[Superman]

Brave of you to engage these folks fint, and you're doing about as good-sounding a job as can be done under the circumstances.

Haliburton subcontracts out the work. So, if haliburton is the only company that can do this job (give me a break), then why is the actual job being done by other companies who are subcontractors to Haliburton? Further, if the government looked around and noticed that they were entirely dependent on one single company to contract out this work to (again, give me a break), shouldn't they consider whether this is a good bargaining position? That is, are you comfortable that our government is at the mercy of Trustworthy Haliburton, and Haliburton only, for gigantic security-related contracts of this sort? I don't believe this, do you? And if it were true, that's no good either. Oh, and for a survey of Haliburton's trustworthiness, just read some articles about their "performance" under this contract.

Yeah, Cheney noticed about fifteen years ago that he could "reduce" military budget and pad Haliburton's pocket at the same time. Worked well enough to make him CEO. Do you think he saved tax dollars this way? I'll bet a donut that the answer to this question is deeply disturbing and not this slightest bit surprizing.

Oh, and you guys are alright with private companies doing military work? National security in the hands of corporations? Please bear in mind that a "yes" answer to this question will show how thoroughly you have personally bought into the mythology that corporations are benevolent and responsible. And you'll want to call me a corporation-hater to help deflect. Please also include a short description of who corporations are required to be benevolent to, and to whom they are responsible, BY LAW.

You gubmint-hating military-lovers are in an uncomfortable and complex position in these kinds of discussions. Is Haliburton necessary because the military, like all gubmint agencies, is horrendously and laughably inefficient? Or is military efficient, but Haliburton is somehow necessary for some even more twisted reason?

I'm ready to be entertained by some justifications.