Loose cannons

Embargo, what embargo?

"US oilfield services company Halliburton Co. will pull out of Iran after its current contracts there are wound down, its chief executive said Friday, citing a poor business climate in the Islamic Republic... Halliburton said in July it had received a [US justice department] subpoena seeking information about operations in Iran of its Cayman Islands-based Halliburton Products & Services Ltd unit. Hallibuton has argued that using a Cayman Islands subsidiary exempts it from a trade embargo against Iran imposed by Washington." — San Diego Tribune, January 28.

A better business climate

"The US occupation authority that governed Iraq after the 2003 invasion did not properly safeguard [US]$8.8 billion of Iraq's money, leaving the funds open to corruption, a US audit released on Sunday has said... One of the main benefactors of Iraq funds was Texas-based firm Halliburton, which was paid about $1.7 billion of those funds to bring in fuel for Iraqi civilians." — Reuters report, January 31.

Compassionate conservative

"Uniquely American, isn't it? I mean, that is fantastic that you're doing that. Get any sleep?" — Emperor George Bush II, February 4, after being told by an Omaha, Nebraska, single mother of three children, one of whom is mentally handicapped, that she has to work three jobs to make an adequate living.

Unbearable burden

"And it's not only having no retirement system. It is how are we going to pay for people like George W. when he gets ready to retire? That's as big a burden as having no system at all, see?" — Emperor Bush, February 4, explaining why he wants to privatise the US Social Security retirement pensions system.

From Green Left Weekly, February 16, 2005.

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From GLW issue 615