Evelyn Pringle: Congress Must Cut Off Bush Family War Profits

[babylonsister]

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/contributors/919

Evelyn Pringle: Congress Must Cut Off Bush Family War Profits


snip//

Since this war on terror was declared following 9/11, the pay levels for the CEOs of the top 34 defense contractors have doubled. The average compensation rose from $3.6 million during the period of 1998-2001 to $7.2 million during the period of 2002-2005, according to an August 2006 report entitled, "Executive Excess 2006," by the Washington-based Institute for Policy Studies and the Boston-based United for a Fair Economy.

This study found that since 9/11, the 34 defense CEOs have pocketed a combined total of $984 million, or enough, the report says, to cover the wages for more than a million Iraqis for a year. In 2005, the average total compensation for the CEOs of large U.S. corporations was only 6% above 2001 figures, while defense CEOs pay was 108% higher.

But the last name of one family, which is literally amassing a fortune over the backs of our dead heroes, matches that of the man holding the purse strings in the White House. On December 11, 2003, the Financial Times reported that three people had told the Times they had seen letters written by Neil Bush that recommended business ventures in the Middle East, promoted by New Bridges Strategies, a firm set up by President Bush's former campaign manager, who quit his Bush appointed government job as the head of FEMA, three weeks before the war in Iraq began.

Neil Bush was paid an annual fee to "help companies secure contracts in Iraq," the Times said.

But Neil Bush is by no means the only Bush profiting from the war on terror. The first President Bush is so entangled with entities that have profited greatly that it's difficult to even know where to begin. Bush joined the Carlyle Group in 1993, and became a member of the firm's Asian Advisory Board.

The Carlyle Group was best known for buying defense companies and doubling or tripling their value and was already heavily supported by defense contracts. In 2002, the firm received $677 million in government contracts; by 2003, its contracts were worth $2.1 billion.

more...

[LisaM]

1. Exactly. This, my friends, is the whole crux of the matter.

And at this point, haven't all these cronies made enough profit? Except, I think they are all high stakes gamblers at heart - they are addicted to it. And they don't want anyone else in the club.

[paparush]

2. THIS...if nothing else...should have common people raging in the streets.

[izzie]

3. So as the King hands out his contracts the royals get richer.

Greed and we pay for it in blood.

[solara]

4. The royals get richer and king George's personal Praetorian guard (Blackwater) is fully funded

Blackwater seems to be replacing our absent National Guard.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/091005A.shtml

They provide "Global Stability Solutions" from their own "military base" in one of the Carolinas.

Quote from their web site:

"Blackwater USA is the most comprehensive professional military, law enforcement, security, peacekeeping, and stability operations company in the world."

Who is funding them? This administration's covert contracts with Blackwater and Halliburton should be thoroughly investigated and defunded.


INVESTIGATE IMPEACH INDICT IMPRECATE INCARCERATE :patriot:

[izzie]

12. I do hope Congress will look into Blackwater and like companies

I do not like it at all. Bad business and it looks like Congress can not find out just what they are doing. Not much of what Bush has done has shocked me but I guess I must say what has happened to the service has made ne open my eyes some what. I am thinking of what my sister said when he got in. 'I have met men like him and they leave a mess every place they go' 'mark my words this guy will really be bad' She sure did hit it right on the head. Just reading his history should have even had his father and mother not vote for him

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. Wow. They're going for the family jewels!

[ClintonTyree]

16. This is Buzzflash, not exactly a household word.

Have you noticed how the corporate media has picked up on this and made it a national issue? No, neither have I. The truth is that the corporate media is doing very well by Bush's war too, it's been a gold mine for them. They have a vested interest in keeping this beneath the radar and they're doing a marvelous job of it.

I'd say the average American knows about 10% of the underhanded, dirty, unethical and illegal deeds of the Bush White House. If everyone knew the truth, Bush would have been sacked years ago. That they don't know the truth is a testament to the corporate media's greed and support of the Bush administration's policies.

[mzmolly]

6. I hope the attention Buzzflash has given to this issue will reach beyond Buzzflash.

Congress should pursue this matter vigorously.

Thanks for posting Babalyonsister. :hi:

[Kurovski]

7. Sick bunch of putzes.

K&R.

[Gregorian]

8. Exactly. And it should have happened twenty years ago.

This is how you stop the madmen.

Go for the jugular.

[Kurovski]

9. Kick. (nt)

[FourScore]

10. K&R

This story should be on the front page of every paper in the US.

[ShortnFiery]

11. Yes! Evelyn Pringle is spot on. n/t

[halobeam]

13. kick

[MasonJar]

14. The people who are working 2 and 3 jobs to live do NOT know this.

We need to tell them.

[frogcycle]

15. contrast the neglect of this to the Whitewater witch hunt n/t

[yurbud]

17. this is why not only Bush and Cheney have to go, but we have to reach up to those

who gave them their marching orders and profited from smothering babies in rubble and burning the arms off a boy.