BUSINESS: Poised to Profit from Katrina: Halliburton, Houston Head the List

As predicted, Halliburton got a big chunk of the Katrina clean up contract, starting with a $500 million U.S. Navy contract for emergency repairs at Gulf Coast naval and marine facilities. In July 2005, Halliburton subsidiary KBR won the contract to provide debris removal and other emergency work associated with natural disasters. Clean up in New Orleans will proceed "when it's safe to do so." The trend of businesses moving from New Orleans to Houston "abruptly accelerated," and business is booming in everything from real estate to hardware. Texas got a major labor grant from the federal government to "help Katrina evacuees." And it turns out that FEMA outsourced hurricane recovery planning to a consulting firm called Innovative Emergency Management (IEM).




Just the tip of the iceberg, of course. The term 'incompetence' hardly covers the cronyism, graft, and corruption that plague the nation.

Corruption also prevented the poor and sick from evacuating New Orleans - they needed public transportation to escape, and emergency planners have known for years that the poverty and lack of transportation in New Orleans would be a significant problem. Which is why funds were set aside for the city's public transport system. But the money didn't go where it was supposed to go. Too late, former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial has been charged with embezzling $550,000 slated for the New Orleans Transit Authority. It might have made the difference between life and death for many.

Ineptitude Leads To Death

Federal investigators are probing corruption in the administration of former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial. A man named Glenn Haydel, who is Morial's uncle, is currently facing federal embezzlement charges for allegedly steering $550,000 from the New Orleans public transport system, the Regional Transit Authority, to his own management company - and putting $350,000 of that sum into a personal bank account.

Nagin, a political outsider elected as a reformer, has demonstrated significant limitations as a crisis manager. But he needed and deserved a smooth-running, fully funded public transport and it seems likely that chiselers and crooks in government denied it to him.

In the meantime, destitute refugees are being detained forcibly, unable in many cases to leave their camps without forfeiting their food and shelter. Officials are calling for forcible evacuation of all survivors left in New Orleans, for no legitimate reason or legal rationale.

Refugees are being offered $2,000 per family to cover relocation and start-over costs, with the proviso that no other assistance will be made available.

Oh yeah. And how about Halliburton 'winning' the contract in July 2005 "to provide debris removal and other emergency work associated with natural disasters." Kinda makes ya wonder about that Weather Modification Research and Technology Transfer Authorization Act of 2005, don't it?


For more information on the Weather Modification Research and Technology Transfer Authorization Act of 2005, go here and Enter: S 517.



See:

I Just Got Back from a FEMA Detainment Camp

Michael Brown? This is your life!

All the puzzle pieces in one place

New Orleans: Incompetence or Population Control?

Also see:

Houston Finds Business Boon After Katrina

We watch FOX so you don't have to.

Haunted by Hesitation

Very interesting information it kind of make you think that when it comes to readiness for big corporations they were ready alright, but not for the people's need.

Very interesting.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Weather Modification Research and Technology Transfer Authorization Act of 2005'.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

It is the purpose of this Act to develop and implement a comprehensive and coordinated national weather modification policy and a national cooperative Federal and State program of weather modification research and development.

I didn't know that was on the books!

Maybe they can't control the weather, but messing around "researching" certainly could cause some havoc. Think HAARP.

Back on topic with a question:

Are there no other companies in the US?
Where's the competition?
Why does one company need to do/run everything?
.

Originally posted by Gools

I didn't know that was on the books!

Maybe they can't control the weather, but messing around "researching" certainly could cause some havoc. Think HAARP.

Uh huh. Enacting controls means there's already something there needs regulating...


Oh yeah. Any other businesses in the USA to do any work? DARN. Forget the name of that one.

Hey Marg What's the name of that financial company gets all the government contracts that don't go to Halliburton?

[edit on 7-9-2005 by soficrow]

Ive said it in other threads and I will say it here.

Haliburton, Bectel, et al. are the only companies that can coordinate this level of responce in a short period of time. You can't just crack open the yellow pages to rebuild an entire city :shk:

And before any of you get all holy on the topic check you 401K/403b's ill bet you hold shares in any or all of these companies.

Originally posted by soficrow

Hey Marg What's the name of that financial company gets all the government contracts that don't go to Halliburton?

[edit on 7-9-2005 by soficrow]

The Carlyle group, are you thinking what I am thinking?

So, will any money allocated to the disaster relief and reconstruction will go into their greasy greedy hands just like the defense budget?

This something we need to research.

Yes FredT they are the ones that can handle the situations but what you have to take in consideration is that these companies are so big and related to each other that is a monopoly and they are keeping the littler ones off the picture.

It's like mama and papa store down the road been taken over by big WalMart, is not competition but going out of business.

Fred perhaps you can enlighten us as to what exactly Halliburton brings to the table.

I'll admit that I've bought the bad press about them from what I've read here on ATS. But what is so special that only Halliburton can handle? Masive overcharging?

Shouldn't the State and it's immediate neighbours be allowed to co-ordinate the resources of all the private contractors in the State? And shoudn't the city be responsible for it's specific needs?

This is not some third world country. The highways were being built and repaired by local crews. Housing and general construction are local industries, labour and skills are local etc...

This looks at lot like an opportunistic federal power and money grab IMO.

Maybe I'll reserve final judgment until I see who gets the subcontracts and actual jobs. Goodness knows the locals need the jobs now more than ever.
.

You guys throw out haliburton like a four letter word cause of the Cheney connection but its subsidiary KBR is a legitamet big time construction group.

From thier page:

Infrastructure includes a wide range of facilities and services; including roads, airports, railroads and buildings, and coordinating and planning major events.
www.halliburton.com...

Some of the things it builds:

Airports

Special-purpose residential facilities
Recreational facilities
Retail developments
Hotels
Multi-story parking structures
High and low-rise buildings
Seismic-sensitive buildings
Speculative and owner-occupied commercial developments
Educational establishments at all levels

infrastructure development: engineering, project management and construction management in the areas of transport, water and wastewater, urban development and environmental management.
governance and institutional development: training, systems and other resources for infrastructure management.
capacity building: efficiency improvements and maximising of existing resources.
community consultation: surveys, information programs, learning from traditional skills and practices.

Ports and harbors from the outright construction to services

Road construction
Water and wastewater treatment

Some have used the Cheney connection to vilify this company which is one of the big time heavy weights in this type of business. Bechtel is another. There are only so many companies than can do this on a huge scale and haliburton is one of them. Several people on this thread (not you) have this knee jerk reaction when they see the name that it puts bliners on the big picture.

Originally posted by Gools
Shouldn't the State and it's immediate neighbours be allowed to co-ordinate the resources of all the private contractors in the State? And shoudn't the city be responsible for it's specific needs?

This is not some third world country. The highways were being built and repaired by local crews. Housing and general construction are local industries, labour and skills are local etc...

Yes, but its a logistical nightmare and the scope is beyond most cities, counties etc. Why do you think cities, states and even countires (not just ours) turns to these companies? they have the experiences and the resources to make it happen at a resonable level of efficiency.

You want to turn this job over to the Mayor and Governor who are as much to blame for this debacle as people on the federal level?

Originally posted by FredT
Why do you think cities, states and even countires (not just ours) turns to these companies? they have the experiences and the resources to make it happen at a resonable level of efficiency.

"Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) has reported being paid $10.7 billion for Iraq-related government work during 2003 and 2004. Pentagon auditors have questioned tens of millions of dollars of Halliburton charges for its operations there. "

[Link above]

You want to turn this job over to the Mayor and Governor who are as much to blame for this debacle as people on the federal level?

So what? We should just accept corruption as normal?

Originally posted by marg6043

Originally posted by soficrow

Hey Marg What's the name of that financial company gets all the government contracts that don't go to Halliburton?

[edit on 7-9-2005 by soficrow]

The Carlyle group, are you thinking what I am thinking?

Yep.

So, will any money allocated to the disaster relief and reconstruction will go into their greasy greedy hands just like the defense budget?

This something we need to research.

Yes, it is. Counting on you, girl.

Be interesting to see what you find.

What is going on in our country right now, the lack of funds to support infrastructure, wagging wars and taking everything from the nations as to bankrupt American shamelessly, is part of the taken over by free enterprise and corporate power.

For the last 25 years since Reagan legacy the job of the government has been taken over by corporations.

Both parties in power has done a great job telling well off Americans that their problems is cause by the support of tax payer monies going into the poor and needy in this country.

Funny that we have seen tax cuts but also tax payer money been wasted also.

While CEOs are getting fat with corporate profits the rest of the nation’s social services, education, public health, environmental protection and infrastructure repair, emergency services has gone down the hill.

Now evident in the disaster response in NO.

Americans has been given the false sense that tax cuts are for their benefit while military budget goes over the roof benefiting specific corporate groups and increasing their profits while Americans has to go through a disaster as the one in the south to understand that everything has gone to everybody but back into Americans for safety and to ensure their well being.

Reagan was all for “We are from the Government and we are here to help” but the truth is that they have fail to protect American and has sold it to corporations both American and foreign.

Shame.

Originally posted by FredT
You guys throw out haliburton like a four letter word cause of the Cheney connection but its subsidiary KBR is a legitamet big time construction group.

Yes they are but do you know that. . . that branch was formed in 2002 just in time to take over the contracts awarded by the government in regards to Iraq?

Until then they were mainly an Oil drilling company and littler by lttler they bought other companies through the years thanks to the Carlyle group ties.

All the information on their historical development is in their main site.

The favoritism is bigger that it seems and Cheney is all the way to its elbows in it.

Here's an article some here might enjoy:

"Bush is a firm believer that looting should limited to the class of carpetbaggers and war criminals to which he belongs. He has no problem with the “no-bid” contracts and war-profiteering that has plagued Iraqi debacle from Day One. The $9 billion of purloined Iraqi oil revenue never even drew a raised eyebrow from our benighted leader, but the notion that that corruption might be extended democratically to everyone regardless of class -- now that’s the REAL crime as Bush sees it."

NO Looters are Bush Progeny

Originally posted by soficrow
"Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) has reported being paid $10.7 billion for Iraq-related government work during 2003 and 2004. Pentagon auditors have questioned tens of millions of dollars of Halliburton charges for its operations there. "

So what? We should just accept corruption as normal?

A billion dollar contract or more and you are worried about tens of millions??????? Human error, accounting differences, et al. :shk: WOW , the are changes in the contract:t Must be a right wing conspiracy

Did it ever occur to you, soficrow, that Halliburton does this work because this is the kind of work they do or that there aren't too many companies around that do it better? Would it suit you better if Halliburton changed its name to Prion, International? Do you ever concern yourself with Canandian political and business affairs or is there just not enough going on up there to spark your "creative genius?"

Originally posted by FredT

Originally posted by soficrow
"Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) has reported being paid $10.7 billion for Iraq-related government work during 2003 and 2004. Pentagon auditors have questioned tens of millions of dollars of Halliburton charges for its operations there. "

So what? We should just accept corruption as normal?

A billion dollar contract or more and you are worried about tens of millions??????? Human error, accounting differences, et al. :shk: WOW , the are changes in the contract:t Must be a right wing conspiracy

On the other hand - YOU, and the President - are worried about hurricane survivors making off with salvage - and call scavenging a water-logged electronically challenged TV a major crime....

But misplacing a few 10's of millions of dollars here and there - that's okay. Gotcha, Fred.

In the meantime, destitute refugees are being detained forcibly, unable in many cases to leave their camps without forfeiting their food and shelter. Officials are calling for forcible evacuation of all survivors left in New Orleans, for no legitimate reason or legal rationale.

This is an outrageous lie, soficrow! There is no evidence that any of this is true. You are taking the good that people do for one another and twisting it for your own cheap, nefarious, political purposes. Do you ever post the truth or is lying just a way of life for you? Do you ever think about what happens in Canada or is writing about things that you know nothing about more challenging. Whatever it is, you need brush up on your ethics and a few other basic civilized attributes.

Originally posted by soficrow
On the other hand - YOU, and the President - are worried about hurricane survivors making off with salvage - and call scavenging a water-logged electronically challenged TV a major crime....

But misplacing a few 10's of millions of dollars here and there - that's okay. Gotcha, Fred.

You're changing subject, soficrow, like you and your all liberal friends are wont to do. Whatever wrong you might dream up to place on the President of the United States, business, or the government doesn't justify any other wrong. Point the finger of your moral outrage at yourself for a change. What justification do you have for your continuous lies? Creative writing credits at Communist Martyrs High School?

Originally posted by GradyPhilpott

In the meantime, destitute refugees are being detained forcibly, unable in many cases to leave their camps without forfeiting their food and shelter. Officials are calling for forcible evacuation of all survivors left in New Orleans, for no legitimate reason or legal rationale.

This is an outrageous lie, soficrow! There is no evidence that any of this is true.

Eye Witness Report: FEMA Detainment Camp

Nagin says Get out, or be forced out
NEW ORLEANS - As flood waters receded inch by inch Tuesday, New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin authorized law enforcement officers and the U.S. military to force the evacuation of all residents who refuse to heed orders to leave the dark, dangerous city.

Nagin's emergency declaration released late Tuesday targets those still in the city unless they have been designated by government officials as helping with the relief effort.

The move comes after some citizens bluntly told authorities who had come to deliver them from the flooded metropolis that they would not leave their homes and property. An estimated 10,000 residents are believed to still be in New Orleans, and some have been holed up in their homes for more than a week.

GradyPhilkpott
You are taking the good that people do for one another and twisting it for your own cheap, nefarious, political purposes. Do you ever post the truth or is lying just a way of life for you? Do you ever think about what happens in Canada or is writing about things that you know nothing about more challenging. Whatever it is, you need brush up on your ethics and a few other basic civilized attributes.

A. I am not twisting anything(?) - and have NO cheap, nefarious, political purposes - just an honest horror about what's going on - and a desire to come to terms with it.

B. Is lying a way of life for me? No. I don't lie. Nor do I make charges without documentation.


Grady - I know you are not well. But you are way out of line here. ...I obviously pressed some button - and I wonder what the real issue is for you with what I have said.