Dec 4, 2004

Halliburton bilks gov’t for billions in Iraq, then loses one-third of property

Outrageous! That is what many are calling the war profiteering by U.S. corporations who have flocked into Iraq. In particular, Halliburton Corp., which Vice President Dick Cheney used to head, has come under scrutiny over its $10 billion Pentagon contracts, many obtained without competitive bidding, as well as fuel-price gouging and other improper or illegal actions. Meanwhile, U.S. cities and states are starved for cash.

The crowd packing an African American church in Columbus, Ohio, Nov. 28 cheered as Rev. Jesse Jackson urged the Ohio Supreme Court to set aside George W. Bush’s narrow win in this battleground state. click here for Spanish text

It all started with PWW builder Gabe Falsetta, who sent in an $80 contribution in honor of the People’s Weekly World’s 80th anniversary year. “I want the truth to keep on publishing,” he said.

Wisconsin Peace and Justice Committee Chairman John Gilman was decorated with the Cuban Medal of Friendship, Nov. 12, in Havana.

NEW YORK— New York City is facing a record demand for emergency food services, even as fewer resources are being provided, forcing thousands to go hungry.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Fed up with years of wage freezes and concessions in health care benefits, workers represented by Local 11 of The Newspaper Guild went on strike Nov. 16 against the The Vindicator, a daily newspaper published here and circulated in northeastern Ohio and parts of western Pennsylvania. click here for Spanish text

Commentary

I’ll be honest: I usually sleep as late as possible on Sunday morning. So it was a major struggle to pull myself out of bed when the alarm went off at 4:45 a.m. Groggily, I wiped the sleep out of my eyes and remembered why I was awake — to make the two hour trip from Atlanta to Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga., for the annual School of the Americas protest and vigil Nov. 21. click here for related story

News Analysis

TUCSON, Ariz. — Arizonans have usually voted wisely on ballot initiatives, except when the initiative sponsors utilize racism as a weapon. This observation held true on Nov. 2 when state voters passed Proposition 200, the misnamed “Protect Arizona Now” (PAN).

NEW ORLEANS: Workers fight for full pay / FARMINGVILLE, N.Y.: Immigrant workers face attack / TALLAHASSEE, Fla.: State to cut kids’ health care / WASHINGTON: Empty chairs at holiday dinner table

NEW YORK — An overflow crowd of more than 200 Communist Party (CPUSA) National Committee members and guests packed the Winston Unity auditorium here Nov. 20-21 to assess the Nov. 2 election results.