Monday, April 03, 2006

Another History, Economics, Civics, Whatever Lesson for Slow Learners

From this morning's El Paso Times:

"Workers hurt in Iraq sue"

The fiery ambush of a fuel convoy in Iraq two years ago in which two area truckers were wounded, six private contractors were killed and American hostage Thomas Hamill was captured could have been prevented, a lawsuit alleges.

Truckers Raymond Stannard...and Eddie Sanchez...are among the 11 survivors of the convoy who, with the families of the six deceased truckers, are suing Halliburton and its subsidiary KBR for an unspecified amount in federal court in Houston.

Both truckers said new evidence unearthed...has changed their view of the incident.

"We believe...Halliburton attempted to send two convoys at or near the same time, hoping one would draw fire and the other would make it (to the airport) with the fuel."

"I thought it was a freak accident," said Sanchez...I kind of felt they wouldn't let us go out if it wasn't safe. It's (Halliburton) a Fortune 500 company. I kind of feel betrayed."

Dada cajoles, "Don't take your feelings of betrayal so personal. You are not alone. You were just casualties of good business."

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

just imagine the betryal these truckers would have felt had they reached for their flak jackets and discovered, instead, one share in M&M Enterprises (or Halliburton, for that matter)

Anonymous said...

Or like Otter said to Flounder in Animal House, "face it, you fucked up, you trusted us". D.K.

Dada said...

Hey Maineiac, Isn't that from some movie or something? Sure sounds familiar.

Anonymous said...

it should, dada, it's at the top of your list of favorite movies...and one of my favorites as well...have some more chocolate-covered cotton, Mr. Yossarian...one share of M&M Enterprises in trade for your silk parachute...

Dada said...

OK Maineiac, thanks for confirming what I STRONGLY suspected that was a reference to. But after a very quick Google into M&M shares and "Catcha da 22", I gave up and commented accordingly. (Figuring your reply would easier and more quickly answer my question than my searching the web.)

So, yes, that was a great original comment re shares of M&M (or Halliburton) in place of their flak jackets.

As for your quote, D.K., from Animal House, I confess I've never seen that one. Still, it was a seemingly appropriate one.

Anonymous said...

maineiac, I totally missed your ref! I remember Minderbender (who could forget that), but what was the other "M"? A few years ago, I actually read the book. Excellent!

dada, if you ever see Animal House, I think some of the initiation scenes are based on our prez's frat life. And my quote was what one of the upperclassmen said to a new initiate after he had lent them his father's classic car & they of course trashed it. D.K.

Anonymous said...

I could never figure out what the other "M" was in "M&M Enterprises"...I just figured it was "Milo" (his first name) and "Minderbinder"...indicating sole ownership of the corporation which somehow made a profit when buying eggs for 7 cents and selling them for 5...the absurdity of one war demonstrated in all the others since...

your comment was another well-taken observation on the situation...although those truckers are undoubtedly paid handsomely for the dangers they face, that does not give Halliburton the right to use them as live decoys...trust Halliburton with protecting your life in a war zone and you are a fool