http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6440365.stm

I'm not quite sure to make of this. If they are in Dubai, does this mean that the US government can't exert any pressure (if they wanted to) on them in regards to oil supply, drilling, etc?

Edit:
Ah, found a blog post that outlines some of my thinkings
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/11/waxman-plans-hearings-on-halliburton-move/

Quote :

"Time’s Karen Tumulty comments on Halliburton’s plan to move its headquarters from Houston to Dubai: “Is this about tax breaks? Getting beyond the reach of congressional subpoenas? And what about all that sensitive information that Halliburton has had access to? At a minimum, reincorporating in Dubai would mean that Halliburton will be paying less taxes to the U.S. Treasury, even as it collects billions from government contracts.”"

Is it really true that they will pay less taxes?

[Edited on March 12, 2007 at 9:09 AM. Reason : a]

3/12/2007 9:06:34 AM

if only someone in America had the balls to stand up to the thieves and the god damn liars

3/12/2007 9:17:07 AM

they said on the radio this morning that there are no corporate taxes in Dubai. And maybe no income tax either... i wasn't clear on that.
But either way, that's a ton of money that 1) the Halliburton execs are going to save and 2) the US Gov't won't be getting.

3/12/2007 9:19:34 AM

At the very least, they need to give back all the money they won from no bid contracts related to the Iraq war.

3/12/2007 9:27:56 AM

^^that's true as long as they're in the "investment zone" (or some such name) in dubai. this does raise some concerns.

i think it may work against them in the long run.

3/12/2007 9:32:11 AM

If the U.S. would adopt the FairTax, companies like Halliburton and many others would probably return to the now biggest tax haven country in the world.

3/12/2007 9:55:06 AM

This is a trend that will continue as long as the US has some of the highest corporate taxes in the world.

3/12/2007 10:05:56 AM

True, but I imagine that if Halliburton does reincorporate in Dubai, it'll move from a mere American defense contractor to a foreign, "Muslim" defense contractor. Given the general "Buy American" mentality that both parties in Congress have when it comes to defense contracts, this move will probably hurt Halliburton in aquiring future military contracts.

3/12/2007 10:20:36 AM

Is that true? I mean, as long as DC is still teeming with former oil execs, lobbyist, and the rest of their ilk, then I don't imagine they'll have much trouble garnering contracts.

ONLY NOW, THEY GET TO KEEP MORE OF THEIR PROFIT, ROFL.

3/12/2007 10:44:50 AM

OH MY GOD I HATE DICK CHENEY SO MUCH

3/12/2007 12:02:52 PM

i dont think thats why this is an issue

3/12/2007 12:06:38 PM

well of course not...for one thing he hasnt worked for halliburton for years

but that IS the issue

3/12/2007 12:15:27 PM

sounds like a smart move for the company.

3/12/2007 12:22:06 PM

^^no the issue is the military contracts for a company that isn't based in the united states.

3/12/2007 12:24:23 PM

^^^

3/12/2007 12:36:17 PM

so wlb did you know anything about halliburton before you heard someone on the news say dick cheney was former ceo (i think) and that they had gotten huge contracts while cheney was VP?

cause you're acting like the fact that Cheney used to be on their board has absolutely nothing to do with everyone's view on Halliburton in general

[Edited on March 12, 2007 at 12:38 PM. Reason : .]

3/12/2007 12:38:18 PM

3/12/2007 12:41:04 PM

i'll take that as a "no i didnt know jack shit about halliburton before i heard cheney used to be with them"

i'll put those words in your mouth since you dont have the time to post more than some rolly eyes

[Edited on March 12, 2007 at 12:42 PM. Reason : .]

3/12/2007 12:42:04 PM

i didn't know about haliburton until they became a huge part of a war that i was strongly against from the beginning.

3/12/2007 12:46:20 PM

^^ok, why do you turn everything into a debate about the personal attributes of someone in the bush admin?

nobody said anything about cheney.....the discussion is about a company that has huge contracts with the US gov relocating outside the us. Along the lines of the discussion about the foreign company that was going to take the contract for port operations. sooooo,

[Edited on March 12, 2007 at 12:49 PM. Reason : i didn't want to get dragged into this, but.....]

3/12/2007 12:49:08 PM

well thanks for posting something more informative than a smiley face...with words i can actually have a clue wtf you are talking about

3/12/2007 12:51:04 PM

gee, I wonder why people and corporations are trying to get their money the hell out of this country

3/12/2007 12:53:31 PM

^ Taxes are high. I don't have much of a problem with them leaving. I do have a problem with powerful people running our country that are in bed with them, whether they are here or there. Because now, the other folks that are running the country that aren't a part of their company, can't oversee their operations.

Folks, seriously, get the block plugin and all you'll see is this

TreeTwista10
411 4M3R1C4N
45126 Posts
user info
edit post
unblock user

and some blank space. The guy never posts anything worth replying to, so why bother yourself with having it clutter your screen?

[Edited on March 12, 2007 at 12:57 PM. Reason : a]

3/12/2007 12:56:06 PM

^ yeah I understand why there are questions since it is Halliburton... but plenty of companies and people have been moving assets offshore... it's kinda sad actually, look for more companies to do it over the next 2 years also

....I like seeing what people have to say though

whether I agree with them or not

3/12/2007 1:02:42 PM

Quote :

"....I like seeing what people have to say though whether I agree with them or not"

I find myself wanting to bash my head into a brick wall when I read the majority of his crap.

This comment is just a waste of space, and par for the course

Quote :

"OH MY GOD I HATE DICK CHENEY SO MUCH"

I'm insulted that he reduces the soap box to this level on a daily basis.

3/12/2007 1:05:18 PM

well, there are plenty of folks on here that make me want to do that

3/12/2007 1:06:32 PM

Quote :

"True, but I imagine that if Halliburton does reincorporate in Dubai, it'll move from a mere American defense contractor to a foreign, "Muslim" defense contractor. Given the general "Buy American" mentality that both parties in Congress have when it comes to defense contracts, this move will probably hurt Halliburton in aquiring future military contracts."

Being purely cynical here, but I'm fairly certain that, since American defense contracts are a major part of their business, Halliburton probably made sure this won't hurt their ability to get contracts.

3/12/2007 1:09:46 PM

Quote :

"OH MY GOD I HATE DICK CHENEY SO MUCH"

so did you see that quote or did you just see a blank space? cause you claim you have me blocked since i'm not worth responding to, yet you always respond to me?

3/12/2007 1:11:16 PM

funny, you also said that you had me on block, yet you've repsonded to me as well.

pot, kettle.

3/12/2007 1:13:34 PM

i did have you on block

also funny that you would ever call out anyone for anything considering that your entire tww time is spent trolling

3/12/2007 1:15:33 PM

Quote :

"Being purely cynical here, but I'm fairly certain that, since American defense contracts are a major part of their business, Halliburton probably made sure this won't hurt their ability to get contracts."

logistically, it's not a terrible idea, especially since the majority of US military spending in the foreseeable future will be in/for that region.

[Edited on March 12, 2007 at 1:19 PM. Reason : another thread down the shitter......]

3/12/2007 1:18:46 PM

In all fairness, no one here has ever produced research showing that Halliburton has received a higher percentage of government contracts since Cheney has been in office.

Thats why I don't jump onto the RAWWWWWWWRRRRR! HALLIBURTON EVIL!!!! bandwagon.

3/12/2007 1:19:06 PM

What about the no bid contracts they received?

3/12/2007 1:37:41 PM

Its typical that the govt will allow no-bid contracts on emergency work in order to expedite the work...they dont exactly want to waste a couple of months bidding and pricing the work

now State409c might not know that since "he has me on block" but its true

[Edited on March 12, 2007 at 1:43 PM. Reason : .]

3/12/2007 1:40:36 PM

THE IRAQ WAR WAS AN EMERGENCY!!!!!

3/12/2007 2:30:00 PM

The government hands out sole source contracts to many corporations. Check with google.

3/12/2007 2:36:10 PM

I'm not sure what your point is?

3/12/2007 2:43:21 PM

No bid contracts aren't exclusive to Halliburton. You can't simply point to those as evidence of corruption.

3/12/2007 2:55:20 PM

I have to say, he's got a point. the US Govt routinely awards no-bid contracts to a variety of companies.

I ain't sayin it's right. Its a system rife with potential for abuse. and i also think Dick Cheney is one of Satan's minions on earth, but that's another thread.

you've got to give something more than "no bid contracts" as evidence that Halliburton is the evil and corrupt bunch of war profiteers that they are.

3/12/2007 3:00:19 PM

heres one opinion in dubai
http://www.thedubailife.com/index.php/main/blog/haliburton_go_home

Quote :

"Haliburton Go Home Big Red is coming to Dubai , yes thats right the biggest colonialist tool this side of a lazer mis-guided missle hitting some poor man's Iraqi home is on it's way to good old Dubai town. Now I know they building Dubailand here and well sometimes I do wonder if Dubai has become some kind of circus but since when did the lunatics take over the asylum? Letting Haliburton in Dubai? Are you crazy? I mean the Americans wouldn't let it into America if it wasn't American. Why do we do this to ourselves? Why the need for self inflicted violation of our souls just to make a buck? So many questions but I bet there will be no answers forthcoming from any official quarters. Haliburton symbolizes everything that is wrong with the world today, greed. The fact that Dick Cheney (Such an apt first name, maybe his parents knew how he would turn out) at one time headed the company which was then given a large majority of the contracts in Iraq for free without bidding by other companies is well known. Haliburton everyday get's more out of Iraq then the people of Iraq will see combined in their lifetimes it's good old fashioned economic colonialism. So Wars for Oil , Wars to line the pockets of Haliburton and what do we go and do , we let them set up base here in our midst to rub our noses in it everyday. Wolf in sheep's clothing doesn't even come close to explaining what Haliburton is. Today Chief Exec of Haliburton Dave Lesar said "The eastern hemisphere is a market that is more heavily weighted toward oil exploration and production opportunities and growing our business here will bring more balance to Halliburton's overall portfolio" What he really meant is "By 2010 we will need [a further] 50 million barrels a day. The Middle East, with two-thirds of the oil and the lowest cost, is still where the prize lies", these were the words of Dick Cheney in 1999 during his time as Haliburton CEO. Lesar thinks it's an "opportunity" and Cheney reveled it as to what it really is to them "a Prize". Maybe the reason Haliburton has been invited to Dubai is because they share the same work ethics, you know exploitation of migrant workers , poor living conditions etc. "Some contractors, many working as subcontractors to Halliburton/KBR [Kellogg Brown & Root] in Iraq, were found to be using deceptive, bait-and-switch hiring practices and charging recruiting fees that indebted low-paid migrant workers for many months or even years to their employers. Contractors were also accused of providing substandard, crowded sleeping quarters..." [Source: IPS] Or maybe that it creates conditons and refuses to carry out work that is meant to make peoples lives better " The Tigris, a Main Source of Baghdad’s Drinking Waterby Dahr Jamail Water from the Tigris River -- consumed by Iraqis in Baghdad every day -- is contaminated with war waste, and much of it goes untreated despite obligations of a US company to reconstruct vital facilities" [Source: The New Standard ] So let it not be said that when this was happening we never let our feelings be known, I don't want Haliburton in Dubai , I don't want them in Iraq or Afghanistan or anywhere in Africa becuase they represent exploitation and greed. Anti-Americanism I hear you say , NO, there is nothing wrong with Americans but there is something wrong with a company that represents everything that is wrong wtih the world and in most cases it helped create it. And for those who doubt the fact Haliburton is not all bad news take a look at the links below: http://www.rinf.com/columnists/news/haliburton-concentration-camps http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2005/04/18/8257012/index.htm http://www.business-humanrights.org/Categories/Individualcompanies/K/KelloggBrownRootpartofHalliburton"

3/12/2007 3:02:32 PM

^^i'm missing where anyone said that haliburton was corrupt in this thread. . .

[Edited on March 12, 2007 at 3:09 PM. Reason : .]

3/12/2007 3:04:35 PM

Quote :

"THE IRAQ WAR WAS AN EMERGENCY!!!!!"

maybe when Saddam's troops set oil fields on fire, we should've had a nice open bid process...that way we could give each company time to come up with a good fair price and they could schedule out all of their logicstics...once all the firms submit their numbers, the govt could look at those, look the companies' past work, etc...then after some followup meetings, they could finally aware a contract...I mean so what the oil fields would be burning for months and months...lets make sure to have an open-bid process

3/12/2007 3:10:46 PM

so we only hired haliburton after the oil fires were set?

funny. i remember it differently.

3/12/2007 3:14:58 PM

thats just one example

its also one more than you've given

3/12/2007 3:17:06 PM

no bid contracts are not always wrong. sometimes they have a purpose.

their purpose is not to set up a ongoing system of entitlements for contractors who have political connections, however.

3/12/2007 3:17:46 PM

it's not true though.

we hired haliburton long before that happened.

3/12/2007 3:17:49 PM

whats "not true though"

3/12/2007 3:18:39 PM

haliburton was already hired open-ended for iraq by that point, if i'm not mistaken.

3/12/2007 3:19:20 PM

i think the real point here is that, if this goes through, we are going to contract out the business of providing for U.S. defense using middle eastern companies.

someone tell me why that is a bad idea.

3/12/2007 3:21:32 PM

I find it ironic that people who constantly blame and bash Halliburton and call for its destruction are now so eager to keep them in the states. Im sure if our military can get its oil from the middle east we can get our food and tents as well. (yes an over simplification, Im aware)

3/12/2007 4:50:47 PM