Hey, Aubrey...Is this better than giving all that money to those Liberals
who
you say want everything for nothing?? But then you might think CBS is
anti-Bush and just making this up...
Their subsidiary employees stay in $110/day hotels while providing $1.39/day
tents and bunkbeds for troops. Charging $100/15 lb. load of laundry...etc.


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/08/17/eveningnews/main636644.shtml

(CBS) When it comes to logistical help for U.S. troops in Iraq, Halliburton
is the biggest game in town. Under a wartime contract that's $7 billion and
growing, it's serving the needs of 200,000 troops.

But the Houston-based conglomerate once headed by Vice President ***** Cheney
is neck-deep in allegations of waste and fraud involving millions of
taxpayer dollars, reports CBS News Correspondent Sharyl Attkisson.

The U.S. Army is threatening to partially withhold payments to Halliburton
for the logistical support the company provides for troops in Iraq. The
reason: allegations of millions of dollars in over-charges for food, shelter
and services.

"There was no regard for spending limits," says former employee Marie
DeYoung.

Some of the most compelling accusations come from people like DeYoung, who
worked for Halliburton subsidiary KBR.

She recently told Congress that while troops rough it in tents, hundreds of
preferred Halliburton KBR employees reside in five-star hotels like the
Kempinski in Kuwait with fruit baskets and pressed laundry delivered daily.

"It costs $110 to house one KBR employee per day at the Kempinski, while it
costs the Army $1.39 per day to bunk a soldier in a leased tent," DeYoung
said.

"The military requested that Halliburton move into tents, but Halliburton
refused."

Documents obtained by CBS News show an auditor repeatedly flagged improper
fees for soldiers' laundry. At one site, taxpayers reportedly paid $100 for
each 15-pound load of wash -- $1 million a month in overcharges.

Halliburton insists it doesn't waste money, it saves it. But overcharging is
the subject of one federal investigation and there are separate probes for
alleged bribery and kickbacks, also for Halliburton's operations in Iran --
a terror-sponsoring nation.

Nobody from Halliburton agreed to an interview, but officials have said the
criticisms are politically motivated in an election year. Halliburton also
"questions the factual nature" of many assertions from the ex-employees, but
is looking into them "because we take all allegations seriously."

With the tab for the war in Iraq now topping $150 billion, all the
investigations could help determine whether some Halliburton employees paid
by taxpayers to make life better for soldiers are, instead, putting
themselves first.


HALLIBURTON'S IRAN WORK PROBED
A former employee of KBR, Halliburton Co.'s engineering and construction arm
that performs much of its government contract work, has been subpoenaed by
the Justice Department in an investigation of possible overcharges by the
company in Iraq.

In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Monday, Halliburton disclosed
word of that subpoena and another seeking information from the company about
foreign subsidiaries that do business in Iran.

Federal prosecutors are seeking documents from the Houston-based company
regarding Iran.

"Halliburton intends to work with the government and assist in any way
possible so we can get resolution on this matter," the company said in a
release Monday. "We continue to believe that Halliburton's business in Iran
is in compliance with applicable laws and regulations."

Trade with Iran is restricted by U.S. sanctions, although the company,
headed by Vice President ***** Cheney from 1995 to 2000, said it believes it
has fully complied with the law.

As for Iraq, a preliminary audit by the Defense Contract Audit Agency in
December alleged that Halliburton overcharged the government by $61 million
on fuel imported into Iraq.
(AP)