10/30   Man, if Clinton was doing this kind of shit the media and the GOP
        would have been screaming about it 24/7.  To elaborate, this is a
        Reuters article about how companies awarded lucrative contracts in
        Iraq have made very large Bush campaign contributions.
        http://csua.org/u/4uk
        \_ I'm not saying there's nothing dodgy about it, but using Bechtel
           as an example seems fairly weak--they are, after all, one of the
           world's biggest construction companies, and a really big company
           in its own right.  Wouldn't you expect them to have political
           connections, just like Microsoft, GM, US Steel, Exxon, and RJR
           Nabisco (among others) do?  And frankly, I don't think it would
           have gone over too well if we'd started paying the Binladin group
           to build roads in Afghanistan.  Although regarding the Clinton
           thing, I don't know if it would have started a real shitfest--
           don't forget, the GOP screams about everything.  That's what makes
           them so cuddly and lovable.  -John
           \_ There are contracts, and there are no-bid contracts. --aaron
                \_ And there are also Federal sole source regulations
                   that constrain the structure of no-bid contracts.
                   \_ Which have been violated in Iraq.
           \_ Halliburton is a great example, though.
              \_ Yeah, and Halliburton is one of the biggest oil engineering
                 firms in the world (or at least US.)  I'm not doubting the
                 potential for monkey business, but the examples given are
                 like saying "Red Adair has a good relationship with the
                 government, including giving campaign contributions, so it's
                 suspicious that he's given all those contracts to put out oil
                 fires."  -John
                 \_ This is what you get for 1. non-bid contracts, and 2.
                    the sheer fact that the Vice President, which a has
                    the shear fact that the Vice President, which a has
                    overwhelmingly influence in Iraq policies, was the
                    CEO of Halliburton.   Last time I check, Halliburton is
                    still paying for his compensation today.
                    \_ Which still doesn't address my point.  They are a big
                       company, with lots of references in their field.
                       Yeah, Cheney was on their board and probably still
                       has ties, which is wrong.  Are you saying that no
                       company, no matter how competent they are, with any
                       ties to politicians should be given any govt.
                       contracts?  -John
                       \_ They should be forced to compete in a fair and
                          competitive bidding process. Halliburton was
                          given a no-bid contract. And I personally believe
                          that politicians taking campaign contributions
                          should not be allowed to grant federal contracts
                          to those companies. But that is not the law, at
                          least not yet. -ausman
                           \_ While I agree with you that competition is
                              good and healthy, it is not always feasible.
                              One should be careful with statements like
                              "all bids should be through competition"--it
                              has the competition to create lots of
                    still paying for his compensation today.
                              inefficiency and other side effects.  -John
           \_ Also, Bechtel has had big government contracts for decades, under
              the administrations of Dems and Repubs.
              the administrations of Dems and Repubs.
                \_ Bechtel built the Hoover Dam.
        \_ So why don't I see any criticism of URS Corp., owned in part
           by Diane Feinstein's husband, which receives several billion
           annually in government contract?  They were just awarded
           4 billion dollar contract.
           \_ Because We Love Diane Feinstein!  She can Do No Wrong!  If she
              were a republican, however, her actions would be unspeakably
              evil and beyond redemption.
           annually in government contract?  They were just awarded
           4 billion dollar contract.
              \_ No, because those contracts were awarded after a fair and
                 competitive bidding process, while the Iraq contracts were
                 not. Are you honestly unable to see the difference?