Tell me again about freedom and democracy when we won't even allow people to talk about what Congressman Waxman says "may well turn out to be the largest war profiteering in history." The BBC had program last night about the missing billions though the YouTube video currently has some audio problems. (I'm going to assume that it's a normal problem and nothing more but check the link and maybe it will be fixed soon.)
Since this is John McCain's war and he speaks so highly of Iraq, we ought to insist that he helps shed light on this situation. If he's so eager to slash budgets and give away tax breaks to everyone, surely we could use these missing billions to cover the troubled US budget. This also raises the question of how little oversight McCain has provided during his obsession with this war. Was he asleep at these meetings too or does he simply not give a damn that US taxpayer money is being lost by the billion in Iraq? If McCain is not asking questions now, we can expect a gagging order to continue in his 3rd Bush term.
Now remember, as a US citizen this is completely illegal and not allowed though for businesses, it's perfectly OK to pack your bags and stop paying US taxes. US citizens are required to file US taxes regardless of where they reside and even if you rescind your US citizenship, you are required by law to continue filing (and possibly paying) for 10 years.
Why corporate America is allowed to operate with such different terms speaks volumes. Halliburton must be so happy to have saved $133 million in taxes. Why does Halliburton, who has profited so handsomely courtesy of the US government, hate America?
Why does Halliburton hate America? Could it be that Halliburton, who has received billions in US government contracts and who has also been cited for billions of dollars of mismanagement and over billing in a war zone, wants to avoid paying US taxes and is hopping to another location because of a better offer? Maybe Congress ought to consider such moves when handing out no-bid contracts and include penalties for companies that jump ship and have no loyalty to anyone other than themselves. Of course, American individuals are not allowed to just leave when they don't their like taxes, but Halliburton and their kind always seem to be above the law for the rest. Now why is that?
Remember how the US could not afford Kyoto? Remember how the GOP told us that universal health care was impossible because it would be too expensive? Ten billion dollars could have gone a long way towards helping both our current generation as well as future generations of Americans. Instead, all we got was a crappy $10 billion bill that went to a failed war of convenience and GOP friends with no bid contracts.
And as bad as this is, the auditors say it could get worse since we are stuck in Iraq. This is what happens when you have a useless, rubber stamp Congress who failed to do their jobs and ask questions.
Of the $10 billion in overpriced contracts or undocumented costs, more than $2.7 billion were charged by Halliburton Co., the oil-field services firm once headed by Vice President Dick Cheney.
Why does the GOP and Halliburton hate America? What a bunch of swindlers.
