Iraq // Current TV

November 16, 1997 - Dissidents And A Whiff Of Sleaze.

Another day in paradise . . . .

Gordonskene
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Lt. Col. Tammy Duckworth: The Sacrifice of our Veterans

Veterans Day is a time to celebrate the men and women who have worn this nation's... more

sarahkatheryn
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7 months ago
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Bazaar Behavior: US Plans the World's Biggest Yard Sale in Iraq

Baghdad - Iraq’s capital city has never seen a shopping bazaar like this. As the US military starts to withdraw from Iraq, it’s organizing the world’s largest yard sale to liquidate its surplus of equipment and supplies in the Middle East.

Col. Christopher “Champ” Pleason of the U.S. Army provided a tour of one of the countless warehouses where the goods are being stored.

“Usually we throw this junk in the dumpster on our way out,” he explained “But we understand that Uncle Sam is a little short on cash back home. So we’re going to put this stuff out there and see what we can get for it.”

Pleason, who is in charge of the selloff in his role as quartermaster, believes that food will be a top seller at the event. For starters, 27,011 cases of frozen Hot Pockets will be available.

“Jim Gaffigan dropped them off last year during his USO tour,” the Colonel said. “We’re throwing in 155 Porta Potties to whoever buys them.”

Some more sensitive items are also up for grabs. Pleason pointed to 15 weapons of mass destruction detection kits that were stacked in the corner of the warehouse.

“This is a fun item. Each kit contains a magnifying glass, fingerprint dusting powder, a directive from Dick Cheney, and a hat just like the one Inspector Clouseau wears.”

Loot captured from the Iraqi regime will also be part of the auction, including Saddam Hussein’s Magic Eight Ball.

“This was the brains behind his operation,” Pleason said. “A lot of people foolishly believe that Tariq Aziz was his top advisor. But the Eight Ball told me, ‘That’s very doubtful.’ ”

Historical memorabilia is also on the for-sale list. Pearson pointed to the large ‘Mission Accomplished’ banner, hanging from the warehouse’s ceiling.

“That’s right, this is the sign from the aircraft carrier on which George W. made that victory speech,” he said. “We don’t expect to get much for it though. It’s full of bullet holes.”

Occupying most of the warehouse were cases containing 11 million rounds of blank ammunition.

“Oh yeah, Bush had us switch to blanks after he did that mission accomplished thing. He was afraid we’d start a war or something.”Baghdad - Iraq’s capital city has never seen a shopping bazaar like this. As the... more

mbalton
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7 months ago
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Flashback: Former National Security Advisor warned of staged terror attack to launch war with Iran

http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/february2007/060207falseflag.htm An old... more

maasanova
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20 comments

Poor Contracting Oversight Supports Human Trafficking; Erodes U.S. "Moral Standing"

By DANA LIEBELSON

U.S. taxpayers are inadvertently funding human trafficking and worker abuse because of the federal government’s poor oversight of contractors in war zones, POGO Director of Investigations Nick Schwellenbach told a Congressional panel today.

Schwellenbach wasn’t the only one providing evidence to a subcommittee of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform that poor contractor oversight can finance horrific trafficking crimes—others asked to testify at the hearing had plenty to say on the subject. Here are five key quotes from the hearing:

Nick Schwellenbach, director of investigations at POGO: “Our tax dollars are inadvertently fueling this human rights tragedy through our labor supply chain in war zones and other contingency operations. Not only is trafficking and exploitation of laborers a moral wrong in and of itself, but it erodes our moral standing in the world, can spark backlash from the laborers and their home countries…and could undermine the U.S. mission.”

Liana Wyler, senior analyst, Congressional Research Service: “As many as 12.3 million adults and children are currently subjected to forced labor, bonded labor and forced prostitution around the world…Despite ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking associated with government contractors, recent annual reports on trafficking in persons by the U.S. Department of State acknowledge that government contractors and subcontractors continue to be implicated.”

Evelyn Klemstine, assistant inspector general for audits, U.S. Department of State: “We released an evaluation in January 2011 of six contracts in [the Arab States of the Gulf]…contract workers at all embassies and consulates generally expressed frustration with inconsistent payment, confusing pay stubs and withheld wages. Also, more than 70 percent of the workers interviewed reported that they lived in overcrowded, unsafe or unsanitary conditions.”

Sam McCahon, founder, McCahon Law: “The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act has not had any deterrent effect on labor trafficking on government contracts. Subcontractors and labor brokers have been exploiting and engaging in modern day slavery in support of U.S. government contractors for nearly 10 years. The practice is unabated. Moreover, prime contractors have a history of turning a blind eye to the practice.”

David Isenberg, independent analyst and writer: “I am simply an interested observer and chronicler, who like the Mr. Spock character on the Star Trek television series, finds [private military contractors (PMC)] a fascinating phenomenon worthy of continued study…While the last seven plus years have seen increased attention paid to the oversight and accountability of PMC…only now is government beginning to turn to the issue of subcontractors. This attention is long overdue.”By DANA LIEBELSON U.S. taxpayers are inadvertently funding human trafficking and... more

dliebelson
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7 months ago
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The Antiwar Comic: Protesting in the 21st Century

Protesting isn't what it used to be.

TonyDiGerolamo
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7 months ago
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War, What a Beautiful Thing

The U.S. has bankrupted itself via military expenditures, and it is late in the game... more

Progresshiv
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7 months ago
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28 comments

Rachel Maddow: Epic Rant - 'Shut Your Piehole, Mr. Wolfowitz'

...and Dick Cheney, and Condi Rice... MSNBC The RACHEL MADDOW Show - 29 Oct. 2011:... more

KB723
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7 months ago
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96 comments

Worldwide Hippies News Briefs Sunday

Snow, wind, rain smack Northeast Prosecutions going up for war zone crime... more

joeeddy
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7 months ago
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Why “The Unsung Hero” Gaddafi Was Murdered By The West

This is part of the West’s bigger agenda of establishing neo-colonialism with... more

worrg
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7 months ago
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Al-Qaeda - The Mechanisms

This is a must watch video for all those interested in Middle Eastern terrorism.... more

maasanova
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7 months ago
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Project For A New American Century-Taking place now (?)

Don't let that title make you think this is something good- it isn't. PNAC,... more

JanforGore
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7 months ago
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23 comments

Wartime Contracting Panel Seals Records for Next 20 Years

Source: AllGov.com Noel Brinkerhoff AllGov.com Tuesday, October 25, 2011... more

KB723
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7 months ago
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14 comments

Wesley Clark reveals Neocon plot to destroy 7 nations in 5 years

Did Libya have a humanitarian crisis back in 2007 when Wesley Clark admitted to Amy... more

maasanova
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7 months ago
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33 comments

U.S. Embassy in Iraq Largest, Most Expensive Ever Built at $700 million ( Article)

After much delay the United States opened its new $700 million embassy in Iraq on... more

factoverfiction
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7 months ago
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What Have We Gotten For The Trillion Dollars We Have Spent On Wars In Afghanistan, Iraq And Libya?

Over a trillion U.S. taxpayer dollars have been spent on wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and... more

Revelation1217
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7 months ago
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Bush, Santorum, and the War of the Codpiece

Well, if by lost you mean not flying around aircraft carriers within sight of San... more

omnipotentpoobah
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7 months ago
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Obama Promises to bring home all US troops by Christmas 2011

Iraqi leaders have refused to give US troops immunity from prosecution in Iraqi... more

graysea
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7 months ago
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Black Tie & Body Bags - Iraq war over, US troops coming home

Obama: Iraq war over, US troops coming home ABC7Chicago.com eTaiwan News - 9 hours... more

thinkingblue
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7 months ago
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COSTS of IRAQ WAR: In Days, Lives, BILLIONS of dollars . . . for 0 WMD found

“But while the return of all U.S. service men and women by Christmas is a cause... more

LOrion
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7 months ago
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