Rein in War Profiteering: Call Your Senator Today

Something is wrong. Every day, more information emerges about a disturbing trend in Iraq, private contracting companies enriching themselves at public expense. Just yesterday, more stories emerged about Halliburton, including a report by auditors at the Pentagon that found serious problems with overcharging and waste on contracts presently worth over $4 billion. The Salt Lake Tribune reported how Halliburton has been living large at taxpayer expense:

Those former employees contend that the firm once headed by Vice President Dick Cheney:

Lodged 100 workers at a five-star hotel in Kuwait for a total of $10,000 a day while the Pentagon wanted them to stay in tents, like soldiers, at $139 a night.

Abandoned $85,000 trucks because of flat tires and minor problems.

Spent $1.50 a can to buy 37,200 cans of soda in Kuwait, about 24 times higher than the contract price.

Knowingly paid subcontractors twice for the same bill.

Next week, executives of the defense contractor are being called to testify before Congress on the growing scandal.

You CAN do something about it. Call your Senators and ask them to support the Leahy amendment to deter war profiteering. You can reach the Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121.

On Wednesday, June 16, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) is expected to offer an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization Bill (S. 2400) that will deter contractors from defrauding the government. Leahy’s anti-war-profiteering amendment would subject contractors working abroad for Uncle Sam with stiff penalties – up to 20 years in jail and $1 million in fines – if they overcharged, cheated, or lied to the government.

We need strong bipartisan support for this amendment and we need your direct appeals to your Senators to push this forward. So if you’re unhappy about contracting in Iraq, please call your Senators and ask them to vote for the Leahy anti-war profiteering amendment.

US Senate Switchboard: (202) 224-3121.

Visit the Eye On Iraq Action Center.