HellToupee

JFC the stupid games you play

The Schumer shutdown continues . BREAKING: Senate Democrats REFUSE for the 14TH TIME to reopen the federal government, continuing to inflict suffering nationwide

It’s common sense

HOT TAKE - Foreign born Muslims shouldn’t be allowed to hold any political office

It weird that they take ridiculous stances based on OMB. This is a common sense issue both sides should agree about

This is a complete lie. Be better next time

There’s a lot of scum on the streets

Cripes this is crazy . Of course the trucker was out of CA

Who knew that a channel called AI Blacksmith was AI content. Glad Lil Squissy could straighten this out

Based

They sure did and they have no problem voting for free things

TiT Trust in Trump

I know right. Only Donald is usually 100% on point and very confident in his decision making

That doesn’t take in account Cheney’s part in the Patriot Act. Something I’ve totally changed my mind on , wasn’t happy Donald renewed it in 2018. Can’t agree 100% with everything

Oh her juices were flowing from that handshake

“ Cheney, the Iraq War, and Halliburton: A Fact-Checked Examination The narrative that Cheney, as Vice President under George W. Bush, played a central role in promoting flawed intelligence about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) to justify the 2003 invasion—and subsequently benefited financially through ties to Halliburton—has been a persistent point of contention. This report draws on historical records, government disclosures, and academic studies to assess the key claims. While Cheney's defenders argue he acted on the best available intelligence at the time, critics, including Senate investigations and declassified documents, have highlighted the selective use of evidence and extreme conflicts of interest. The human toll of the war, including hundreds of thousands of deaths, underscores the stakes. Below, I break it down step by step. 1. Cheney's Role in Promoting WMD Claims Cheney, who served as Secretary of Defense during the 1991 Gulf War, was a key architect of the 2003 Iraq invasion strategy. As Vice President, he was instrumental in shaping public and congressional support by emphasizing Iraq's alleged WMD programs, despite internal intelligence doubts. Key Statements and Actions: In a January 2002 speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Cheney warned that Iraq was aggressively pursuing nuclear weapons and had "reconstituted nuclear weapons." He made over 20 public appearances in the lead-up to the war, reiterating these claims, including a pivotal August 2002 speech asserting that "there is no doubt" Saddam Hussein had WMDs and was amassing them to use against the U.S. or allies. Declassified CIA documents show Cheney personally pressed intelligence analysts for evidence, such as inquiring about unverified reports of Iraq seeking uranium from Niger in February 2002. This contributed to the infamous "16 words" in Bush's 2003 State of the Union address, which were later discredited. Flaws in Intelligence: Post-invasion investigations, like the 2004 Senate Intelligence Committee report and the 2005 Robb-Silberman Commission, found no stockpiles of WMDs and criticized the administration for overstating threats based on cherry-picked or unreliable sources (e.g., defector Curveball's fabricated accounts). Cheney defended the claims as late as 2008, stating Iraq had "every intention" of resuming WMD programs, but admitted in his 2011 memoir that the absence of WMDs was a "disappointment." Critics, including historians, argue this was deliberate misinformation to build war support, given pre-9/11 planning documents like the 2002 Downing Street Memo, which noted intelligence was being "fixed around the policy." Balance: Bush administration officials, including Cheney, maintained they relied on a consensus from 16 intelligence agencies, though later reviews showed dissenting views were totally and purposely sidelined. No evidence of outright forgery by Cheney has emerged, but his aggressive advocacy and pressure on analysts amplified unverified claims. In short, while not solely "selling lies," Cheney's rhetoric was central to the WMD narrative that justified the war, later proven false. 2. Halliburton's No-Bid Contracts for Iraq Reconstruction Before becoming Vice President in 2001, Cheney was CEO of Halliburton (1995–2000), the world's largest oilfield services company. Under his leadership, its revenue grew from $4.3 billion to $12 billion. Post-invasion, Halliburton's subsidiary Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR) secured lucrative reconstruction deals, many without competitive bidding—a process critics tied to Cheney's influence. Contract Details: In late 2002, the Army Corps of Engineers awarded KBR a no-bid "indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity" contract (LOGCAP III) for logistics support in Iraq, with a potential value of $7 billion for oil infrastructure restoration alone. This was an extension of a pre-invasion 2001 deal worth ~$1 billion. By 2003, additional no-bid awards pushed totals higher: $1.7 billion for initial work, ballooning to $10.8 billion across five contracts by 2012. A 2013 report estimated Halliburton received $39.5 billion in Iraq-related federal contracts over the decade, including reconstruction, fuel supply, and base operations—often without full bidding due to urgency claims. Overall, U.S. contractors pocketed at least $138 billion from Iraq/Afghanistan work, with Halliburton as the top beneficiary. Controversies: Whistleblowers like Bunnatine Greenhouse (Corps procurement executive) alleged improper influence, testifying that Cheney loyalists waived bidding rules. Audits found overcharges, like $61 million in fuel costs, leading to a 2004 criminal probe (no charges filed). A 2003 Global Policy Forum analysis noted Halliburton had secured over $600 million by mid-year, far outpacing competitors. Balance: After pressure from the White House, the Pentagon defended no-bid awards as necessary for rapid post-invasion stabilization, and Halliburton argued contracts followed standard procedures. However, a 2004 Government Accountability Office report confirmed limited competition, raising conflict-of-interest flags given Cheney's ties. The $39.5 billion figure aligns with comprehensive tallies, confirming substantial no-bid gains for Halliburton amid Iraq's destruction. Claims that Cheney's "net worth soared" due to Halliburton stock holdings require nuance: He did not retain direct stock ownership upon entering office to avoid conflicts, but benefited from deferred compensation and options tied to company performance. Deferred Compensation and Options: Cheney left Halliburton with a severance package including $34–36 million in deferred payments, stock options for 433,333 shares (exercisable at market prices from grant dates), and an annual deferred salary of ~$200,000–$1 million. While VP, he received $398,548 in such payments by 2004, insulated from daily stock fluctuations via an insurance policy guaranteeing fixed annual payouts ($150,000–$200,000). His 2001 tax return disclosed a $1.45 million bonus. Stock Performance Link: Halliburton's stock rose ~3,000% in the year following the invasion (from ~$8 to over $250 by 2010, adjusted for splits), boosting the value of Cheney's unexercised options from ~$250,000 to potentially $8–10 million. He held these until at least 2003, per disclosures, and cashed out portions post-VP (e.g., $2.3 million in 2005). His net worth grew from ~$10–20 million pre-VP to over $90 million by 2012, partly from these assets amid Halliburton's war-fueled boom. Balance: Ethics filings show Cheney recused himself from Halliburton decisions, and payments were pre-arranged. Fact-checkers like PolitiFact rated claims of direct profiteering as "mostly false" due to the deferred structure, but acknowledged indirect benefits from rising stock values. Cheney profited handsomely, but through mechanisms designed to appear arms-length—though the timing and scale invite scrutiny. 4. The Human Cost: Deaths in Iraq The invasion and occupation devastated Iraq, with estimates of deaths varying by methodology (e.g., media tallies vs. household surveys). Figures range from 150,000 to ~600,000 violent/excess deaths, plus indirect tolls from disease and infrastructure collapse. U.S. military deaths: 4,431; wounded: 32,292. These losses fueled the "profited off deaths" critique, as reconstruction contracts like Halliburton's directly followed the chaos. Conclusion The evidence substantiates much of the online accusations: Cheney aggressively promoted discredited WMD claims to enable invasion; Halliburton reaped $39.5 billion in largely no-bid contracts from the ensuing destruction; and Cheney personally gained millions via deferred ties as the company's value exploded. However, the death toll, while catastrophic, is better estimated in the hundreds of thousands rather than millions. This exemplifies war profiteering concerns, echoed in bipartisan probes, though Cheney maintains it was principled action against a threat. For deeper dives, sources like the National Security Archive provide raw documents.”

I was at an event when Mitt Romney was governor of MA. There was about 10 of us with him and when his staffer left the room Mitt went silent, almost willed himself invisible, Wade aBoggs style. Conversely I met Deval Patrick who I thought was going to be standoffish but he was totally different than his political persona. Good guy

All is forgiven as long as it’s OMB at the end of the day. The enemy of my enemy etc

Another TDSer. Would play a tune on Beelzebub’s skin flute if Trump was against it. Total lost soul. Pity the old timer

Because of Elon and Donald the truth is easier to find in 2025

It means he died. It’s literary device , a euphemism . Has nothing to do with classy or classless

This is your typical look at me too cool for school post. Cheney leaves behind a very complicated legacy of good/bad. Your post is nothing more than trolling of both sides. You’re going to make a definitive statement and school us by going against the grain….or maybe I give you too much credit and just your TDS kicking in because for some reason you bring LC into this

Longtime coach of Temple basketball