War Profiteers
Unplug the Corporate War Profiteers
Why we're taking action at these corporations?
We hold corporations The Carlyle Group, General Electric and Citibank accountable not only their profits from this war, but the fact that they made this war possible through their investments, operations, weapons, lobbying, political contributions, media holding and drive for unending profits regardless of the toll on human life, the environment or society.
Why target the Carlyle Group?
The people orchestrating this war are profiting hugely from it personally.
The Carlyle Group is a $14 billion private investment house with major holdings in the defense industry. The Carlyle Group stands to make huge profits from the war in Iraq. What’s troubling about this are the group’s intimate ties to the Bush Administration, and to the Defense Policy Board, the government-appointed group that advises the Pentagon.
Ex-Presidents
Sometimes called the Ex-Presidents’ Club, the Carlyle Group’s employees include George Bush, Sr., former Secretary of State (under Bush, Sr.) James Baker, and former Secretary of Defense and Deputy Director of the CIA, Frank Carlucci. Former British Prime Minister John Major heads up CG’s European operations. Even current president George W. Bush served on the board of a Carlyle company from 1990 – 1992.
Investing in War
Of the many companies that Carlyle owns or has a stake in, its most famous acquisition is United Defense, a maker of missile launchers, armored vehicles, and the cold war-era Crusader Howitzer. Despite widespread opposition from the Army saying that the Crusader’s technology was clumsy and outdated, Secretary Rumsfeld convinced the Pentagon to keep buying Crusaders at a cost of $11 billion. A few weeks after the U.S. began bombing Afghanistan, Carlyle took United Defense public in a move that earned the group $240 million. Months later the Crusader program was scrapped and United Defense was awarded a contract to build a lighter gun.
Beyond Carlyle
The war profiteering doesn’t stop with Carlyle. Defense Policy Board chairman Richard Perle resigned his chairmanship on March 27th amid allegations of conflict of interest. Eight of Perle’s colleagues on the board have ties to companies with significant contracts from the Pentagon, such as Boeing, TRW, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Booz Allen Hamilton, Bechtel, and the Rand Corporation. Vice President Dick Cheney is still receiving $1 million a year from his former employer Halliburton, now the administration’s lead candidate for the billion dollar role of rebuilding Iraq!
Who wins?
Was the decision to attack Iraq influenced by what certain key players stand to gain? Whether the answer is yes or no, Bush insiders are making big money from this war, and the conflict of interest alone is enough to cast doubt on their actions. What country will be destroyed next in order to sustain Carlyle’s profits? Can we stand by while US soldiers, Iraqis, and other peoples are sacrificed for the gain of the ultra wealthy? Get informed. Act now to stop war.
Sources:
“ Bush Sr.’s Carlyle Group Gets Fat on War and Conflict,” Jamie Doward, The Observer UK, March 25, 2003
“ Advisors of Influence: Nine Members of the Defense Policy Board Have Ties to Defense Contractors,” Andre Verloy and Daniel Politi, special report for The Center for Public Integrity, April 3, 2003
“ The War profiteers: How Are Weapons Manufacturers Faring in the War?,” Frida Berrigan, Common Dreams, December 18, 2001
Letter from Congressman John Conyers, Jr., to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, April 1, 2003
“ Lunch with the Chairman,” Seymour Hersh, The New Yorker, March 10, 2003
“ Carlyle's Way: Making a mint inside "the iron triangle" of defense, government, and industry,” Dan Briody , Red Herring, January 8, 2002
“ The ex-presidents' club,” Oliver Burkeman and Julian Borger, The Guardian UK, October 31, 2001
For Carlyle, perpetual war means perpetual profits.
For more information on Carlyle see:
www.hereinreality.com/carlyle.html
www.actagainstwar.org
www.dyncorp-sucks.com/carlyle.html |
