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The Madness of the War Profiteering in Iraq

“Iraq for Sale” director Robert Greenwald explains to Congress that the billions that defense contractors and war profiteers are making out of the Iraq war is a madhouse run amuck.

The following is Robert Greenwald’s testimony to the House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense about war profiteering.

Imagine someone with the exact same job as you, working next to you, but getting paid three times as much as you! We heard this story over and over again from the soldiers we interviewed. And in the case of US Army SPC David Mann, a radio repair technician who served in Iraq, he was even required to train KBR contractors to replace him. In “Iraq For Sale,” David shared his frustration:

“When I could be actively becoming a better soldier and becoming more proficient in my job, instead I’m going to sit up on guard duty and wait around while KBR contractors are doing the job that I had to train them to do.”

US Army specialist Anthony Lagouranis also spoke of the effects of the private contractors on the military:

“It certainly affected retention because I don’t know why any military person would re-enlist to do the same job when they could get out of the military and make six times the money — I really don’t understand why they were outsourced. I mean, it seems like this is a military job and the military should be doing it. Especially because the more civilians you have out there, the more military people you need to guard them. So we’re spreading us thin.”

“Iraq For Sale” was seen by hundreds of thousands of people around the country, and I cannot tell you the number of soldiers who saw it and thanked us for exposing the toll that contracting and profiteering are taking on our armed forces and on the war in Iraq.

I was also appalled to learn of the amount of waste by contractors in Iraq.

I remember clearly my interview with Stewart Scott, a former Halliburton employee. With pain and rage in his voice, he said how dare Halliburton put its people up at five-star hotels, while the soldiers, who he was there to help, were sleeping on the ground. I did not believe in him at first, but then he began naming the hotels and the locations. It was all true.

Via AlterNet. Related link: Iraq For Sale: The War Profiteers

Related news

Employees of a U.S. private contractor hired by the U.S. military to protect supplies say the brutality they witnessed against Iraqis led them to quit. NBC’s Lisa Myers reports.

They worked for an American company named Custer Battles, hired by the Pentagon to conduct dangerous missions guarding supply convoys. They were so upset by what they saw, three quit after only one or two missions.

“What we saw, I know the American population wouldn’t stand for,” says Craun.

On a mission on Nov. 8, escorting ammunition and equipment for the Iraqi army, they claim a Kurd guarding the convoy allegedly shot into a passenger car to clear a traffic jam.

“[He] sighted down his AK-47 and started firing,” says Colling. “It went through the window. As far as I could see, it hit a passenger. And they didn’t even know we were there.”

Later, the convoy came upon two teenagers by the road. One allegedly was gunned down.

“It was chaos and carnage and destruction the whole day,” says Craun.

Two of the men — Craun and Colling — say they quit immediately.

Craun, in an e-mail two days later to a friend at the Pentagon, wrote: “I didn’t want any part of an organization that deliberately murders children and innocent civilians.”

Errante says he also quit after witnessing wild, indiscriminate shootings on two other missions.

“I said I didn’t want to be a witness to any of these, what could be classified as a war crime,” says Errante.

“These aren’t insurgents that we’re brutalizing,” says Craun. “It was local civilians on their way to work. It’s wrong.”

Via MSNBC

Also tagged Iraq

2007 05 09 Politics Comments (0)

Soccer the Violent War Game! Soccer’s Barbaric Origin

Believe it or not, but the modern day soccer owes its origin to the barbarous war mongering nature of human beings.

There is no proper documentation that can state the date and place of origination of the most popular modern day sport—Soccer. However, depending on the socio-historical facts and data we can assume that some type of a ball game was played somewhere in this planet for at least over 3000years now.

The earliest evidence of soccer was found in Kyoto, Japan where a field marked to play a ball-kicking game was found.

There is also proper documentation that supports the fact that the Chinese military forces around 2nd and 3rd century BC (Han Dynasty) played a game that involved kicking a ball into a small net. This was then an essential skill building exercise for the armed forces.

Historical evidence also shows that some form of Soccer was played also by the Greeks and the Romans, however, the primitive form involved a larger team on each side. At times the team strength would go up even to around 27 people on each side.

The Greeks were playing four different forms of the ball game, namely “Episkyros”, “Ourania”, “Pheninda” and “Keritizein”. Episkyros was the closest to football. In this 2 equally numbered teams, would try to throw the ball over the heads of the other team. There was a white line between the teams and another white line behind each team.

Teams would change the ball often until one of the team is forced behind the line at their end.

Now, how many of you would believe that the modern day soccer actually originated as a war game?

Unbelievable, but true! The first Football (as Soccer is called in Britain) game was played by the locals of east of England, where they started a game, kicking around the severed head of a Danish prince whom they have defeated in a war. That marked the origination of Football as a war game.

After this, for a long time, football was played by rival towns and villages where the objective was to move the ball to a predetermined spot. Hundreds of people would take part in these games and a single game could last a whole day. Punching, kicking, biting , everything was allowed.

The savage nature of this form of football was not much appreciated by the rulers and the Royalty took all possible steps to stop these games. King Edward III of England, passed laws in 1331 to stop the game, he was followed by King James I of Scotland in 1424.

The Queens were not far behind, rather, had a more strict approach. Queen Elizabeth I of England, enacted laws that could sentence a football player to jail for a week followed by penancing in a church.

However, in spite of all their best efforts and intentions they could not stop the game. It was too popular among the masses and they loved the game.

The first approach to regularize and give a civilized form to this game was taken by the famous Eton College of England in 1815 when they established a set of rules for the games. These rules were accepted by the other schools, colleges and universities.

Later, in 1848, these rules were further standardized and a new version was adopted by all the schools, college and universities. This new set of rules was known as the Cambridge Rules.

At this stage, there were actually two set of rules that were being followed in this game. Some organizations preferred to follow the rules of the Rugby School, that allowed tripping, kicking and carrying the ball, whereas the Cambridge rules prohibited all this methods.

In October, 1863, The Football Association was formed, when eleven London schools and clubs came together to establish a single set of rules to administer any football match that were to be played among them. On 8 December 1863, Association Football and Rugby Football finally split onto two different organizations.

In 1869, these rules were further amended to exclude any handling of the ball beyond the scope of acceptability and that created the foundation for the modern day sports mania—SOCCER !

Ray Smith, by profession a marketing expert is also an authentic source of sports information. A sports enthusiast and self-motivated researcher, he is always updated with the latest happenings in the sports world. Live scores, league tables, fixtures and updated statistics available at http://www.goalslive.com.

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Gore Vidal: ‘The Most Important Election in My Lifetime’

On the eve of the publication of his new memoir, “Point to Point Navigation” (Doubleday), iconic author and historian Gore Vidal sat down to an exclusive video interview with Truthdig editor Robert Scheer and offered this plea to America regarding the Nov. 7 elections:

“This is the most important vote that you’ll probably ever cast. Because should
this gang of thugs continue in the two houses of Congress, there isn’t any
chance of getting the Constitution back….”

Partial transcript:

We’re facing the most important election in my lifetime—which does not quite extend back to that of Abraham Lincoln, but it’s pretty close. There’ll be nothing more important in the voting line that one can foresee that will come our way while any of us is still hobbling around. This will determine whether we regain the republic which we have lost over the last five years.

The coup d’etat was so rapid that even I, who am ready for such things … I thought, these people are going to make a grab for it. But I thought, my heavens, there’s still the courts…. Even a shameless Supreme Court is not going to back up the loss of habeas corpus….

So, my fellow countrymen, as I sit here, not yet at Gettysburg, I have a notion that this is the most important vote that you’ll probably ever cast. Because should this gang of thugs continue in the two houses of Congress, there isn’t any chance of getting the Constitution back….

This is the last chance, really, by getting some new chairpersons to head committees in the House … to have a clean sweep, which, in normal times, if we’d ever enjoyed them, would have happened by now. Now it has got to happen, or welcome to the Third Reich.

Source: Truthdig

Also tagged history, usa

2006 11 07 Activism
Politics
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Army Coverup? Did 300 Soldiers Die at Forward Base Falcon?

Wednesday October 11, 2006 3:16 PM

By David Rising (Associated Press Writer)

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) – Insurgents hit an ammunition dump on a U.S. base in Baghdad with a mortar round, setting off fiery explosions through the night that shook buildings miles away, while renewed attacks killed at least 14 people, primarily in the capital.

According to US military reports,

“Intelligence indicates that civilians aligned with a militia organization were responsible for last night’s mortar attack,” base spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Withington said.

There were no injuries reported, and Withington said the attack had no strategic effect.

“The attack does not affect ongoing Baghdad security operations in the focus areas, and the loss of ammunition will not degrade the operational capability of the” U.S. forces in Baghdad, he said. The base’s essential services were not disrupted.”

When the base was hit, personnel were put on full alert and soldiers and base employees were moved to bomb shelters, Withington said.

Brian Harring from Novesti Press Agency gave a different (and highly detailed) account however,

Over 300 American troops, including U.S. Army and Marines, CIA agents and U.S. translators were casualties and there also were 165 seriously injured requiring major medical attention and 39 suffering lesser injuries 122 members of the Iraqi armed forces were killed and 90 seriously injured members of same, were also evacuated to the U.S. military hospital at al-Habbaniyah located some 70km west of Baghdad.

Satellite pictures and aerial photographs from neutral sources showed that Camp Falcon suffered major structural damage and almost all the U.S. military’s supply of small arms ammunition, artillery and rocket rounds, tons of fuel, six Apache helicopters, an uncounted but large number of soft-skinned vehicles such as Humvees and supply trucks were damaged or totally destroyed.

Foreign press observers noted “an endless parade” of military vehicle recovery units dragging burnt-out heavy tanks and armored personnel carriers to another base outside Baghdad. Many of the walls and towers of the camp were damaged or leveled as were many of the barracks, maintenance depots, and there was considerable damage to the huge mess halls that could hold 3000 soldiers, the huge recreation center with its basketball courts and indoor swimming pools and all the administration buildings

Although official U.S. DoD statements indicated that there were no deaths; that only a hundred men were inside the base guarding billions of dollars of vital military equipment and that there were “only two minor injuries to personnel,” passes belief and certainly reality is more painful than propaganda. Not only has the U.S. military machine lost much of its armor and transport, and its entire reserves of ammunition and special fuel, but the casualty list for only the first day is over 300..

Source – Houston Indymedia (includes Official Casualty List from the US military hospital at al-Habbaniyah 70km west of Baghdad)

An Arab news video at 3.57 shows what appears to be a huge explosion. It would be impossible for there to be little to no fatalities as claimed by the official military statement.

A website has come up to try and piece together the story: Camp Falcon – What Really Happened?

Also tagged army, Iraq

2006 11 01 Life and Death
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Imagine

The recent plane crash in Manhattan certainly did not recapture the horror of five years ago, but at first impact, it was a stunning reminder. The sentiments in the following article continue to be useful, and I feel that ground zero and all that occurred there and all the lives that were shattered at that time still deserve our compassionate concern. This is what I wrote at that time:

I had earmarked Tuesday morning, September 11th, to complete this column. For weeks I’d been jotting down thoughts and this was to be the time to collate them. At the top of the page I had scrolled the word “Imagine,” and my first musings had been some of the key words in John Lennon’s song: Imagine all the people living for today Imagine all the people living life in peace Imagine all the people sharing all the world

There were other notes all aimed at using our brilliant imaginations to create more beauty and fulfillment in our personal lives and ever expanding love and peace in our world.
And then it happened!

In certain circles John’s song wasn’t, and still isn’t, well received. His lyrics speak of imagining no countries — no religions — the very source of identity for many of us. But John’s whole thrust here, it seems to me, is encouraging us to be here now — today — with peace in our hearts and love in our minds. To share this world openly, freely, and with great delight. No more separation — no more arrogance that declares, “I’m better than you because I belong to this religion or live in this country.

“The truth is that we are family on this tiny, precious planet and he knew that. He knew that “we are all one.”

And anything that obscures, denies, or defiles that innate connection and brotherhood is counterproductive to the natural flow of life.

If you’re reading this column it’s no accident, and you’ve got work to do. We all do. This is why we’re here now. Certainly we have to search our hearts for ways in which we can be helpful to our fellow beings and move forth to do that. But most of all, we need to Imagine.

On Friday evening, Sept. 14th, 2001 all over this country and in many parts of our world, candles were lit in an outpouring of spirit that sent light forth into the darkness. We can be doing that with our thoughts constantly. Light literally emanates from us when we think upon love and peace and all the positive energies.

So begin today to imagine that you are a bearer and beacon of light. See and feel that light is emanating from the center of your chest, what is metaphysically referred to as your heart center. Imagine it like a gigantic search light, and focus it wherever you choose. (You can do this anywhere, anytime — walking down the street, sitting on the bus, doing the dishes, making the bed, etc. You don’t have to be at a prayer meeting or in meditation.)

Also imagine that the light of compassion is pouring from your eyes everywhere you look and that light flows from your hands healing everything you touch. Imagine your “heart search light” flowing into those who are grieving the loss of loved ones and profoundly comforting them. See it descending upon ground zero, assisting the courageous beings who are working there with such relentless determination. See it blessing and releasing the suffering of those who so abruptly lost their lives. See it bringing hope and new vision to those whose lives have been so drastically shattered. See it filling the hearts and minds of all our world leaders with inspiration and great wisdom at this most critical hour.

Imagine that you are sending forth light to encircle our earth and rain down a soothing balm that, now and forevermore, heals the anger and hatred that source such egregious acts. Imagine.

Imagine that this time we finally wake up; we get it. Imagine that this time we recognize and claim that the love, the beauty, the deep compassionate caring that become our modus operandi in times of great crisis is who we really are. Imagine that this time we shift into that way of being, always.

Imagine that this is the catalyst that transforms the consciousness of the entire planet. “Imagine all the people sharing all the world” in love, harmony and understanding.

Albert Einstein said that imagination is more important than information. Imagine that your mind and heart and every fiber of your being is a healing instrument. It is when you say so. Be the Light. Imagine.

Emerging triumphant from a bout with cancer, Elizabeth has shifted her focus to the healing arts. She now refers to herself as a Wellness Facilitator and through her work she has created the Better & Better Series, which is a synthesis of her musical gifts, theatrical experience, personal healing and years of metaphysical training, she sets the stage to invigorate the magnificent healing power within us all. www.elizabethhepburn.com

Also tagged personality, Story, usa

2006 10 22 Smart Living
Stress and Relaxation Comments (0)

Flags of Our Fathers and The Prestige

Flags of Our Fathers (3.5/5)

I’d hate to be inside Clint Eastwood’s head. The guy doesn’t have a happy-go-lucky bone in his body. His movies are dire and depressing, in Clint’s world everything ends in tears. The tears have never flowed more freely than they do with his latest film, Flags of our Fathers, based on a book by Jim Bradley about the true story of the men behind the famous flag-raising picture from the World War II battle of Iwo Jima.

Though the film features a spectacular yet horrifying beach-storming battle scene nearly on par with the one from Saving Private Ryan, it’s not really about the heroic fight to take the tiny Japanese island where the picture is taken. Instead, the movie cuts back and forth from the battle to scenes much later after the three still living boys who raised the flag are shipped back home to be used as a promotional tool in drumming up support for the war.

These boys refuse to think of themselves as heroes, they’re just guys who tried not to get shot and the movie tells their story more from a perspective of sad resignation than heroic achievement in spite of the odds.

There are no heroes here, simply survivors.

When in the middle of battle, because the movie is told from the extremely narrow perspective of a few soldiers in the middle of a firestorm, there’s no real attempt to make sense of the specifics of what’s happening at Iwo Jima. The horrific battle fought is simply a catalyst to understanding what’s going on inside the heads of soldiers John “Doc” Bradley (Ryan Phillippe), Rene Gagnon (Jesse Bradford), and Ira Hayes (Adam Beach). The focus of Flags of our Fathers is not on what happened during the war, but how the war affected the men who fought in it. As you’d imagine, it isn’t pretty.