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Friday, March 14, 2003

Dick Cheney's Lengthy Shadow 

The UK's The Guardian Unlimited reports that Vice-President Dick Cheney still receives compensation from Halliburton:

"Cheney is still paid by Pentagon contractor

Bush deputy gets up to $1m from firm with Iraq oil deal

Robert Bryce in Austin, Texas and Julian Borger in Washington
Wednesday March 12, 2003
The Guardian

Halliburton, the Texas company which has been awarded the Pentagon's contract to put out potential oil-field fires in Iraq and which is bidding for postwar construction contracts, is still making annual payments to its former chief executive, the vice-president Dick Cheney.
The payments, which appear on Mr Cheney's 2001 financial disclosure statement, are in the form of "deferred compensation" of up to $1m (£600,000) a year.

When he left Halliburton in 2000 to become George Bush's running mate, he opted not to receive his leaving payment in a lump sum but instead have it paid to him over five years, possibly for tax reasons.

An aide to the vice president said yesterday: 'This is money that Mr Cheney was owed by the corporation as part of his salary for the time he was employed by Halliburton and which was a fixed amount paid to him over time.' "

Isn't this an incredible conflict of interest, as Halliburton wants to do business in the reconstruction of Iraq? Shouldn't Cheney have asked for the funds outright, after his election, in order to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. This is outrageous.

The article further states:

"Halliburton is one of five large US corporations - the others are the Bechtel Group, Fluor Corp, Parsons Corp, and the Louis Berger Group - invited to bid for contracts in what may turn out to be the biggest reconstruction project since the second world war.

It is estimated to be worth up to $900m for the preliminary work alone, such as rebuilding Iraq's hospitals, ports, airports and schools.

The contract winners will be able to establish a presence in post-Saddam Iraq that should give them an invaluable edge in winning future contracts.

The defence department contract awarded to the Halliburton subsidiary, Kellog, Brown & Root (KBR), to control oil fires if Saddam Hussein sets the well heads alight, will put the company in an excellent position to bid for huge contracts when Iraq's oil industry is rehabilitated."

However you look at it, Cheney continues to profit from a company that may do business with a nation we are about to go to war with. He should have completely divested himself of any interest in the company. Screw the taxes. He should have paid up, and paid his share in taxes, to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

# posted by scorpiorising : 6:05 PM |

The Military Industrial Complex, Circa 2003 and, Freedom of the Press 

Major Barbara provides a peek into the military industrial complex, and consequently, we spot Dick Cheney's shadow:

The first business deal Halliburton announced after Dick Cheney was named CEO was to form an "alliance" with top oilfield firefighters -- the ones who put out the well fires in Kuwait.

Cheney ascended to CEO of Halliburton in October, 1995. The press deal announcing the new business venture with International Well Control -- a company started up by guys who used to work for Red Adair -- was dated October 27.

Three significant points:

1) The "alliance" was intended to give Halliburton "a total solution for well control on a global basis." It was the first time that Halliburton had moved to sew up oilfield firefighters with contracts -- i.e., the first time the company had so prepared to exploit a possible conflagration (in, say, Iraq).

2) The deal, signalling a whole new direction at Halliburton, probably didn't happen overnight. Cheney must have brought some nascent version of the deal with him to the company, in a bid to better equip Halliburton for that "total solution."

3) While CEO of Halliburton, Cheney began actively advocating invading Iraq -- at least as early as 1997.

Starting to connect the dots?

Cheney's deal helped assure Halliburton the first position in Iraqi oil fields after a war: fighting the fires. By sewing up the "newly formed company comprised of the renowned firefighters of the Red Adair Company," Cheney began cornering the market on the talent that put out the Kuwait fires. Once the alliance was in place, Halliburton would be positioned to service the ruined wells of post-invasion Iraq, no matter who wound up owning the oil. Firefighting services gave Halliburton unique leverage in profiting from flaming Iraqi oil fields. They'd be first on the scene, if and when an invasion was mounted, with complete control of the situation.

The spoils of war are very different in these post-modern times.

They come in the form of government contracts -- and the best ones have limited review -- and blank checks attached."

posted by Major Barbara | 5:39 AM
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Also, and finally, an admission by a journalist, and redemption for all those who suspected the press has been eating doggie biscuits in the White House: BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS

"Poynter.Org is well known among journalists as a place to keep themselves updated about the latest best practices and inside information about the media. It is a site with a lot of integrity. In quality, it's many cuts above most of the journalism it covers.

Which brings us to an astounding admission by a Washington Post writer who revealed the truth to Poynter.Org columnist Jim Romenesko: White House reporters have to have quotes that they publish, after "background" interviews, approved by the Stalinist censors in the Rove/Fleischer office of White House Communications. Not only do the so-called reporters have to get approval before including the quotes in an article, the White House can alter the quotations and demand that they be printed as though they were the original quotations.

As a strategy, Rove and Fleischer have White House Staff provide many interviews on "background" so that then they can force the reporters to submit to the White House censors any quotations that they want to actually print."

I don't know about you, but the smell of this dirty laundry sure is sweet.

# posted by scorpiorising : 5:27 PM |

Wednesday, March 12, 2003

Open Letter to Kim Chong-il, President of North Korea 

Dear Sir,

I am writing to you out of a sense of hope, that our common humanity will bridge any language or cultural barriers that now exist. First of all, let me say, that it is my belief that we, the people of the United States, share a common goal with you. The goal is this: that all the governments of the world ought to strive to provide a safe, nurturing environment in which to live for its citizens and peoples of neighboring states. It is my firm belief that if one could peer into the heart of every human being, one would find this hope.

With that in mind, I would like to personally apologize for the shrill language used by my country's leaders when discussing your country. It is understandable that you have interpreted the language used as vague threats and possible warnings.
It is my belief that the majority of Americans would not wish harm on your country, and would prefer to live in peace. And it is my belief that your country, and mine, can one day be friends. We will have to work hard to achieve this friendship, but it is my belief that it can be accomplished.

As far as the reasons the leaders of my country have chosen to use such incendiary language, it is my belief that their approach is born of fear, and a lack of confidence in their own chosen methods, though I don't believe they would be able to admit this openly.

This is a critical time in history. This time calls for men and women to rise to the occasion and work towards a lasting peace among the peoples of the world. I am fearful that our current leadership is unable, because of faulty beliefs, to do this. Therefore, I am urging you, President Kim Chong-il, to take the lead role in this, and make the first gesture towards peace. You will see many nations and peoples of the world voice their support and approval for this, though you may continue to meet with criticism by the leaders of the United States.

Many citizens of the United States, who long for peace, would support you. I want you to know that our hearts are with the good people of North Korea, and let us all pray for peace.

Sincerely,
Red Onion

# posted by scorpiorising : 2:24 PM |

Tuesday, March 11, 2003

Ta dah!!! 

And here is Total Information Awareness Resource Center, everything you want to know about the damn thing, press releases, protests, and other interesting links. It was last updated November of 2002, but is a good resource.

Here is the Total Information Awareness Gift Shop, whose apparel is adorned with the creepy pyramid/eye logo of TIA. Proceeds are donated to the American Civil Liberties Union.

# posted by scorpiorising : 3:55 PM |

Protest of Poindexter 

December 2002 is a month noted for several online protests of Admiral Poindexter, director of the office that is researching and developing Total Information Awareness. The online mag the inquirer reports a very interesting form of protest here, here and here.

Wendy M. Grossman, in her Column net.wars for the inquirer, has this interesting commentary, from November 2002, on Total Information Awareness.

# posted by scorpiorising : 3:23 PM |

Total Information Awareness 

The New York Times John Markoff reports today that the software pioneer, Mitchell D. Kapor, has resigned from the board of Groove Networks after learning "the company's software is being used by the Pentagon as part of its development of a domestic surveillance system."

Kapor is described in the article as a personal computer industry software pioneer and a civil liberties activist. Groove Networks just received $38 million to finance the development of the domestic surveillance system, called the Total Information Awareness.

Markoff states that according to close friends, Kapor was uncomfortable with software that he helped to develop being used as a "crucial component of the antiterrorist surveillance software being tested at the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency's Information Awareness Office, an office directed by Vice Adm. John M. Poindexter."

Poindexter, if you remember, was the national security advisor for President Ronald Reagan. He was convicted in his role as part of the Iran-Contra scandal, then pardoned by a Congressional grant of immunity.

" The project has been trying to build a prototype computer system that would permit the scanning of hundreds or thousands of databases to look for information patterns that might alert the authorities to the activities of potential terrorists.

Civil liberties activists have argued that such a system, if deployed, could easily be misused in ways that would undercut traditional American privacy values.

On Feb. 11, House and Senate negotiators agreed that the Total Information Awareness project could not be used against Americans. Congress also agreed to restrict additional research on the program without extensive consultation with Congress.

Congressional negotiators gave the Defense Department 90 days to provide a report to Congress detailing its costs, impact on privacy and civil liberties and likelihood of success against terrorists. All further research on the project would have to stop immediately if the report is not filed by the deadline."

Why am I not reassured by the internal checks established for this legislation? Because of this:
'But President Bush can keep the research alive by certifying to Congress that a halt "would endanger the national security of the United States." '

You can just about count on this research continuing.

# posted by scorpiorising : 2:41 PM |

Total Information Awareness 

The New York Times John Markoff reports today that the software pioneer, Mitchell D. Kapor, has resigned from the board of Groove Networks after learning "the company's software is being used by the Pentagon as part of its development of a domestic surveillance system.

# posted by scorpiorising : 2:41 PM |

Monday, March 10, 2003

Freedom of the Press??? 

According to Kate Adie, a BBC war correspondent who covered Gulf War 1, the Pentagon has threatened to fire at the satellite uplink positions of independent reporters covering what may be a U.S. invasion of Iraq.

She said, " I am enormously pessimistic of decent on the spot reporting, as the war occurs."


# posted by scorpiorising : 5:50 PM |

Alive and Well and Living... 

I just saw Joe Mccarthy again,
he was strolling Magazine St.,
he was smoking a big, fat cigar,
looking fit and vain in a three piece suit,
minus the coat,
hiding behind a bow tie this time,
a faint smudge of rouge on his cheeks,
fat belly over-lapping an expensive belt,
confidently window shopping,
walking alone, cell phone strapped to
his waist, beeper in his pocket,
a walking communication bravado,
Italian made, wing tips on his feet,
American flag (made in Taiwan) attached
to the antenna on his SUV,
Bush/Cheney sticker on the rear bumper,
car alarm beeped from command issued
to unlock doors,
a Starbucks cup in the drink tray,
he wore an absolutely unshakable faith of money
in his pockets,
George Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson, Franklin too
hidden in the creases and folds of his tailored pants,
A Celine Deon cd in his car stereo,
mouthing tunes that celebrate America,
taking pride in his ownership,
pretending not to notice
the sinking ship in the harbour,
and the rats jumping a doomed voyage.

# posted by scorpiorising : 5:22 PM |

Sunday, March 09, 2003

Crisis of Faith 

I am prowling through the house, smoking a cigarette, knowing my sister is out of town so it won't matter. I can think of nothing better to do at this moment, then blogging. Kinda sad, maybe. I'm speedy, these last few day. In a hyper state of alert. Isn't that what the government wanted? Except that I am alerted, worrying about possible intrusion into my life, and the lives of others, by the government, unnecessary intrusion.

Besides the government, there's North Korea, and our blunder there, in pissing them off and them reminding us of the weapons they possess, rubbin they things at us.

Then there's that I am earning barely 9 or 10 dollars an hour. I'm mostly good at listening to people and encouraging them, but I don't want to be paid for that anymore. I like the technology of computers, but going back to school would bring me a debt I don't want. I'm pacing. What are my options? What are my options?

I keep blogging, and tuning into Radio@Netscape Plus. The Abstract station is appropriate mood springer. There's a bird singing loudly, almost earl-piercingly in my backyard. I think she is heralding the arrival of Spring in this sub-tropical zone.
I think I'll go listen to her for a while.

# posted by scorpiorising : 11:56 AM |

Site Error 

Please credit the Media Whores Online Watch Watch Watch Watch, for the Vietnam 2 Preflight Check List.
entry March 3, 2003. Enjoy.

# posted by scorpiorising : 11:37 AM |

 

1. Cabal of oldsters who won't listen to outside advice? Check.

2. No understanding of the many ethnicities of the locals? Check.

3. Imposing country boundaries drawn by Europe, and not by the locals? Check.

4. Unshakeable faith in the superiority of our technology? Check.

5. France secretly hoping we fall on our asses? Check.

6. Germany secretly hoping we fall on our asses? Check.

7. China secretly hoping we fall on our assess? Check.

8. SecDef pushing a war that JCS never wanted? Check.

9. Fear we will look bad if we back down now? Check.

10. Corrupt Texan in the Whitehouse? Check.

11. Land war in Asia? Check.

12. Right unhappy with the outcome of the previous war? Check.

13. Enemy easily moves in/out of neighboring countries? Check.

14. Soldiers about to be dosed with our own chemicals? Check.

15. Friendly-fire problem ignored instead of solved? Check.

16. Anti-Americanism up sharply in Europe? Check.

17.B-52 bombers? Check.

18. Helicoptors that clog up the local dust? Check.

19. In-fighting of the branches of the military? Check.

20. Locals that cheer us by day, hate us by night? Check.

21. Local experts ignored? Check.

22. Locals used to conflicts that have lasted longer than the U.S.A is a country? Check.

23. Against advice, Prez won't raise taxes to pay for war? Check.

24. Blue water navy ships operating in brown water? Check.

25. Use of nukes hinted at if things don't go our way? Check.

26. Unpopular War? Check.

Vietnam 2, You Are Cleared To Taxi.

# posted by scorpiorising : 11:09 AM |

My Dream Last Night 

I had a dream last night that I was watching the game show, Jeapardy. The question Alex Trebeck asked was this:"Who is a threat to the United States?"

One contestant said, "Iraq".

"Wrong," Trebeck said.

Next contestant said, "Al Queda".

Everyone in the audience clapped to this answer, thinking it was the correct one. However, Trebeck said, "Not Al Queda". Then, I woke up, before the correct answer was given.

I was left to ponder, in the early morning light, our true threats. At first, I wanted to say North Korea. But its too easy. They view us as a threat, I am guessing, as much as we view them.

I came to this conclusion: the true threat to the United States is, ourselves, ourselves, ourselves.


# posted by scorpiorising : 9:13 AM |

Fun with Links 

Take Back the Media has a new groove thang going on, and its powered by the goose step. Check it out, and thank Blah3.com for sponsoring. Far Out. Also, Blah3 highlights CNN for an hour. Hint: its war, war, war.

Here is a fabulous article in The New York Observer ,
Going off to War Supplied with Lies, by Nicholas von Hoffman , on the seductions of war for the news media:

"However much war may depress advertising and ruin the news budgets of the big media corporations, it gooses the ratings and makes stars of the on-air performers. And heroes, too: In December, HBO showed Live from Baghdad, a docudrama glorifying war whoredom. The same show is available around the clock on television as these journalistic war profiteers promote themselves and their careers. You can see the giddy emotional state of these men and women, clutching their microphones as their adrenaline-hyped voices report from Washington, Baghdad, London, Amman or--better yet--the deck of an aircraft carrier. "

# posted by scorpiorising : 8:56 AM |

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