycoon Fritz Thyssen who saw a "war machine" as being very good for his pocketbook. As did Prescott Bush.

The only real mistake Hitler made was declaring war on the British. You don't declare war on your own.

Reality is the British and the Americans really didn't have a problem with the "Final Solution" which neither the British nor the Americans seem willing to admit. Hitler rose to power by their acquiesence. And their agreement. The Jews, after all, were a menace. And once we got rid of the Jews, well there were the other minorities.

So, in the end, all war really is a class war. The upper class seeking to keep the lower class in its place. Or getting rid of it altogether.

The "eugenics of war" as it's called. Which of course is also very lucrative.

[tbyg52]

29. Yep, even during "good" wars

I still remember my mom telling me a story that I wish I'd asked for more detail on while she was alive - she quit her job at a defense contractor during WWII with the exit line, "You can run a three-ring circus if you want to, but my husband is on Guadalcanal, and I quit!"

We need to dismantle the military-industrial complex, just like Ike said.