TYCOON SAYS U.S. ENTITLED TO IRAQI OIL
"Oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens told Congress on Wednesday that U.S. energy companies are "entitled" to some of Iraq's crude because of the large number of American troops that lost their lives fighting in the country and the U.S. taxpayer money spent in Iraq.
Boone, speaking to the newly formed Congressional Natural Gas Caucus, complained that the Iraqi government has awarded contracts to foreign companies, particularly Chinese firms, to develop Iraq's vast reserves while American companies have mostly been shut out.
"They're opening them (oil fields) up to other companies all over the world ... We're entitled to it," Pickens said of Iraq's oil. "Heck, we even lost 5,000 of our people, 65,000 injured and a trillion, five hundred billion dollars. We leave there with the Chinese getting the oil," Pickens said..."
http://in.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idINN2149238420091021
Thursday, October 22, 2009
TROOPS TAKING SALSA AND YOGA CLASSES IN IRAQ
"As the economy sputters along, trying in vein to shake off the worst recession in history and America taxpayers are forking out $12 billion dollars a month to keep 117,000 combat troops stationed in Iraq, it comes as a disturbing surprise to learn many of the troops spend their time in Iraq taking salsa dancing, yoga and martial-arts classes... there appears to be no security justification for keeping 117,000 U.S. troops stationed in Iraq at least another year."
http://open.salon.com/blog/christopher_di_spirito/2009/10/21/us_troops_in_iraq_bored_taking_salsa_and_yoga_classes
"... many of the 117,000 U.S. troops stationed in Iraq say they now have more idle time... in places such as this large military base in southern Iraq... (there are) book clubs, karaoke nights, sports and distance-learning university programs..."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2009-10-20-idle-troops-iraq_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip
"As the economy sputters along, trying in vein to shake off the worst recession in history and America taxpayers are forking out $12 billion dollars a month to keep 117,000 combat troops stationed in Iraq, it comes as a disturbing surprise to learn many of the troops spend their time in Iraq taking salsa dancing, yoga and martial-arts classes... there appears to be no security justification for keeping 117,000 U.S. troops stationed in Iraq at least another year."
http://open.salon.com/blog/christopher_di_spirito/2009/10/21/us_troops_in_iraq_bored_taking_salsa_and_yoga_classes
"... many of the 117,000 U.S. troops stationed in Iraq say they now have more idle time... in places such as this large military base in southern Iraq... (there are) book clubs, karaoke nights, sports and distance-learning university programs..."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2009-10-20-idle-troops-iraq_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip
Saturday, October 17, 2009
30,000 SINGLE MOTHERS DEPLOYED
"More than 30,000 single mothers have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. The Army, the most heavily deployed branch of the military, gives women just four months to stay stateside with their newborns before deploying to the war zone, leaving them little time to bond with or nurse their infants. The divorce rate for female soldiers is nearly triple that of the men who wear the same uniform..."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/aaron-glantz/report-30000-single-mothe_b_322185.html
"More than 30,000 single mothers have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. The Army, the most heavily deployed branch of the military, gives women just four months to stay stateside with their newborns before deploying to the war zone, leaving them little time to bond with or nurse their infants. The divorce rate for female soldiers is nearly triple that of the men who wear the same uniform..."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/aaron-glantz/report-30000-single-mothe_b_322185.html