Las Vegas Sun

September 4, 2008

SUN EDITORIAL:

Profiting from Iraq

Kurdish deal with Texas oilman smacks of crony deal for friend of President Bush’s

Sat, Jul 12, 2008 (2:09 a.m.)

There is a lot of money to be made in Iraq. Apparently, all it takes is the right connections to get a piece of the action. Halliburton Co. had those connections. The Houston-based oil services company that was once run by Vice President Dick Cheney set the gold standard for war profiteering. Now comes word that Dallas billionaire Ray Hunt, a crony of President Bush’s and a member of the president’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, is getting his share of the spoils.

In a Washington Post story last week it was reported that Hunt’s oil company struck a deal last year with Kurdish regional officials in northern Iraq even though the State Department had warned that such contracts would undermine a proposed national Iraqi petroleum law. The proposed law would encourage international oil companies to deal with the central government rather than regional authorities and is being pushed by the Bush administration as part of its strategy to unify Iraq.

But the Post reported that documents released by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform show that the State Department was aware of the Hunt oil deal with Kurdistan and raised no objections.

This is yet another example of the Bush administration’s saying one thing, in this case advocating a national petroleum law, and doing another by looking the other way as Hunt makes a mad dash for cash. We should not be shocked by this. The administration, by its actions or lack thereof, clearly condones war profiteering.

Some critics argue that this is the real reason Bush went to war in Iraq. Though the administration continues to say the reason for the war is to rid that region of the globe from terrorism, side deals such as those benefiting Hunt certainly give skeptics fodder to argue otherwise.

The United States is better than that. It should stand for more than war profiteering. Accordingly, crony deals such as those struck by Hunt should be voided immediately.

Discussion: 2 comments so far…

  1. By odeman
    7/12/08 at 10:51 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    I was reading an article in a very reputable publication, Conde Nast Portfolio, that the Iraqi government hinders the efforts of the Kurds to get their oil to market. An Iraqi government pipeline goes through the Kurds territory but the Iraqis refuse to let the Kurds use it. Instead any oil they pump has to be shipped out in tanker trucks, a very expensive alternative. The Kurds themselves are making deals with companies all over the world as they cannot get any cooperation from the Iraqi government. Just because Ray Hunt knows Bush does not mean there is anything crooked going on. There is massive corruption going on in Iraq and it is the Iraqis themselves in the drivers seat. While the Iraqis think it is great sport to kill themselves, and especially our troops, the area controlled by the Kurds is peaceful. Unlike the Iraqis, the Kurds appreciate what we have done for them and they show that appreciation in many ways.

  2. By Johnathan_Abbinett
    7/12/08 at 11:57 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    How many more facts does it take for the media to arrive at a grand epiphany that Bush's war in Iraq has been all about profit from the beginning?

    It's about the oil profits, and the contracting profits, and the sub-contracting profits - it's all about the money for Bush, Cheney and all of their cronies!

    Iraq is an Un-American, illegal, immoral, unethical, Unjust War!

    While we all support our troops, and their efforts to capture or kill the 9/11 terrorists in Operation Enduring Freedom and the Just War in Afghanistan (and now Pakistan) - the war in Iraq has been BULL from day one!

    Bush, Cheney and the radical, right-wing, neo-con nut-cases have not only betrayed their own philosophy and political party - they've betrayed America and the International Community - and they don't give a hoot about anyone but their wealthy friends!

    Iraq is all about the money!

    Not only has Bush treated the U.S. Constitution like toilet paper - he's done the same thing to the value of the U.S. Dollar! Iraq is the THREE TRILLION DOLLAR black hole that is sucking the soul out of our economy!

    President Lincoln, a Republican, warned us about immoral war profiteers during the great American Revolution. President Eisenhower, not only a military professional and moderate Republican, but a widely loved and bi-partisan respected politician (cut in the original form of conservatism) also warned us about the military industrial complex - again, where is our historical memory?

    The historical facts have been forgotten because we have failed to continue to teach them to the newest generations of Americans!

    In the lead up to Iraq I couldn't find a single reporter who could tell me (in their own words) what the Founders set out as the standard for the difference between a Just and Unjust War - it's not that they're idiots, they've been dumb downed and never learned the historical facts!

    The Founders made the standards for America going to war very clear: All political and diplomatic avenues of resolution must be fully exhausted; Their must be a clear plan to go to war, win, stabilize the post-war society, protect the peace, provide for restoration of damaged infrastructure and get our troops home as quickly as possible, and the estimated costs must be worth the going to war; then, and only then do we go to war as an absolute last resort!

    Bush & Company, sadly, but accurately, determined that most Americans no longer knew this history, and the lazy Great Fourth Estate of Journalist, could be manipulated, with plenty of exaggeratation and even out-and-out lies and Bush could start a third Crusade and send America into a war for profit - and he and his cronies could get away with it!

    The media needs to end their guilt and denial and start doing hard journalism and reporting the FACTS!

    Even the Iraqi people want us OUT!

    Let's do the right thing - support our troops, bring them home and FULLY FUND THE V.A.!

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