71 Comments on thursday august 17, 2006 : special report
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First today :-) !
Woooooow! I had no idea. Fantastic report well delivered! You get an A+.
Didn’t we use to call these people mercenaries ?
I could do with a casual Friday after this.
Once again, very good! She is fun,gives real news, and doesn’t use profanity the way Amanda sometimes did!
Wow… I had no clue this was happening. Sobering to say the least… but I can see the value of making this known.
Hmm, puts another light on Légion Étrangère from the French. Their members were basically individuals seeking for a brake in life, in this case it’s more the thrill seekers looking for an extra buck.
Step up the salaries for the professional soldier or cut back on the fees for hirees…
Or better yet: assist the local forces but stop military action.
Very good !
It is important to keep a critical direction to apprehend a share of the truth,
This report falls under this way.
Regards,
S.
P.S
—
Thank you for the show.
It’s all the same. Just as in Vietnam, but 10,000 days of BLOODY WAR ECONOMICS to the American people and Vietnam!
Depressing… but Joanne, your smile and nice, colorful shirt made it a little bearable.
This is an awesome report.
Very Nice.
Who is this Stand-up Comic?
The middle east is a quagmire of zero benefit to the American people. Why are we over there again? Hmmm somebody ask Wolfowitz and Pearl…
Not even the stuff we are supposedly ’stealing’ over there getting back to the American taxpayer. No, private companies like Exxon and Haliburton are making all the loot.
Everyone knows US ‘politics’ is a charade. Just ask the Lebanese — or any other people we’ve bombed back to the stoneage lately.
i thought you were getting rid of the map?
Yes, we are paying too much for private contractors in Iraq. However, the alternative is to send our overdeployed regular and National Guard units BACK for extended tours. We just don’t have enough people in our military to do all of these jobs as our mission stands today.
The key is as it always has been….we need to get the Iraqis to police themselves and get our boys out of there. In the meantime, I don’t mind overpaying some mercs.
bush wants to be called from SNL after his show ends
Why is that the first time we see Joanne today the lighting / brightness / contrast is decent, but subsequent times it’s poorer?
Was the first part shot in the day with light streaming in from a window and the latter parts shot later in the day with less light coming in from a window?
btw - Great story.
wow .. . had no idea something like this was happening in the ‘war’ .. .
very good show .. .
We have an ignorant President who makes light of everything happening in the world today and probably has to have help to tie his shoes in the morning. Good God, when will this ever end? Nice job Drew and JC.
I’m curious to know if there are any other formats available for delivering the news items rather than behind that massive counter. Aside from wanting to see more of JC’s attributes, I also think it would be interesting to explore alternative stagings.
The news clip of Bush serves as an uncomfortable mirror to us as a society which allow our leaders to behave in this way on our behalf.
Again, I wonder if anyone out there has seen the documentary “The Power of Nightmares”. It really affected me.
By the way:
I loved Joanne’s, “Private army of sheep.” comment. OUCH!
Bush is such a jerk. I’m so embarrassed that he ‘leads’ our country. Iraq is a fiasco, and every American who voted for this imbicile and his war should be ashamed. Bush lied: thousands dead and dying and many thousands more are wounded for life… and the rich keep getting richer. It really pisses me off.
-s
Purely unbalanced cynicism in the guise of parajournalism - Rocketboom is rapidly losing credibility from my perspective. This glimpse of the situation was so one-sided and irrational, it borders on malicious. It’s this type of internet communication that helps generate, and foster malice towards those trying to accomplish tasks in the best spirit and ethics of journalism. The piece doesn’t even touch on many important capital cost factors - such as military pensions, military costs transfered, personnel insurance, GI Bill costs, housing, transportation of enlisted and reserve troops, time value of money - so stop doing them, or do them better.
It’s all about the money. Too bad the government doesn’t take as big an interest in rebuidling our own country.
Nice show!
I may be firmly planted in the choir, but that doesn’t mean I like my news biased. I know time is limited, but I would have liked to have seen a more thorough report.
Plus, the link about contractors making costs balloon is almost two years old…and this is new media?
I have to say, although you brought up a very interesting and important topic, you didn’t do it justice.
Good show. Important discussion.
Hi Joanne,
Good show, I love what you wore today. I don’t usually have trouble sleeping, but I appreciate the concern. If you need help with your slumber I’m available, see you soon pretty lady, I hope.
‘it’s all about money” said one of the men interviewed.
Private contractors?
There are millions of unemployed Iraquis who would love a job Mr. Bush.
Why not train them to pump sewage instead of hiring ACE inc from Nebraska for 80 billion a year?
The contractor thing has been a joke from the beginning. Granted you need certain expertise, but 75% of these contractors don’t need to be there. Maybe just a few experts to show Iraq how to get the job done.
Boy, now this is democracy (or should I say capitalist guaging at its finest…let’s keep the war going and boost the American economy)
Drew - the link to the YouTube video
has actually made me feel physically
sick.
Nonetheless - thankyou for posting the link.
I’m not usually lost for words - but …
I’m lost for words - and now I’m actually crying.
outstanding report and just the latest reason why we need you guys.
jackH, you’re surprised there are viewers who are surprised (at this old news of the money being made by mercenaries in Iraq)? I’m not. Not when you look at the illiteracy figures for good old U, S of A.
“45 million are functionally illiterate. That’s around 28% that are out to lunch. 44% of the American adults do not read a book in a year. ”
So it follows that these 45 Million don’t read newspapers and magazines - except perhaps the celebrity rags - and probably don’t watch the Evening News. I also saw another figure recently that said 40% (I think it was) of Americans never read another book after high school.
Land of the free, home of the brave and ignorant.
Sorry. I should add that I’m an Australian living in Paris and have many American friends. But you really do need to open your eyes as to what’s happening in Iraq and Afghanistan. Going in and bombing the crap out of a country isn’t the answer. We saw that in Vietnam and we’re seeing it again. I think it’s great that Rocketboom is showing some hard-hitting political content. The problems aren’t going to go away by not talking about it. $80K tax-free for a year in Iraq? That’s truly disgusting. You guys should be ashamed of yourselves. Iraq War? More like Iraq Inc.
Thanks for featuring my interview, Drew! You chose an especially telling clip to follow as well.
mlisle mentioned that the alternative is to send our exhausted NG reserve units back even more often. I think the alternative is simply for the nation to realize that we are in a full scale war that requires a larger military than the one we have. In other words, without the private contractors we need to either draft or pull out. We are avoiding the whole issue of a draft by relying on our massive national debt to cover the cost of contractors.
That’s just my two cents.
Cheers
- Rob
I agree with B-man. It really seems unnecessarily costly to bring that many contractors over.
Surely there are plenty of Iraqis that could do most of the jobs just as well (not only “unqualified” jobs, but most of everything). It would probably be better for Iraq too.
Regarding the criticism about this show, maybe it would have been a good idea to let someone representing the “other side” answer too?
(Usually a good rule of thumb…)
Hello guys:
Well I have to say…great show today!!!.
Today Rocketboom is one of my favourite bookmarks as well as elpais.es NYTimes or BBC News.
Joanne: you look so fine.
Gabriel
I paused for a second to think ‘flamebait?’, but just a second.
An interview of someone with personal experience on the subject matter and a clip of the president answering a question directly related to that interview is great content.
What I *do* have to wonder is if Bush or his administration ever got around to publicly answering the question asked of him.
If ever did, then this is pretty gigantically biased and misinformative journalism.
Anyone know for sure, was that question ever answered, or is it still an unkown?
Edited video clips and misleading information. This is left-wing propaganda directed towards the ignorant. It works very well.
All i have to say is, are you kidding me about the video of “contractors shooting on the irish road”? Violent? Enough to make me cry? That music was terrible, there was absolutely no identifying features. It could have been anywhere in the world with dusty soil and small cars. Just because someone says its “private contractors shooting civilians” doensn’t mean it is. I saw no civilians be shot. I saw no men yielding guns (save the presence of a gun and shots being fired).
Joannie and Drew, nice job on this piece. I agree it lacked balance but I don’t come to Rocketboom to be informed. I come to be entertained. My standards are lower perhaps.
If you want to know why conservatives have lost all validity in this country, just read some of the comments here.
Their theories, now in practice, have been so discredited as inept and culturally unaware and their execution so relentlessly incompetent, that now they can only rage at the “liberal media” (i.e. anyone who reminds the populace of the staggering insolvency of their beliefs).
Nice interview with Lt. Paul Rieckhoff. Everyone should read his captivating book, “Chasing Ghosts”. The NeoCon voices here would probably be upset to hear as to how “private security personnel” have endangered the US forces in Iraq by engaging in behavior free of the military code of justice and honor.
To the Iraqi people often being abused by these mercenaries, who answer to no one, they represent America just as much as our standing Army, Marines or Guard.
But don’t dare mention this to the NeoCons, who are happy to sit in the lounge chairs watching Fox Faux News, and railing against the “liberals” and “Socialists” who dare observe that the Emperor has no clothes.
Not only that, his failed policies are creating new enemies of America at a rate exponentially beyond our ability to kill or incarcerate them.
Excellent report. This is all reflective of the GOP’s belief that government is an evil entity, and exists primarily as a conduit for enriching themselves and their benefactors.
David Safavian was convicted in June on four charges of lying and obstruction of justice. In that it is an election year, even the GOP could no longer ignore the smell coming from this former lobbyist chosen by Bush as the White House’s chief procurement officer, overseeing a kitty of some $300 billion.
His job was to help enforce a Bush management initiative called “competitive sourcing.” Simply put, this was a plan to outsource as much of government as possible.
The result was low-quality services at high cost (Halliburton’s $20 hamburgers come to mind). The result was the creation of a shadow government of private companies rife with both incompetence and corruption.
Halliburton contracts alone, unsurprisingly, went up more than 600 percent. Nearly 40 cents of every dollar in federal discretionary spending now goes to private companies.
To the conservatives who cheer private is better that governmental, think of the fact that the nation that could put a man on the moon is now seen as, now that Iraqi reconstruction is being overseen by pet companies and campaign contributors without safeguards or accountability to guarantee results, as the incompetent nation where in the third 110-degree summer following “Mission Accomplished”, we still can’t keep electricity on in Baghdad more than five hours a day.
As Frank Rich famously noted, FDR’s administration, the very model of big government that the current administration vilifies, never would have trusted private contractors to run the show.
Somehow that unwieldy, bloated government took less time to win World War II than Bush’s privatized government is taking to blow this one.
But, don’t mention this aloud, for those still drinking the Kool-Aid can no longer differentiate between reality and what they pathetically decry as an agenda.
IRAQ HERE I COME! I gots to git me some a dat government cheese.
What are you wearing today, Joanne?
Terrible video for that ‘clown’ in the white office. TERRIBLE VIDEO.
For the record: I voted for the President and am proud of the fact. After Sept 11th, when it was clear Al Queda was responsible, the President ordered the forces at his disposal to eliminate the threat from Afghanistan. I will remind you that with very few ground forces and American airpower, the Taliban was ousted in 70 days. 10 weeks is less time than it took President Clinton and Janet Reno to “conquer” the Branch Davidians. I’ll also remind you that at the peak of their military might, the Russians did not have control of Afghanistan after 12 years of military action; and they were right next door.
Your post explains so much, hartless.
If you think we accomplished much in Afghanistan, you should check out the comments today by our commander in Afghanistan, U.S. Marine General James Jones, who spoke candidly about the deteriorating conditions there.
People around the world supported our incursion into Afghanistan. However, with Bin Laden on the run in the Bora Bora mountains, inexplicably we stopped pursuing him to begin our grand Gunga Din misadventure in Iraq.
Because of that, warlords continue to control 75% of the country. Opium production has increased to the point where it is now the leading narco-state in the world, with much of the profits going toward financing the resurgent Taliban.
Most objective observers have noted that while there is some stability in Kabul, to venture outside of that city is to risk murder, rape or robbery.
Uruzgan and Kandahar provinces are replete with suicide bombers and other Taliban attacks that look more and more like Baghdad every day.
Check out today’s report in the Times UK (conservative) which notes:
“Violence in Afghanistan reaches new level as 18 killed…The deaths came amid Afghanistan’s worst surge in violence since United States-led forces toppled the Taleban regime in 2001.”
Meanwhile, we continue to chase the Taliban around the countryside, just as the Russians did for years, only without half the troops the Russians used in their failed effort.
A reality check: we have more NYPD officers in NYC than we have US troops in Afghanistan. Still the old Rumsfeld doctrine: use just enough troops to lose.
Every respectable news source has noted the Taliban is on the rise in Afghanistan. But if you want to declare it a success story, with Bin Laden still thumbing his nose at your beloved Resident, put up another ‘Mission Accomplished’ banner and knock yourself out.
Dang it! Filmex beat me to it. I was laughing so hard at hartless’ post, I guess I got delayed.
You can put our “victory” right next to the Soviets. We invaded Afghanistan, the Taliban fled the capital and headed for the mountains, and we have been fighting them there ever since, just as the Russians did.
Yeah, Afghanistan is some success story, as this report confirms:
Karzai Criticizes U.S.-Led Coalition
KABUL, Afghanistan, Jun. 23, 2006
(AP) President Hamid Karzai criticized the U.S.-led coalition’s anti-terror campaign Thursday, deploring the deaths of hundreds of Afghans and appealing for more help for his government.
Karzai’s sharp assessment came as Osama bin Laden’s deputy urged Afghans to revolt against coalition forces, and four more U.S. soldiers were killed.
More than four years after U.S.-led forces toppled the extremist Taliban government, Afghanistan is gripped by its deadliest spate of post-invasion violence.
To try curb the bloodshed, more than 10,000 coalition forces have launched a major offensive against militants across southern Afghanistan. More than 600 people have been killed since May.
But Karzai, who has previously scorned large-scale anti-militant campaigns, rejected the continued spilling of Afghan blood in military operations.
“It is not acceptable for us that in all this fighting, Afghans are dying. In the last three to four weeks, 500 to 600 Afghans were killed.
Hours before Karzai’s comments, al-Qaida No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahri released a new videotape, his sixth this year, calling on Afghans to rise up against coalition forces.
“I am calling upon the Muslims in Kabul in particular and in all Afghanistan in general and for the sake of God to stand up in an honest stand in the face of the infidel forces that are invading Muslim lands,” said al-Zawahri, wearing a white turban with an automatic rifle next to him.
The 3 1/2-minute tape, entitled “American Crimes in Kabul,” was apparently made the day after a May 29 accident in which a U.S. military truck crashed into traffic in the Afghan capital, killing up to five people.
The incident sparked anti-foreigner riots that left about 20 people dead, the bloodiest unrest here since the Taliban’s 2001 ouster.
Also, four U.S. soldiers were killed and another wounded Wednesday while trying to block the movement of militant forces in the eastern Nuristan province, the military announced in a statement Thursday.
Afghan and coalition forces have targeted al-Qaida and Taliban militants along the Pakistan border since mid-April. Al-Zawahri and bin Laden are believed to be hiding in the rugged frontier.
US is great at war, overthrowing governments and taking control of infrastructure. We had great success at this invading Afghanistan and Iraq and it proves that our soldiers and technology are the best in the world. Where the US has failed is in the occupation of these countries. The USSR invaded Afghanistan as well, they just couldn’t occupy it, and unfortunately the US will learn the lessons that the British and Soviets know all too well if our focus doesn’t change.
In Afghanistan the poppy fields are at full bloom, they supplied 90% of the world’s opium last year. Schools are being burned on a regular basis. Warlords control most territory. The Taliban is re-grouping. What was once a promising war is headed for disaster as casualties have risen.
The reason for this because they diverted they’re attention away from Omar and bin Laden (Remember them?) for a cash grab quick money scheme in Iraq, where again we had success at the war, but failed at occupation. This corruption of military contracts is the epitome of what has gone wrong in Iraq and is proof that the reason we invaded was not to liberate, not to find WMDs, not to create a beacon a freedom, but for the special interests and military contractors. These companies are using our nation’s treasury as their own personal piggy bank. It should make any American sick to their stomachs.
Private contractors in Iraq, especially in security, are nothing more than mercenaries. Slowly but surely, security companies are building up private armies thanks to Iraq. War is a business, a very profitable business. Though as demonstrated in a Frontline report, most security contractors don’t have the experience to qualify as mercenaries. Too many of them die. And since they aren’t in the army, the people back home don’t notice their deaths as much, because they went willingly to make money
what kind of anti american bullshit is this. you act like its a bad thing to make money? its called capitalism. I dont know who rights this but its left wing liberally biased PROPAGANDA! This is not a news report! its how someone feels therefore taking the objectivity of the “report” out of it.
I worked for one of those outfits for 5 years. It sucked, but the money rocked. When you make choices about feeding your family, it comes down to time is money. Do I remain a ground-pounder in the beloved Marine Corps, or make money? This is not new. The DOD used to keep it mostly state side. Now its about cost allocation.
Iraq is worth it. If they were not doing it there, it would be happening here to our sisters bent over the hood of a car.
Do we want Denver to look like Beruit? That’s what will happen if “they” win. Rocketboom is no more. CNN/ABC/CBS ect., will be wholly owned subsidiaries of Aljazeera.
Think Spain 7th century.
Because the Arab world is too.
First off, how come everytime I go through these comments there are a pile of them posted before 6:00 PM, and about 4 posts afterward,…don’t the majority of y’all hold day jobs?
So why can’t we do something creative to get rid of these overpriced privateers? (yea, the one guy that posted the “are you anti-american?…its called a free market, aren’t we allowed to make a buck?, its called capitalism,… bla bla bla” is already pissed off at me). Why not take the difference, give half to our boys (and girls) in uniform, and give the other half back to us the taxpayers? I have nothing but respect for our troops, most are doing their best to try to establish order out of chaos, so let’s quit paying them these $40,000/yr wages, and give them something closer to a real wage.
And for you guys that want the news desk lowered, I think Joanne is almost too cute as is.
Excellent job! Bravo!
Ok, the US uses the Capitalist system. Capitalist like to make…money. If they are doing work in Iraq, they would be under Iraqi law…duh.
I have no problem what so ever with people wanting to make money. I love how the liberal media, which rocketboom is on the lighter side of, likes to look at all of the money spent on the war and claim that it is waisted. The money spent, by our government, on war supplies, creates American jobs. Those American’s spend money in America, therefore creating a good economy. The American’s that recieved the 300k will most likely come back to America and have a better life…and you are against that?
Do you not see how screwed up that view is? Should our government do nothing and sit on their collective hands while Germany, Russia, France and just about every other country does what we are doing now, except not near as well?
How about finding something positive. Go outside of Bagdad and do a positve piece on how people’s lives have improved. Other news organizations have no problem finding these stories, between their Bush bashing rants. Oh, that wouldn’t make feel good about yourself, would it?
drew - the utube vid you posted shocked the hell out of me. i’m so disgusted!
glad you posted. we have to be aware. good show today!!
R Compton - Try econ 101. Spending hundreds of billions to level Iraq then build it back up (although we quit the rebuilding part) has no payback. We get payback when we spend hundreds of billions to reduce interst payments to China, educate our population, build our infrastucture and produce durable goods etc.
Also, you completely skip the subject of a contractor who has no laws that apply to him freely committing crimes against Iraqi’s. How does that build hearts and minds?
Finally, what is our current mission in Iraq? There are no weapons of mass destruction, the evil Butcher of Bagdad is on trial, Al Queada came to town, but now that the Shites, Sunni’s and Kurds are butchering each other the are in the background. We have a democratically elected Iraqi government that thinks Iran and Hizzbullies are great, and we suck.
I agree with Dear Presidents observation in 2003, major combat ops are over, and the banner says mission accomplished. Time to come home and start fighting terrorism with brains not missplaced brawn.
Holy crap!!!
Two heavy stories in a row!!! Thankfully I didn’t watch today’s at work -
Great week! Still hoping to see something on lebanon though. Joane you’re developing your own style. It’s very refreshing. keep it up.
Junior
I was a rocketboom fan until you dove until this political bullshit. *Removes bookmark
The last couple days of RB have been phenomenally well done and pertinent. Yes, anyone paying attention would know at least something about the contracting that’s gone on in Iraq since the start of the so-called “war”. But it’s relevant to be reminded that this practice continues unabated.
A striking thing for me is to read how divergent the range of opinion within the commentary is here. It’s also a little surprising to realize there are apparently a band of ultra right-wing commentators viewing RB. The dead giveaway: labeling anyone voicing anything resembling human decency and fellow-feeling, or even common-sense, “socialists” or which ever catchphrase they’ve been programed to attack with. No suprise the US is in its present condition when you consider the prevalence such uninformed commentary.
I suspect it isn’t quite possible at the point but I’d love to see RB continue this type of coverage. It’s generating more substantive reaction as well. There are some very sharp viewers out there countering the Bushites.
Just weeks ago I said I thought RB had the potential to evolve into something more engaging than it had been in the 1.0 era and that a new audience might be find RB or the current one might be changed by that evolution. I think the RB crew is beginning to manifest that hope. This is great news.
One final recommendation to viewers: torrent the HD version of Rocketboom if you can! It’s worth the extra effort.
I thought that was superb!
Nasty news…..but superb choice of air time.
Thankyou RB.
I think the debate, anger, and passion these past few posts have generated on all sides is exactly why they’re so valuable. If you’re looking merely to be entertained, then you haven’t watched the dozen other posts that deal with hard-hitting issues (some from when Amanda was around). Also, you’re an escapist douche-bag (IMO, LOL, STFU!). If you’re complaining about bias, I don’t think Rocketboom ever claimed not to be biased. And if you really want to delve into it, what news source is completely unbiased? You got your right wing Fox and left wing Times. You got your Ann Coulters, your Al Frankens, and your Anderson Coopers. This whole accusation of bias is a tired one, and the people hurling it would better serve viewers if they would merely supply the opposing viewpoints rather than merely crying “bias” like an over-zealous teenager during the Cultural Revolution.
I think the debate, anger, and passion these past few posts have generated on all sides is exactly why they’re so valuable. If you’re looking merely to be entertained, then you haven’t watched the dozen other posts that deal with hard-hitting issues (some from when Amanda was around). Also, you’re an escapist douche-bag (IMO, LOL, STFU!). If you’re complaining about bias, I don’t think Rocketboom ever claimed not to be biased. And if you really want to delve into it, what news source is completely unbiased? You got your right wing Fox and left wing Times. You got your Ann Coulters, your Al Frankens, and your Anderson Coopers. This whole accusation of bias is a tired one, and the people hurling it would better serve viewers if they would merely supply the opposing viewpoints rather than merely crying “bias” like an over-zealous teenager during the Cultural Revolution.
First, bravo on a truly outstanding show today. Second, I am incensed at our president’s reaction to that question. With the billions of dollars funneled into these companies’ pockets, how dare he plead ignorance. And for no one to call him out further on it only confirms that the media in the country has helped make the bed we are all wallowing in. Cowards and sycophants. I am incensed.
filmex and demo r us, exactly how many Al Queda attacks from Afghanistan have hit the U.S. since our forces went in to that country? I’m not calling mission complete; but I believe the strategic goal to prevent further attacks on the U.S. has been successful to date.
Last time asked this question, no one answered. So, I try again:(I’m serious, no joking, trying to get this): who is Joanne colan? Who is Amanda Congdon? Same person? Pleeeeeeeeeease explain……………
To those who have always “been a Rocketboom fan” RB has always “dove into political bullshit.” It is one of the most political vlogs out there. Don’t seem shocked. Apparantly you haven’t frittered away hours poking through the archives yet. Give that a try. Its fun. And very, very politial already as you will see.
Ok.
Joanne colan? Amanda Congdon?
Amanda was Joannes predecessor?
Am I right?
Anybody out there?
/detective Elin
The 9/11 evidence wasn’t there to attack Afganistan. Even if Bin Laden was behind an attack so sophisticated it required US assistance, he was a Saudi. Iraq didn’t have WMDs. The US knew this as they were all over Iraq after the first dust up under George I. Now Lebanon, Syria and Iran are on the chopping block… hmmm see a pattern yet?
We are ‘re-making’ the middle east for the Israelis. They are the only ones with a stake in the region. And the jews in the US (ever been to NYC?) are ‘making it happen’ via AIPAC and Hollywood.
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=9556
And next week, a news story that is actually news and…ummm…is important. Or maybe not.
Next!
!!! This is alarming. Thank you for keeping me informed. Where are the real news channels and why does CBS get payed to report about “Rocky” the sick python at some stupid zoo?
Oh yes, I’m so scared just because the President didn’t give a straght answer. C’mon! I don’t see the problem, some people are taking the initiative and bettering themselves. It’s called the developement of civilization folks!
W’s non-answer about contractors was in April 2006.
http://tinyurl.com/eu3zr
that event was covered at least by blogs.
is Bush an idiot?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=DkQcnDCjyuQ
Check out http://iraqforsale.org
“not interested in furthering US policy in Iraq, just in making money”
How exactly does the later differ from the former?