Haliburton to Get Billions for Iraq Bases

"Ask any one senator what he or she thinks of building 14 new military bases in Iraq, and you're likely to get an answer like this one from Michigan Democrat Debbie Stabenow.

"I think it's very clear and very unfortunate that we are a long way from having stability in Iraq," she told me as she walked off the Senate floor. "Unfortunately, we're going to be facing a lot of challenges in Iraq for a long time."

"The new U.S. military bases in Iraq will likely be built in concert with Dick Cheney's old company Halliburton. Congressional staffers told me that the company will like to receive 5 to 6 billion dollars more if the new monies are approved, and that number could rise.

"Meantime, the Los Angeles Times reported this week that of the 20 water treatment and 24 sewage plants San Francisco-based Bechtel Corporation had announced it fixed, none are currently working.