5.02.2003
Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe me, fellow citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake; since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government. But the jealousy, to be useful, must be impartial, else it becomes the instrument of the very influence to be avoided, instead of defense against it. Excessive partiality for one foreign nation, and excessive dislike for another, cause those whom they actuate to see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the arts of influence on the other.
Real patriots, who may resist the intrigues of the favorite, are liable to become suspected and odious; while its fool and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people, to surrender their interest.
The great rule of conduct for us. In regard to foreign nations, is, in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith: -Here let us stop.
George Washington
Follow the money: George Scultz, former Secretary of State, Bechtel, and the Bin Ladins...
Lets take a look at some Bechtel employee pedigrees:
“Key Bechtel alumni are Reagan Secretary of Defense Casper Weinburger former Bechtel general counsel, and Reagan Secretary of State, George Schultz former Bechtel President, and current Bechtel board member. W. Kenneth Davis, former vice-president for nuclear development became Reagan’s deputy secretary of Energy and head of the Atomic Energy Commission under Reagan. William Casey, chairman of the Security and Exchange Commission under Nixon, head of the Export-Import bank under Ford, Reagan campaign manger and head of the CIA under Reagan was also a Bechtel consultant,” Montague wrote.
“Richard Helm was CIA director under Nixon and eventually became a Bechtel consultant,” Montague continues. “Robert L. Hollingsworth, AEC’s [Atomic Energy Commission] general manager under Nixon became manager of manpower services at Bechtel. Nixon Treasury secretary William Simon became a Bechtel consultant. Additionally, numerous friends of Bechtel, too long to list, many working in the AEC eventually ended up with Bechtel. The close collaboration between the AEC and Bechtel was ‘so incestuous it is impossible to tell where the public sector begins and the private one leaves off’.”
Bechtel Group has also donated generously to the Republican Party and its candidates. In April 2000, Bechtel Group stroked a $100,000 check to the Republican National Committee. And on October 2000 the wife of a prominent Bechtel associate penned a second $100,000 check to the RNC.
The Center for Responsive Politics suggested that there may be a quid pro quo at hand. The Center calculated that the construction companies involved in the bidding for the USAID contracts have given a combined $2.8 million in campaign contributions since 1999. Bechtel gave the most, $1.3 million.
Quite the haven for the Good Ol' Boys, I mean G.O.P.
Recently there was some talk of Mr Rumsfelds connection to Bechtel and Saddam Husseins Iraq from 1983 or so and a pipeline to Aqaba, Jordan. 20 years go by, a friend becomes an evil dictator, but pipeline dreams stay constant while both US and Israeli hungers for oil have grown.
In 1975, Kissinger signed what forms the basis for the Haifa project: a Memorandum of Understanding whereby the US would guarantee Israel's oil reserves and energy supply in times of crisis.
Kissinger was also master of the American plan in the mid-Eighties - when Saddam Hussein was a key US ally - to run an oil pipeline from Iraq to Aqaba in Jordan, opposite the Israeli port of Eilat.
The plan was promoted by the now Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and the pipeline was to be built by the Bechtel company, which the Bush administration last week awarded a multi-billion dollar contract for the reconstruction of Iraq.
The memorandum has been quietly renewed every five years, with special legislation attached whereby the US stocks a strategic oil reserve for Israel even if it entailed domestic shortages - at a cost of $3 billion (£1.9bn) in 2002 to US taxpayers.
Jim Vallette of the Institute of Policy Studies has scanned memoranda from the National Archives. That link is in .pdf, here is a streaming audiolink from NPR's "Marketplace". A quick quote from Mr Vallette:"In their own words, we now see that for Administration officials, a dictator is a friend of the United States when he is willing to make an oily deal, and a mortal enemy when he is not" said Vallette.
You might remember Bechtel as a company that supplied Saddam Hussein with communications weapons components. Check this list of 24 US companies that supplied Iraq with products helping their weapons programs. Why didn't loudmouths like Limbaugh and O'Reilly talk about companies such as Dupont, Hewlett-Packard or Unysis furthering Husseins Nuclear Weapon Program? Or Honeywell, Sperry, Rockwell or Eastman Kodak supplying the Evil Dictator's missile programs?
5/02/2003
|
Hey, did you check out yesterdays 9/11 linkfest? The post is dense with information- be sure to share what you learn.
9/11 has such a tangled web of "players" you just about need some sort of flowchart to keep them straight. If you make one pass it on...
5/02/2003
|
Missed yesterdays post. I apologize and will try to work up a good one later today.
Working to build community and do good. I missed Mondays posting for the same reason; ideally building consensus to foster a peace/popular education group. That "enlivening democracy" thing again. Communication takes time tempered by goodwill. And time is at a premium.
Thanks for stopping by.
Peace.
5/02/2003
|
|
|
