The energy company war profiteer Halliburton seems to have slipped under the radar of the news media lately. I guess when you have $4 BILLION in operating profits in 2008 or a 22% increase in profits there is no need to be over zealous.
Does it seem odd while most all other companies are experiencing losses Halliburton is reporting a high profit in returns? I venture to guess any oil company will be reporting high profits over the many years to come.
Since the new election anti war groups have lessened their zest for anti war protests, hoping president Obama will end the useless war in Iraq.
Halliburton came to light in the early 60's when they acquired the construction company: Brown and Root" and was contracted to carry out the building of the infrastructure of Vietnam by the Pentagon. Halliburton was no more popular in the days of Vietnam usually referred to as "Burn and Loot". This company stayed pretty quiet for the next 30 years until the Iraq war. There old CEO now Vice-president Dick Chaney was pounding on the drums for the US to invade Iraq, while Halliburton's subsidiary KBR or the old Brown and Root was given a contract of billions to build infrastructure for military bases for the impending war.
Over the last 6 years KBR has received $31 Billion from the military for services, these include meals, convoy missions, ice, and to treat potable water, all of which were tainted, KBR provided electrical work which was faulty and claimed the lives of several American troops. While KBR received billions in taxpayer-funded payments our soldiers were abused, had no water, and were at the mercy of KBR a war profiteering company. Thanks Dick Chaney
Halliburton is still engaged in illegal actives all-around the world. Just recently paid $382 million in fines to the U.S. Department of Justice as part of a settlement for a KBR gas project in Nigeria in which the company admitted to paying a $180 million bribe to government officials.
Halliburton tried and succeeded in spinning off KBR in order to beat law suits filed because of their shoddy work in Iraq, and the deaths of soldiers related to the shoddy work, and just plain ole profiteering by running up the costs associated with services rendered or not, even with these pending legal battles. KBR signed another contract with the government in 2008; figures show they will make more than triple the maximum profits from the previous six years. What is wrong with the government other than most of the politicians owe them favors or own stock in the company and want to see profits rise again and again. I would hope with the new administration that Halliburton, KBR will be investigated and prosecuted for their crimes. Along with coconspirators George Bush and Dick Chaney.