Halliburton & Fox News

Ah, two of my favorite subjects. From the Salon.com "war room".

Halliburton's RIO Grande of overcharges
Congressional Democrats released records Monday from the Defense Contract Audit Agency's investigation of Halliburton, revealing that the company overcharged $108 million for one of 10 ten services the company performed as part of its Restore Iraqi Oil contract. U.S.

Representatives Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and John Dingell, D-Mich., also submitted an open letter to President Bush, calling for the release of audit reports on the remaining nine contract tasks, and asking the Bush administration how it plans to recover the funds from Halliburton.

The battle for transparency has been going on ever since Vice President Cheney's former company nabbed its lucrative no-bid contract: As Rep. Waxman told Salon back in Dec. 2003, he's been asking for an explanation of what appears to be Halliburton's "government-sanctioned profiteering" in U.S.-occupied Iraq. But more than a year later the White House still hasn't answered Congressional inquiries, and though President Bush has promised that audit reports on the RIO contract would be made public, neither Congress nor the public has been privy to them so far.

Monday's letter suggests the reason why: It may be even worse than Waxman thought. The "tens of millions of dollars" in overcharges that the Pentagon mentioned in '03 mushroomed into $108 million in the one task report that Congress got from the DCAA. (In one particularly egregious instance, the company paid subcontractors $27 million to transport $82,000 worth of propane from Kuwait to Iraq; the Congressmen, apparently at a loss for words, quoted California oil economist Phil Verleger: "It's as if they've put the gasoline on the Queen Mary and taken it around the world before they deliver it.") Given that the DoD is still sitting on the other nine audit reports, it seems likely that the total overcharges will dramatically exceed the DoD's '03 estimate.

But unless Congress can get its hands on the other reports, it'll be hard to hold Halliburton accountable. And it's not just American taxpayers who should get a refund -- $1.64 billion of Halliburton's total $2.5 billion tab have come out of Iraqi oil proceeds held in the Development Fund for Iraq. Repayment of overages to the development fund could come in handy for the fledgling democracy, plagued as it is by security problems and a lack of funds to cover basic infrastructure and electricity.

The Pentagon still refuses to freeze Halliburton's contract while investigations are underway. And for its part, Halliburton contends that its charges were fair. Never mind the no-bid contract and the various options it had for lower fuel prices; in a statement to the Associated Press, company spokesperson Wendy Hall went with the "all's fair in love and war" defense: "The [DCAA's] report fails to take into account the fact that [Halliburton subcontractor Kellogg Brown & Root] performed an urgent mission at the Army's request and that the mission took place in a wartime environment."
-- Page Rockw

Fair and balanced, at least 27 percent of the time!
The Washington Post's Howard Kurtz reports on a new study of TV news. You decide.
"In covering the Iraq war last year, 73 percent of the stories on Fox News included the opinions of the anchors and journalists reporting them, a new study says. By contrast, 29 percent of the war reports on MSNBC and 2 percent of those on CNN included the journalists' own views. These findings -- the figures were similar for coverage of other stories -- 'seem to challenge' Fox's slogan of 'we report, you decide,' says the Project for Excellence in Journalism.

"In a 617-page report, the group also found that 'Fox is more deeply sourced than its rivals,' while CNN is 'the least transparent about its sources of the three cable channels, but more likely to present multiple points of view.' The project defines opinion as views that are not attributed to others."

Perhaps not a real shocker, but it turns out that Bill O'Reilly, host of the "no-spin zone," is a bona fide leader in dialing in the spin: "As for the most popular prime-time shows, nearly every story -- 97 percent -- contained opinion on Fox's 'O'Reilly Factor'; 24 percent on MSNBC's 'Hardball with Chris Matthews'; and 0.9 percent on CNN's 'Larry King Live.'"

Indeed, the PEJ report would seem to confirm suspicions that Fox News, above all others, is quite sympathetic in general to the Bush White House's faith-based policies. As Kurtz also notes from the study: "Last March, Fox reporter Todd Connor said that 'Iraq has a new interim constitution and is well on its way to democracy.'

"'Let's pray it works out,' said anchor David Asman."

And if TV viewers end up being too busy at any given moment to get their fix of "news" from the cable nets, they need not worry: 70 percent of the time they'll have missed nothing at all.

"Despite its 24 hours of available air time, cable isn't exactly bursting with new news. Seven in 10 reports involve recycling of the same subject matter, with only 10 percent adding meaningful updates. 'The time required to continuously be on the air seems to take a heavy toll on the nature of the journalism presented,' the report says."
-- Mark Follman

I Miss You Daddy-O

Today marks one of those anniversary dates I'd like to forget. Thus far, I remember it as the worst day of my life.

March 10, 1997 I got a call at work from a Columbus Police homicide detective. As she introduced herself, I was still comprehending her title. She proceeded to tell me they had found my dad, dead, under an overpass. As I completely freaked out, she then started to describe what this man was wearing. I knew instantly it was him, and yet EVERY fiber of my being fought back what she was saying.

I think at the time, I thought I could wish it away and my thoughts could change the reality. I shook so hard I could not stand, I couldn't quit crying. I just spoke to him the night before, this just could not be true.

From there, I remember my sister and brother-in-law picking me up at work. I had to go identify his body. Even as we rode to the coroner's office, I was convinced they were wrong and whoever they had me going to look at would not be my dad. As I was given a photo to ID him, there was no escaping the truth, the reality that my dear ol' dad was no longer here.

For months, and I mean months - I fought a deep depression. I think when you lose someone and are given no reasons as to why, it makes the acceptance of reality far harder to bear. I understood "heart attack", I understood, "car crash" - but, not knowing what happened to him on that ill fated night, will haunt me as long as I live.

My dad was my best friend. We could talk about ANYTHING. I miss his voice, I miss making him laugh so hard he had to cough, I miss his sense of humor. Most of all, I miss my dad for being my dad.

Here's to you Ron. I think about you often. I hope you see things I've done that have made you proud. I carry you with me wherever I go. Through the good and bad. I think of what you'd tell me to calm down, or to enjoy a moment of life's victory. It's nice knowing I have you as my guardian angel. And whether it's true or not, I usually give you credit when something goes right in my life.

The only silver lining I could find in your sudden departure was knowing I was able to tell you one last time, on our final phonecall, I love you dad. For that, I will always be thankful.

U.S. Ends Search for WMD in Iraq

It's offcial....again! Dubya started a war for nothing! Oh, I forgot...it's about the oil stupid.

U.S. ends search for WMD in Iraq
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. inspectors have ended their search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq in recent weeks, a U.S. intelligence official told CNN.

The search ended almost two years after President Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq, citing concerns that Saddam Hussein was building weapons of mass destruction and may have hidden weapons stockpiles.
Members of the Iraq Survey Group were continuing to examine hundreds of documents and would investigate any new leads, the official said.

Charles A. Duelfer, who headed the Iraq Survey Group's search for WMD in Iraq, has returned to Iraq and is working on his final report, the official said.

In October, Duelfer released a preliminary report finding that in March 2003 -- the United States invaded Iraq on March 19 of that year -- Saddam did not have any WMD stockpiles and had not started any program to produce them.

The Iraq Survey Group report said that Iraq's WMD program was essentially destroyed in 1991 and Saddam ended the country's nuclear program after the 1991 Gulf War.

The report found that Iraq worked hard to cheat on United Nations-imposed sanctions and retain the capability to resume production of weapons of mass destruction at some time in the future. (Full story)
"[Saddam] wanted to end sanctions while preserving the capability to reconstitute his weapons of mass destruction when sanctions were lifted," a summary of the report said.

Many of the military and intelligence personnel, who had been assigned to the weapons search, are now working on counterinsurgency matters, the official said.

Worse Than Fiction

January 7, 2005
OP-ED COLUMNIST
Worse Than Fiction
By PAUL KRUGMAN

I've been thinking of writing a political novel. It will be a bad novel because there won't be any nuance: the villains won't just espouse an ideology I disagree with - they'll be hypocrites, cranks and scoundrels.

In my bad novel, a famous moralist who demanded national outrage over an affair and writes best-selling books about virtue will turn out to be hiding an expensive gambling habit. A talk radio host who advocates harsh penalties for drug violators will turn out to be hiding his own drug addiction.

In my bad novel, crusaders for moral values will be driven by strange obsessions. One senator's diatribe against gay marriage will link it to "man on dog" sex. Another will rant about the dangers of lesbians in high school bathrooms.

In my bad novel, the president will choose as head of homeland security a "good man" who turns out to have been the subject of an arrest warrant, who turned an apartment set aside for rescue workers into his personal love nest and who stalked at least one of his ex-lovers.

In my bad novel, a TV personality who claims to stand up for regular Americans against the elite will pay a large settlement in a sexual harassment case, in which he used his position of power to - on second thought, that story is too embarrassing even for a bad novel.

In my bad novel, apologists for the administration will charge foreign policy critics with anti-Semitism. But they will be silent when a prominent conservative declares that "Hollywood is controlled by secular Jews who hate Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular."

In my bad novel the administration will use the slogan "support the troops" to suppress criticism of its war policy. But it will ignore repeated complaints that the troops lack armor.

The secretary of defense - another "good man," according to the president - won't even bother signing letters to the families of soldiers killed in action.

Last but not least, in my bad novel the president, who portrays himself as the defender of good against evil, will preside over the widespread use of torture.

How did we find ourselves living in a bad novel? It was not ever thus. Hypocrites, cranks and scoundrels have always been with us, on both sides of the aisle. But 9/11 created an environment some liberals summarize with the acronym Iokiyar: it's O.K. if you're a Republican.

The public became unwilling to believe bad things about those who claim to be defending the nation against terrorism. And the hypocrites, cranks and scoundrels of the right, empowered by the public's credulity, have come out in unprecedented force.

Apologists for the administration would like us to forget all about the Kerik affair, but Bernard Kerik perfectly symbolizes the times we live in. Like Rudolph Giuliani and, yes, President Bush, he wasn't a hero of 9/11, but he played one on TV. And like Mr. Giuliani, he was quick to cash in, literally, on his undeserved reputation.

Once the New York newspapers began digging, it became clear that Mr. Kerik is, professionally and personally, a real piece of work. But that's not unusual these days among people who successfully pass themselves off as patriots and defenders of moral values. Mr. Kerik must still be wondering why he, unlike so many others, didn't get away with it.

And Alberto Gonzales must be hoping that senators don't bring up the subject.

The principal objection to making Mr. Gonzales attorney general is that doing so will tell the world that America thinks it's acceptable to torture people. But his confirmation will also be a statement about ethics.

As White House counsel, Mr. Gonzales was charged with vetting Mr. Kerik. He must have realized what kind of man he was dealing with - yet he declared Mr. Kerik fit to oversee homeland security.

Did Mr. Gonzales defer to the wishes of a president who wanted Mr. Kerik anyway, or did he decide that his boss wouldn't want to know? (The Nelson Report, a respected newsletter, reports that Mr. Bush has made it clear to his subordinates that he doesn't want to hear bad news about Iraq.)

Either way, when the Senate confirms Mr. Gonzales, it will mean that Iokiyar remains in effect, that the basic rules of ethics don't apply to people aligned with the ruling party. And reality will continue to be worse than any fiction I could write.


E-mail: krugman@nytimes.com

New Year Message

I felt compelled to say a few things before 2004 signs off and we start a New Year. I think I'll start off with the 'bad' of '04. I've always felt no matter how bad things get, you can usually find a thread of something positive or something to take with you and move forward with. So, here's just a few things that shaped my year.

In October, by brother-in-law Steve finally lost his heroic fight against cancer. I don't know if I fooled myself for months, or just wanted to believe if anyone could beat it, he would. What strikes me now is how he never gave up until the bitter end. He seldom complained about the disease that was ravaging his body. Knowing things might not turn for the good, he continued with experimental treatments, hoping that someday, his fight would be able to benefit someone else down the line. If that isn't a lesson in selflessness, I don't know what is. I miss you bro - and I know one day our paths will cross again in another life.

My sister and niece taught me about strength and courage. Nancy will be the first to say, what choice did I have? Regardless, watching someone you love lose such a battle and being there for them every step of the way takes both attributes. I see Molly, who was 20 years younger than I when I lost my dad hold her composure and move forward. I was amazed by her strength and it serves as a testament to who her dad was.

His passing was literally days before the election. Looking back - another strange time in my life indeed. While all that was going on, I found comfort and a wonderful diversion to what was going on in our lives. It seems a little surreal now. In one moment we fought back tears - the next I was at a rally or doing volunteer work for the Kerry campaign.

Speaking of the election - what the hell were you thinking America?

Living in Columbus meant we had a candidate here just about every other day towards the end. By October 30, Jodi (my best friend) and I had an election to remember. Our first rally in July had us on-stage right behind Kerry as he gave a speech in my neighborhood. I was fortunate to talk with him briefly and
get a signature. When he won the nomination, we attended a rally where Ben Affleck spoke - he truly is hot in person! I was standing at the gate line when Edwards got up on the fencing and had his stomach in my face for a few minutes. I call that my "Monica" moment of the campaign. Suffice it to say, I did get to shake his hand and Kerry's again. I will fondly remember the Zanesville rally in the rain.

The next event, I went solo - I met Teresa. I adore that woman - she's very bright and well spoken. I gave her hug and got her signature. We attended a town hall meeting with Elizabeth. I was struck by her candor and smarts too.

I spent the eve of my 41st birthday with John Edwards at a presidential debate party in downtown Columbus. Another hand shake, but even cooler - on the Kerry site, we were in the main picture in the front row. The day after my birthday we found ourselves in Cleveland at the Vote for Change tour with Bruce.

That led us to private invitation event featuring Kerry and Dana Reeve. Literally, we collectively held back our tears as she spoke of Christopher's passing.

The last rally with Kerry brought us Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuce! WOW! If that wasn't cool, I don't know what was. I have some candid shots of him backstage and he waved at me.

The last two events of the campaign were with Elizabeth at a Mom's for Kerry rally. And, Michael Moore with the Goo Goo Dolls and some other folks. This took place 3 days before the election. I gave Elizabeth a big hug and wished them luck - days later we would find she had breast cancer.

Final stop before election day, Michael Moore. We managed to sang front row seats. The Goo Goo Dolls played, Michael made us laugh and think. I thought for a few moments that this country can turn around.

Kerry brought me hope - I truly supported him and he was my first choice for president. However, we are stuck with a man that has no vision for this country. I'm starting to wonder if I will see full equality in my lifetime. I will continue to voice my thoughts/opinions as he takes our great nation down his path of hell.

Christmas of 2004 began with a blizzard and a power outage. I must admit, that was nerve racking to say the least. As I told my Uncle Bob - watching all those episodes of "Survivor" taught me well. In the end, we are all safe and sound and by the grace of Big Bird, our houses have no damage. Nancy & Molly are still without power, hopefully today is the day!

As bad as that was for us personally, to see the victims of the Tsunami serve as a reminder to how fortunate we are. Everyday as new footage comes out, I'm blown away by the devastation and destruction. I honestly thought Sudan was going to be the story of human tragedy this year. In either case, if you have a dime to send either of these groups of people - please don't wait, people are dying by the hundreds (thousands) and it is our duty in being those fortunate in the human race to help them. It could've been you in their shoes.

Barring any major act of Big Bird, we are headed to Cozumel in a few weeks! I'm so excited. My first cruise AND with Melissa Ferrick if that doesn't rock!

Which leads me to the best person in my life. I thank you for putting up with with my political rants, grumpy moods when I don't get enough sleep and my overall smartass behavior 24/7. Thank you for accepting my flaws - as beautiful as they are! You mean everything to me and I remind myself how 'empty' life would be without you.

Muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuah!

And maybe, just maybe, this is our year to start the rest of our lives together. You get the gnome for the garden - but, I really think we should get that white dog from the pound.

I know I've left out bunches of other things - but, my goal wasn't to keep rambling for a change!

To my friends, and family - obviously - I'm there if you need me. To the internet strangers that write and thank me for my web sites, I thank you for taking the time to drop me a line. Your stories can be very inspirational - and they do serve as a reminder as to why I do this in the first place.

To anyone bothering to read this - I wish you the best for 2005. May you and those you love have a safe and healthy New Year.
Cin