American Fingers in Iraq’s Cookie Jar

Staff / Truthdig Jun 30, 2008 The theory that the Bush administration wanted Iraq for its oil has just gotten a major boost. It turns out that the U.S. State Department sent over a team of lawyers and consultants to help the Iraqi government work out several high-profile no-bid contracts with five Western oil giants. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Boeing Gains Ally in Tanker Battle

Staff / Truthdig Jun 18, 2008 Boeing has friends in high places, as evidenced by the congressional Government Accountability Office siding Wednesday with the US aviation giant in a protest against a multibillion-dollar refueling tanker contract that was awarded earlier this year to a U-Europe team . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Blackwater Bounces Back

Staff / Truthdig May 11, 2008 Over the last year, Blackwater Worldwide has been under fire from critics at home and abroad, but that hasn't stopped the private security firm. In fact, the State Department has just re-upped Blackwater's Iraq contract, thanks in part to the magic of lobbying. Also, State Department officials don't seem to think they have much choice. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

The Gravy Train Stops Here

Staff / Truthdig Apr 30, 2008 It's the end of an era for the friends of General Services Administration chief Lurita Alexis Doan, who resigned from her post Tuesday following years of allegations of corruption and other inappropriate uses of power. Doan's reign over the government's chief contracting agency was riddled with contract handouts and examples of using her appointed position for political (read Republican) purposes. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Iraq Awards Iran Contracts, U.S. Sulks

Staff / Truthdig Oct 18, 2007 Determined to show just how adolescent they can be, U.S. representatives in Baghdad have expressed dissatisfaction and suspicion over a pair of power plants that Iranian and Chinese companies plan to build in Iraq. One American military official described the contracts this way: "As you know, it's not always as it appears." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Iraq Bans Blackwater, Launches Investigation

Staff / Truthdig Sep 17, 2007 The Iraqi government has ordered employees of the North Carolina-based security firm Blackwater USA to leave the country and is opening a criminal investigation following Sunday's deadly shootout in Baghdad, during which a group of Blackwater contractors escorting a convoy of U.S. officials opened fire on nearby civilians. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Halliburton Relocates to Dubai

Staff / Truthdig Mar 12, 2007 Oil giant Halliburton has decided to move its headquarters to the United Arab Emirates in order to better exploit Mideast opportunities. The controversial company has had much success in the region, with no-bid contracts in Iraq helping it pull in $22.6 billion in global revenues in 2006. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Officers Charged Over Iraq Reconstruction Scam

Staff / Truthdig Feb 8, 2007 Three Army Reserve officers and two civilians have been indicted for funneling $8 million worth of contracts over two years to a construction company in exchange for luxury items and cash. The officers oversaw some $26 billion in reconstruction funds while they were in Iraq. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Pentagon Caught in Contract Shuffle

Staff / Truthdig Dec 26, 2006 According to internal audit documents obtained by The Washington Post, the Defense Department wasted millions of dollars by farming out contracting to the Interior Department in an effort to "expedite" the process. Through the program, Interior routinely awarded overpriced and under-monitored no-bid contracts in exchange for a fee from the Pentagon. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

$20 Million for ‘Good News’ From Iraq

Staff / Truthdig Sep 1, 2006 According to the Washington Post: "US military leaders in Baghdad have put out for bid a two-year, $20 million public relations contract that calls for extensive monitoring of U and Middle Eastern media in an effort to promote more positive coverage of news from Iraq" Your money at work! (Via boingboing). Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Mystery Senator Blocks Sunshine Bill

Staff / Truthdig Aug 28, 2006 A bipartisan Senate bill that would have created a public database of all government contracts has been blocked by an unknown senator. The bill, which passed its committee unanimously, can now move forward only if the mysterious senator who placed it on "secret hold" removes the constraint. (h/t: Crooks and Liars) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Washington Deal Maker Details Palm Greasing

Staff / Truthdig Aug 6, 2006 A contractor tied to disgraced former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham describes America's congressional appropriations process as little more than a shakedown. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )