Baghdad? It's the Bomb!

Life in Baghdad can be pretty sweet, unless you're an Iraqi. American expatriates, for instance, report that nannies are available, the dress code is "business casual," and "contractors appear to be making a lot of money." Gee, what a shock. You might want to see exactly how much at the serious-minded Project on Government Oversight's Iraq page. Or, go to the horse's mouth: the U.S. Agency for International Development, which is keeping America's contractors (and their investors) strong and happy. USAID's Iraq site is full of good business news for Bush's campaign contributors, and you might want to also see the details of Bechtel's $253 million deal. After all, you're paying for it. Finally the phrase "corporate welfare" is beginning to creep into the mainstream press, like in this Washington Post piece on Air Force chief James Roche. For God's sake (as Bush would say), even the WTO got pissed off two years ago about $4 billion worth of U.S. corporate welfare. As of today, there are at least 125 billion reasons to be interested in the topic, according to Public Citizen. In any case, before you fill out your own taxes, check the Corporate Welfare Shame Page.