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Originally posted by Dace De'briago: That isn't actually true. Bids from foreign countries outside of the coalition were automatically rejected. Bids from inside the coalition were given second running to US contractors (not a suprise though). The manner in which Halliburton was awarded the contract is up for debate though. They were NOT the lowest bidder on several of the contracts they were awarded, and their ties with the US government make this decision dubious at best.

Why shouldn't bids from non-Coalition companies be rejected? Non-Coalitions countries didn't help the situation before thus they should be happy not to help now.

Halliburton is not alone in its mixing of corporate, military, and governmental contacts to keep a strong position in its industry. Although that is unethical, I doubt we could find any company that doesn't act similarly; neither could we find a company that doesn't envy Halliburton's position.

Originally posted by Chewbacca: Halliburton's, amongst other companies with interests to profit from war, close ties to the government are factual, obvious, and a case of public record. Also a matter of public record is the alleged and actual gross fraud and mismanagment that has been commited on my taxpaying dime by Haliburton. Its my dime so I have a right and a responsibility to be skeptical and call for accountability. To gloss over such serious fiscal mismanagemnt is irresponsible. Do so at your own peril. I didn't say Halliburton shouldn't be held accountable for its less-than-reputable behavior, when such behavior occurs. All I said was that there is nothing wrong with Halliburton earning money for doing jobs in Iraq. I would hope that Halliburton hires as many Iraqis as possible to generate a cash influx into their economy, but I haven't heard stories of such. Anyway...Halliburton is only a corporation, not a conglomerate of evil. Pointing out Saddam's Husseins' documented and alleged wickedness does not cover the failures of Bush, Cheney, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, Bremmer, and the rest of the gang, nor excuse them one little bit. What failures? Unless I am completely mistaken, the Iraqis held elections last Sunday, which is a damn sight better than many others were able to bring about over the last couple of decades. They have done nothing immoral or illegal; thus, they need no explanation or excusing for their actions. Sorry the standard neo-con Bush supporter apologetics have grown old and worn out. You'll have to try a new schitck to impress or sway me. Nah. I have no interest in trying to impress or sway you. [img]graemlins/petard.gif[/img]

Originally posted by Davros: 1) The role that FOX plays in making the US populace that views it more ignorant I usually watch FOX news, as well as CNN; I could never be placed in the category "ignorant". [img]graemlins/erm.gif[/img] Many of my fellow citizens could, though.... 2) The neo-con section of the repugs that promotes the "go it alone" forms of unilateralism and would seek to tear down the UN rather than fix the system. Why is multilaterism better? 3) The song "Achy Breaky Heart" ick. [img]graemlins/erm.gif[/img] Where's my mullet? [img]tongue.gif[/img] 4) The element that want to shut up shop and isolate themselves from the whole wide world rather than care about what happens to anyone else. Name one good reason why I should care about what happens to others? No one takes care of me except me and I expect the same from other folks. 5) The element that brand anything they disagree with as unamerican. That is the crappiest and lowest form of irrational argument ending that I have ever heard of. Completely true. America has always been about inclusion. Again, some of my fellow citizens are "intellectually disadvantaged". 6) US trade policy when it is entirely self centred and damages the innocent Name one country whose economic policy is designed not to be self-centered or detrimental to some group. 7) Genetically modified foods *sigh* I know you haven't been listening to those technophobes again, have you? [img]graemlins/beigesmilewinkgrin.gif[/img]