Halliburton Boasts of "Festive and Fun" Thanksgiving in Iraq for US Soldiers

From Halliburton, the company that Dick Cheney was President and Chairman of from 1995-2000, just before ascending to the Vice-Presidency....the company that has received roughly 52 percent of the $25.4 billion that the Pentagon has paid out to so far to 77 private contractors in Iraq.....

The same Halliburton charged in Congressional hearings to have overcharged or presented questionable bills for close to $1.5 billion; and to have lost 12 giant pre-fabricated bases worth over $75 million that would have housed 6,600 US troops.....

According to OilOnLine.com, "As part of its LOGCAP III contract, Halliburton subsidiary KBR prepares meals and provides other vital life support services for the troops on a daily basis. But Thanksgiving Day is special, and the KBR food service staff goes the extra mile to make it memorable. "

At 90 dining locations in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan on Thanksgiving Day, KBR will serve to the troops:

-- 300,000 pounds of turkey
-- 150,000 pounds of boneless ham
-- 50,000 pounds of stuffing
-- 10,000 pounds of mashed potatoes
-- 15,000 pounds of cranberry sauce
-- 10,000 gallons of eggnog
-- 30,000 pies

Reports OilOnLine.com, " 'Our Thanksgiving Day preparations involve more than just serving up the traditional holiday meal. We go all out to make the dining facilities festive and fun,' " bragged John Young, KBR's theater food service manager for the Middle East.

OilOnLine.com effused, "KBR's food service staff across the Middle East region have applied their talents to create decorations using custom-made sugar-cube sculptures, ice carvings, intricately carved melons, decorated turkeys, gingerbread-house villages and special lighting to give each dining facility a special touch. "

Uhh.... ice-carvings and ginger-bread house villages to make up for IEDs and suicide bombers, second and third tours of duty and indefinitely extended terms of Iraq service? "Going the extra mile" for decorative lighting and 10,000 gallons of eggnog rather than for adequate armor for our soldiers? Huh?

"Festive and fun" dining facilities in Iraq rather than meaningful Thanksgiving celebrations with wives and husbands, children, mothers and fathers?

2,100 US soldiers now dead and $350 billion of US taxpayers' money committed to the Iraq War, the US has no exit plan and no peace plan, and the Bush Administration instead serves up intricately carved melons and sugar-cube sculptures?

Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), the retired, decorated 37-year Marine officer who spoke out last week, demanding that US troops immediately withdraw from Iraq, deserves great consideration when he beseeches....

"Our military has been fighting a war in Iraq for over two and a half years. Our military has accomplished its mission and done its duty. Our military captured Saddam Hussein, and captured or killed his closest associates. But the war continues to intensify. Deaths and injuries are growing, with over 2,079 confirmed American deaths. Over 15,500 have been seriously injured and it is estimated that over 50,000 will suffer from battle fatigue.....

I said over a year ago, and now the military and the Administration agrees, Iraq can not be won 'militarily'....Because we in Congress are charged with sending our sons and daughters into battle, it is our responsibility, our OBLIGATION to speak out for them. That’s why I am speaking out.

Our military has done everything that has been asked of them, the U.S. can not accomplish anything further in Iraq militarily. IT IS TIME TO BRING THEM HOME."
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