Halliburton's War - Pratap Chatterjee - 2009

This is not a book that I would gravitate to. In fact, in order to get me to read it, one would have had to hog tie me and then prod me with an electrical cattle prod. In fact as far as political standing goes, I am neither left nor right. This booked piqued my interest after I read the statement below.


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Halliburton is the only company mentioned by Osama bin Laden in an April 2004 tape in which he claims that "this is a war [in Afghanistan] that is benefiting major companies with billions of dollars. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halliburton)
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Really, what other American company has been mentioned by the most sought after terrorist in world history.

I can give neither an opinion for or against the book but will say that some information presented was eye opening. I will reference one statement in the book that caused some 'gut' reactions for no better use of words.

The book also gives some history of Halliburton and it's ties to LBJ, Rumsfield, Cheney and the Bush administrations. Much of the monies made by Halliburton are made in supplying low paid personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq for transportation, food service and other services. Most companies they sub-constract are foreign countries. According to this book, employees of these companies are paid wages so low that they are unable to reasonably support themselves.

The following statement caused a 'gut' reaction:

"What we have today is an all-volunteer army, unlike in a consription army when they had to be there. In the old army, the standard of living was low, the pay scale was dismal; it wasn't fun; it wasn't intended to be fun. But today, we have to appeal, we have to recruit, just like any corporation, we have to recruit off the street. And after we get them to come in, it behooves us to give them a reason to stay in."
There are some creature comforts in this Walmart and McDonald's society that we live in that soldiers have come to expect. They expect to play Xbox, to keep in touch by email. They expect to eat a variety of foods".....and get lobster and steak. Our soldiers need to feel and believe that we care about them, or they will leave. The army cannot afford to allow the soldier to be disenfranchised.

I have to stop right here. When did military service become franchised and not about honor, duty and commitment. I don't think that any soldier in either Afganistan or Iraq as they put their lives on the line give one thought to the an XBOX or email. They may be perks that they have opportunity to use, but I am of the opinion that,if they have given any thought of either, it is because they are tied to memories of their families and loved ones they left at home. Franchise my...!(you get my point)

In conclusion, next time my interest is piqued by a book such as this, please hit me in the head and drag me in the opposite direction. All this book did for me was make me angry and leave me wanting to go to the nearest Starbucks and find someone to argue left or right with.

Did I really need to read a book that had me thinking of quoting references?

I think not!


Susan