sorry if this is a dupe..
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0722-03.htmPublished on Thursday, July 22, 2004 by the lndependent/UK
Grand Jury Probes Cheney's Role in 'Illegal' Iran Trade
by Rupert Cornwell
WASHINGTON - Yet another controversy has flared up around the Halliburton oil services company of which Vice-President Dick Cheney used to be chief executive - this time over whether during the 1995-2000 Cheney era it violated US law by doing business directly with Iran.
GRAND JURY PROBES CHENEY'S ROLE IN 'ILLEGAL' IRAN TRADE
The US Treasury has been probing the affair, which centers on a Dubai-based subsidiary of Halliburton and its work at Iranian oilfields, ever since allegations first surfaced in 2001. But this week it emerged that the group is under investigation by federal prosecutors in its home town of Houston. A grand jury has also subpoenaed various documents covering its Iranian operations, a sign that some evidence has surfaced indicating the company knowingly violated the sanctions.
Halliburton claims it is the victim of an election season witch-hunt by the Democrats. It maintains it obeyed US regulations over dealings with Iran, which stipulate that subsidiaries doing business there must be registered abroad, employ no US citizens, and operate independently of the parent company.
But these protestations will count for nothing amid the new clamor over Iran's possible ties with international terrorism, and an ever more heated election campaign in which the company has turned into one of the prime issues.
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THE DAILY MIS-LEAD
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http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1333383&l=46888 >
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CHENEY ATTACKED FIGHT AGAINST TERROR WHILE ABROAD
On the same day that President Bush announced plans to investigate Iran for ties to terrorism,<1> Halliburton acknowledged that "a U.S. grand jury issued a subpoena to the company seeking information about its Cayman Islands unit's work in Iran,<2> where it is illegal for U.S. companies to operate." Earlier this year, CBS News reported that Vice President Dick Cheney was CEO of the company "during which time Halliburton Products and Services set up shop in Iran."<3> In fact, Cheney was so adamant about doing business with terrorist nations like Iran, he even went abroad to publicly attack American foreign policy after meeting with top officials from a foreign government.
Despite economic sanctions on Iran because of its ties to terrorists, Cheney openly bragged about Halliburton's business dealings there during the 2000 campaign.<4> Cheney argued that it was ethical for Halliburton to use "independent foreign subsidiaries" that exist in tax shelter countries like the Cayman Islands to skirt U.S. law. He also went abroad to attack American policy: According to the Malaysian News Agency, Cheney publicly attacked U.S. sanctions on terrorist countries after a meeting with top Malaysian government officials in Kuala Lampur.<5>
During the 2000 campaign, Cheney also claimed that, as Halliburton CEO, "I had a firm policy that we wouldn't do anything in Iraq,<6> even arrangements that were supposedly legal." Yet, earlier this year, The New Yorker reported "during Cheney's tenure<7> at Halliburton the company did business" in Iraq as well. The Washington Post reported that despite strict economic sanctions, Halliburton did up to $73 million in business<8> with Iraq while Cheney was heading the company.
Sources:
1. "Bush: U.S. probes possible Iran links to 9/11," CNN.com, 7/19/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1333383&l=46889. 2. "Halliburton Subpoenaed Over Unit's Iran Work ," Reuters, 7/19/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1333383&l=46890. 3. "Doing Business With The Enemy," 60 Minutes, 1/25/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1333383&l=46891. 4. "Halliburton Iraq ties more than Cheney said," NewsMax.com, 6/25/01,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1333383&l=46892 .
5. Malaysian News Agency, 4/20/98
6. "Contract Sport,"The New Yorker, 2/16/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1333383&l=46893. 7. Ibid,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1333383&l=46893. 8. "Halliburton's Iraq Deals Greater Than Cheney Has Said,"TruthOut.org, 6/23/01,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1333383&l=46894.