How Much Are You Making on the War, Daddy?: A Quick and Dirty Guide to War Profiteering in the Bush Administration

Columnist Paul Krugman has described Bushs melding of political hardball and economic favoritism as “crony capitalism,” while Senator John McCain calls it war profiteering. George W. Bushs approach to military spending is a higher-priced version of what went on under the Suharto regime in Indonesia, when corporations connected to the military and the presidents inner circle had the inside track on lucrative government contracts. The military budget has increased from $300 billion to more than $400 billion annually since George W. Bush took office. The Iraq invasion and occupation will cost at least another $200 billion over the next three to five years. U.S. policy is now based on whats good for Chevron, Halliburton, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Bechtel, not whats good for the average citizen. Dick Cheneys ties to conglomerate Halliburton are the tip of the iceberg since at least thirty-two top officials in the Bush administration served as executives or paid consultants to top weapons contractors before joining the administration. In George W. Bushs Washington, it has reached the point where you cant tell the generals from the arms lobbyists without a scorecard. This book provides that scorecard, in a style designed to provoke action for change.