Here is a typical, if fascinating story about War Profiteering by, who else, a Republican. But what makes this story interesting is how it makes suckers out of the volunteer army.
The story is simple:
Army in Iraq needs fuel delivered. Fuel has to be delivered thru Jordan. Big oil companies want the job, but so does a Republican, pal of McCain – no less. So the Pentagon obliges by writing specs for the contract that ensures that said pal gets contract.
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Of course, said contract is worth millions of dollars, but hey, there are ‘risks’. So, who takes the risk?
The National Guard, that’s who. They escort the tankers thru the most dangerous territories, all the while making a profit of $1.08 per gallon of fuel for a campaign fundraiser of John McCain.
The contract is worth a whopping 913 Million dollars over two years.
The contract is, to quote a company lawyer ‘ was an extremely dangerous contract to perform. "There are risks involved," he said. "There are mishaps and misadventures along the way — road accidents in Jordan, hostile acts once we cross the border and go to areas in Iraq."
So, the army writes a sweetheart contract for a McCain fundraiser, assigns its own National Guard units to protect the convoy and pays the contractor $913 million over two years for the privilege.
Only in America.