Senator Henry Waxman May Help
Committee Holds Hearing on Political Influence on Government Climate Change Scientists
Four witnesses testified on Tuesday regarding allegations that political officials stifled government scientists in order to minimize the significance of global climate change.
Chairman Waxman Requests Additional Information on GSA Procurement
Chairman Waxman writes to GSA Administrator Lurita A. Doan and others inquiring about GSA procurement issues.
Chairman Waxman Invites Witnesses for Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Hearing
Rep. Waxman has requested the testimony of L. Paul Bremer, Stuart Bowen, and Timothy Carney at an Oversight Committee hearing on waste, fraud, and abuse, which will focus on Iraq reconstruction. The hearing will be held the week of February 6th.
One of the few times political motives may actually be a good thing. Part of the downside of this good thing might be the use of hearings and investigations to simply embarrass the other party. But if Senator Henry Waxman and other members of this committee can uncover the abuse and indict the offenders there could be plenty of upside.
The so-called toughest ethics reform bill in decades will be entirely meaningless if the reconstruction contracts and lack of results in Afghanistan and Iraq are not corrected. This doesn’t mean more taxpayer money to right the wrongs of contractors. This means holding those contractors responsible and having those companies right the wrong.
Rather than civil penalties or less for those who commit such acts, criminal penalties and a real prison should be the fate of offenders found guilty. That would include applying undue influence on government scientists and more no bid nonsense from Doan at the GSA. Penalties with teeth and real criminal punishment might reduce unlawful or unethical practices in government. That would be tough legislation and action, not the fertilizer that passed through Congress recently.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
February 8th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
WHORE’S OF WAR
Blackwater USA founded in 1996 by x navy seal Erik Prince age 27. A right wing fundamentalist born again Christian from a very powerful and wealthy family. Besides being a large donor to the rep party and it’s causes, and has also worked as an intern under George H.W. Bush…
The main compound for blackwater is a 6,000 acre ranch located in North Carolina.
Blackwater owns it’s own fleet of boats planes and helicopters. For training purpose it has a sniper range and has a mock town for urban warefare, it also has a mock school According to military personal this compound and its training will put many US military faculties to shame. Blackwater currently has over 20,000 mercaniers in Iraq with an average age of 30 to 40 yrs old and an avg. salary of $600.00 a day. When US military forces make just over that a month. Talk about losing the moral of our soldiers. Cofer Black Vice Chairman of Blackwater yes the same Cofer Black that was President Bush top counterterroism official at the time of the 9/11 attacks made a statement in March of 2006 that it is ready to step up recruitment for another brigade (3,500 ) soldiers of fortune. If this surge cannot be made by recruiting X military I would like to know how they plan on filling this quota. The streets the prisons other countriesBlackwater knows the demand for there services. As they scour the world for recruits. Chile, Filipinos and Columbians are just a few. Many of thee third world country recruits are being paid half of what Americans are getting. Many of these countries are denouncing Blackwater for there recruitment practices. Let’s keep in mind most third world countries don’t have paper trails like the U.S has. What kind of people is blackwater giving M16 to? Remember this is a private firm that can hire anybody it chooses to, that’s the law. Also these civilian soldiers are immune to Iraq legal prosecutions signed by Paul Bremer (coalition Provisional Authority) and he answers to U.S. Secretary of Defense. Let’s not forget about a little document called the Geneva Convention that they are also immune to.
Blackwater is one of two companies that make up the Prince Group. The company also owns Aviation World Wide Services, that owns STI Aviation,AirQuest and Presidential Airways. . Blackwater in itself owns Blackwater Training Center, target systems, Security Consultants and also own Blackwater Canine, AWS Airships LLC Armored Vehicle and Maritime and finally Raven Construction. They certainly have all the bases covered. Talk about war Profiteering, they get the funds to re-build after…tearing down…
On Aug 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast of the United States. And yes Blackwater was there in all its Glory. Walking the streets of New Orleans with M16 assault weapons. Under contract by the White house Dept of Homeland security. And given the authority to use lethal force. Many of these soldiers had just returned from Iraq where there were no rules. They were quoted as being bored with N.O because of the lack of action. (Killing I guess) And also upset that they could make twice as much money over seas. Killing and money a very bad combination. Yet they were walking the streets of an American city. ISI another company was present in N.O. that supplies Israeli mercenaries . It looks like the demand is greater then the supply, that is very scary. One way to meet a demand is to produce more. Yet many times the quality is compromised.
On Jan 23, 2007 a Helicopter owned by Blackwater was shot down and all five employees were killed. On April 21, 2005 seven Employees meet the same fate. And the same on March 31, 2004 when they lost four. A total of 22 Blackwater employees have been killed in a war zone. And if you listen to the main street press, all of them they say civilian contractors. were killed. Most listeners will not connect contractors to mercenaries, and it’s time they do.
Lets look at more connections of Blackwater to the bush administration. Blackwater has hired Ken Starr as chief counsel. Yes the same Ken Starr that prosecuted Bill Clinton.
Then we have a Supreme Court with two new judges brought in by a Rep congress. Blackwater hit a hole in one with this administration.
What does the U.N. think of outsourcing of the military? They are being quoted as saying it brings all kind of problems since there is no accountability if they break the law. Case in point Abu Ghraib prison was they don’t fall under any kind of jurisdiction, Civil or military law. President Bush has been quoted as saying he found a way of interrogating prisoners that does not break the law. You can’t break the law if there is no law.
War profiteering has been around since there has been war and greed. Soldiers have always made money on the battlefield from the black-market. And many companies got there start during times of war. Others made large profits by supplying the war machine.But what is happening today with outsourcing the soldiers themselves brings it to a new level.
Outsourcing seems to be the new trend over the last twenty years. From outsourcing the middle class jobs to other countries, to what is happing today. In 2000 two-hundred billion of Gov work was outsourced today Four-hundred Billion and every gov agency outsources. From collecting income tax to collecting top secret intelligence. And so these private firms don’t miss a chance to profit they are allowed to sit on policy meetings. Today more people work under contract for the Gov then work for the Gov, and its growing.What goes on in these board rooms of private companies are kept from the public. Private companies DO NOT FALL under the freedom of information act. Policies are being made in secret without vote.Some Leaders are starting to see a very dangerous trend. They are worried about the integrity of the federal Gov, and they should be.
The Government hires private companies to lesson the work load on the Government agencies. Yet with this could come a heavy price. How much influence will the companies have on decision making? These companies do not have to answer to us, only there stock holders. Our founding fathers put in a safety net so one branch of the gov could not control the government, checks and balance. But with companies like Blackwater to Halliburton puts the temptation of greed into the equation. Even with the three branches we have today there seems to be a flaw of our politicians having more loyalty to there party then to the country. Then if we add another branch and there soul purpose is to make a profit it’s a recipe for disaster. If the U.S. government feels that one company is doing a terrible job, can we fire them on the spot and not expect services to drop. What happens if Blackwater gets a better deal from Africa and just decides to pack there bags and move on. What happens if a group of these companies decide to merge and hold this country hostage? With more employees working for the government then working within the government it’s a possibility. By the Government giving more power to private companies, they are losing the power to govern. And if the government loses power to govern we all become employees of Big business.
February 8th, 2007 at 10:32 pm
If real hearings ever get underway and real indictments and convictions follow, much of the corruption in this country will begin to suffer the consequences for their actions. If done in chronological order, Blackwater will be near the top. I am more concerned about the no bid contracts to Halliburton and the obvious connection with Cheney as blatant government corruption. However, that said, they can start anywhere they want as long as everyone involved is investigated, etc. But I am not optimistic. Certainly more public outrage must take the form of political pressure in Washington or nothing substantive will emerge.