Weekend Review

As expected, a certain idiot in a small Texas village took to the airwaves Saturday and proceeded to ignore reality...why am I not surprised? I'm sure Chimpy had the highest of high tech scanners busily combing the ranch for yet more brush to clear, while he studiously--if such a word can be applied his case--avoided Cindy Sheehan, who would like a word or two with His Flightsuitedness. Most folks probably know by now that Ms. Sheehan's son was killed in Iraq (note: Cindy Sheehan will be in Baton Rouge on September 24th, IIRC).

Meanwhile, some of those who've been fortunate enough to return from the war met in Dallas for a Veterans for Peace National Convention (Hat tip to Simbaud and Arthur Silber)...you know, I'm continually amazed, and not in a good way, by the wingnut penchant to claim concern for the Iraqi people--concern that becomes a yawn when you bring up the uncomfortable reality that the Iraqi people are being killed on an all-to-routine and constant basis...and, if death eludes them today, there's the ever present possibility of succumbing to the effects of Depleted Uranium, which in Baghdad is now 'five times the normal rate, the equivalent of having 3 chest x-rays an hour' (note: DU affects US personnel, too).

But, to stay on the subject of Iraqis for just a moment, here's an Iraqi editorial that gives as good a description as any as to the situation in-country (from Today in Iraq):

The gates of hell
By Jamal Mudhafar
Azzaman, August 7, 2005

The headline of this article is not a title of a science fiction film. It truthfully translates what is currently taking place in Iraq.

The gates of hell are now wide open – thanks to U.S. invasion – and their fires have enveloped almost everything in our country.

There is no electricity, no water, no fuel, no food rations, no security, no sewage…

There is terror everywhere and there is fear of everything – fear of the present and of what lies ahead in the future.

All indications tell that our future is bleak as there is nothing left in this country that makes you feel secure about your own future and that of your children.

What is happening is not a war, rebellion or insurgency. It is mass killing and annihilation coupled with torture and brutal and barbaric dismembering of innocent people.

Bombing and shelling of towns goes ahead and no one gives a damn for the lives lost and property damaged...

Fear and terror have gripped the nation. Wherever you are at any time of the day you are liable to be killed by a stray bullet.

Stray bullets are no longer the prerogative of U.S. troops and their tormentors – the insurgents.

Almost everyone in Iraq now use their guns to shoot in order to scare, wound or kill.

If the bodyguards of a senior official want to reach a destination on time and are delayed by traffic jam, they fire in the air to scare other drivers to give way.

If someone is injured or killed as a result it is his or her problem.

Killing by mistake is now perhaps one of the main causes of death in Iraq.

Trust between the people and the government has collapsed. And now we are at the mercy of the stars because neither U.S. troops nor the government have the slightest idea of who is blowing up whom and why?

Not exactly a beacon of hope, or whatever catch phrase the dullwitted one has written up for him (I'm sure 'making progress' will have a revival sometime soon).

Finally, to round out the weekend, I see that YRHT found a story that I saw over at AmericaBlog about Bunnatine "Bunny" Greenhouse (who, incidently is a Gret Stet native and sister of pro basketball Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes)...Greenhouse is the "Principal Assistant Responsible for Contracting in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers," i.e., her job is to ensure that, well, let's go to the regs themselves:

Federal Acquisition Requirement 3.101: "Government business shall be conducted in a manner above reproach ... with complete impartiality and with preferential treatment for none."

Greenhouse saw a problem with--who else?--Halliburton:

In her job, Greenhouse is mandated by Congress to get the best quality at the cheapest price from the most qualified supplier. Over her objections, KBR was awarded three multibillion-dollar war-related contracts, two of them without competitive bidding.

Together, they are worth as much as $20 billion — the entire cost of the Manhattan Project, adjusted to today's dollars.

Greenhouse's most strenuous complaints were over the Restore Iraqi Oil contract, estimated at $7 billion, originally planned to handle oil field fires that might be started by Saddam Hussein's troops. When that failed to happen, it morphed into an agreement to repair oil fields and import fuel for civilians and soldiers.

The contract was given to KBR in March 2003. In Greenhouse's view, that process violated federal regulations concerning fair and open bidding. Halliburton denies that.

A month before KBR got the contract — and three weeks before the U.S. invaded Iraq — she had demanded KBR officials be ejected from a Pentagon meeting attended by high-ranking officials from the Corps and the Defense Department. "They should not have been there," she said. "We were discussing the terms of the contract."

Later, she would tell Democratic members of Congress: "The abuse related to contracts awarded to KBR represents the most blatant and improper contract abuse I have ever witnessed during the course of my professional career."

At the Corps, Greenhouse said she was told KBR was the only qualified firm.

With the country on the brink of war, she reluctantly signed the RIO contract. But next to her signature, she boldly wrote an objection to the only thing she felt she could challenge — the contract's length, five years. One year would have been more than fair, she said. After that, it should have been put out for bid among contractors with top security clearances.

"I caution that extending this sole source contract beyond a one-year period could convey an invalid perception that there is not strong intent for a limited competition," she penned in neat cursive.

In June, she was asked to testify before the Democratic Policy Committee — formed by Democrats who said their efforts to get the Republican-controlled Congress to investigate alleged war profiteering had been repeatedly denied.

She was joined by a former Halliburton employee who said KBR fed spoiled food to American troops and charged the government for thousands of meals it never served.

Halliburton would not specifically address the former employee's claims. Norcross said taking care of troops is "our priority."

"I thought she was very courageous to come forward and blow the whistle," Rep. Henry Waxman of California said of Greenhouse. "The administration ran around her and ignored her. We owe her a debt of gratitude."

And if she is forced out?

"I would find that outrageous," Waxman replied. "They should be promoting her."

But, guess what? The Army...is forcing her out. No good deed goes unpunished, and no despicable act goes unrewarded in Dubyamerica.