SCHAKOWSKY: BUSH ADMINISTRATION MISSTATEMENT OF THE DAY VP CHENEY, HALLIBURTON AND IRAQ}

June 1, 2004
Press Release

JUNE 1, 2004

SCHAKOWSKY: BUSH ADMINISTRATION MISSTATEMENT OF THE DAY -
VP CHENEY, HALLIBURTON AND IRAQ

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) issued "The Bush Administration Misstatement of the Day" on the relationship between Vice President Dick Cheney and his former company, Halliburton, and the awarding of contracts in Iraq.

During an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press in September 2003, Vice President Cheney was asked whether he was "involved in any way" in helping Halliburton being awarded contracts in Iraq. Vice President Cheney, who served as Halliburton's CEO before joining President Bush on the Republican Presidential ticket, replied:

"Of course not, ... And as Vice President, I have absolutely no influence of, involvement of, knowledge of in any way, shape or form of contracts led by the [Army] Corps of Engineers or anybody else in the Federal Government." (September 14, 2003 Sunday)
However, Time Magazine (May 30, 2004) "has obtained an internal Pentagon e-mail sent by an Army Corps of Engineers official-whose name was blacked out by the Pentagon-that raises questions about Cheney's arm's-length policy toward his old employer. Dated March 5, 2003, the e-mail says "action" on a multibillion-dollar Halliburton contract was "coordinated" with Cheney's office. The e-mail says Douglas Feith, a high-ranking Pentagon hawk, got the "authority to execute RIO," or Restore Iraqi Oil, from his boss, who is Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz. RIO is one of several large contracts the U.S. awarded to Halliburton last year.

"The e-mail says Feith approved arrangements for the contract "contingent on informing WH [White House] tomorrow. We anticipate no issues since action has been coordinated w VP's [Vice President's] office." Three days later, the Army Corps of Engineers gave Halliburton the contract, without seeking other bids. TIME located the e-mail among documents provided by Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group."