FLASHBACK: As Halliburton CEO, Cheney Evaded U.S. Law To Do Business With Iran
FLASHBACK: As Halliburton CEO, Cheney Evaded U.S. Law To Do Business With Iran
In an interview with Fortune Magazine’s Nina Easton, Dick Cheney conceded that as Halliburton CEO he opposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, even though he now strongly supports them. Cheney explained that as a private sector official, he didn’t have any responsibility to be concerned about the impact of his company’s dealings with Iran:
Q: You opposed unilateral sanctions on Iran when you were CEO of Halliburton.
THE VICE PRESIDENT: I did.
[...]
That’s a whole set of considerations that a CEO doesn’t have to worry about, that a private company doesn’t have to worry about. But the President of the United States does.
What Cheney conveniently neglects to mention is that Halliburton evaded U.S. law in order to deal with Iran. The International Emergency Economic Powers Act authorizes the president to block transactions and freeze assets to deal with rogue nations. In 1995, President Clinton signed an executive order barring U.S. investment in Iran’s energy sector. To evade U.S. law, Halliburton set up an offshore subsidiary that engaged in dealings with Iran.
In 1996, Cheney blasted the Clinton administration for being “sanction-happy as a government.” “The problem is that the good Lord didn’t see fit to always put oil and gas resources where there are democratic governments,” Cheney explained of his desire to do business with Iran.
ABC’s Sam Donaldson confronted Cheney about this in 2000, only to hear Cheney obfuscate about his dealings with Iran:
DONALDSON: I’m told, and correct me if I’m wrong, that Halliburton through subsidiary companies was actually trying to do business with Iraq.
CHENEY: No. No, I had a firm policy that we wouldn’t do anything in Iraq, even arrangements that were supposedly legal. What we do with respect to Iran and Libya is done through foreign subsidiaries totally in compliance with U.S. law.
DONALDSON: Make a way around U.S. law?
CHENEY: No, no, it’s provided for us specifically with respect to Iran and Libya. Iraq’s different, but we’ve not done any business in Iraq since the sanctions were imposed, and I had a standing policy that I wouldn’t do that.
Cheney’s evasion of U.S. law to deal with Iran has been well-documented. As the Bush administration now presses for tougher sanctions against Iran, Cheney should concede that Halliburton violated the spirit of the law and encourage other U.S. companies not to follow his lead.
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Pshaw! Laws are only for the little people.
November 26th, 2007 at 3:45 pmI don’t care if Cheney concedes anything. I want it to brought back out into the forefront that this took place under his leadership of Haliburton. Let him concede, dick.
November 26th, 2007 at 3:47 pmCheney: “That’s a whole set of considerations that a CEO doesn’t have to worry about, that a private company doesn’t have to worry about. But the President of the United States does.”
“President”? doesn’t he mean “Vice Pres….”
Oh, right! Never mind.
November 26th, 2007 at 3:51 pmIt’s ok to break the law if Fascist Repukian Scumlords do it.
I guess that makes Cheney not a war criminal? NOT !!!!
Bush/Cheney
Hague Trials ‘09
Buck Fush
November 26th, 2007 at 3:54 pmCheney is to go under emergency procedure for his heart…………….Let us pray………………….
November 26th, 2007 at 3:56 pmSo basically, it is his world and he will do whatever the hell he pleases; screw principals; screw people and screw the law.
SOB ought to be hanged in public so people can come and spit on his carcass
November 26th, 2007 at 3:57 pmA big, fat lying Dick.
-GSD
November 26th, 2007 at 3:58 pmCNN Ticker states Cheney’s “ticker” is beating irregularly. Lets see what shakes out.
November 26th, 2007 at 3:58 pmCheney speaks with forked tongue. How does the same body habitus compartmentalize doing business when making money hand over fist (personal greed) with Iran as CEO and now doing the opposite as Veep?
This is evidence of his duality – and has been running this country as though he is CEO of the United States.
Cheney’s sounding a bit schizophrenic right now, I’d say.
Having it both ways, Tricky Dick, simply is not going to fly. Hypocrite!
November 26th, 2007 at 4:00 pmWhy the hell is this impotent lameduck veep even in the news at this point? He’s totally irrelevant to the US landscape and this country is eclipsing him and his ilk by leaps and bounds.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:01 pmImpeach the lying SOB already!
November 26th, 2007 at 4:02 pm#7 The hypocrisy at hand concerns a sitting administrative official. Are we jumping forward to Hillary’s presidency or backward to Bill’s?? You can’t have it both ways either – stay in the present moment and the topic of this thread, please.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:03 pm9 minutes ago
Vice President Dick Cheney, who has a history of heart problems, experienced an irregular heartbeat Monday and will be evaluated at George Washington University Hospital
Fingures crossed everyone that the bastard dies
November 26th, 2007 at 4:03 pmHillary Clinton supports sanctions on Iran today while her husband vetoed sanctions on Iran when he was president. -Manslagt
And under what President did the Iran-Contra thing happen?
November 26th, 2007 at 4:03 pmHague Trials 09, indeed! This is something we all can look forward to as a measure toward bringing the criminals within to the justice they soooo deserve.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:04 pmCheney experiences irregular heartbeat, will be evaluated at hospital
November 26th, 2007 at 4:04 pmFaiz is also ignoring the fact that Hillary Clinton supports sanctions on Iran today while her husband vetoed sanctions on Iran when he was president.
Comment by Manslagt
Your reverence for a criminal monarchy is appalling. Why are you here? Go to redstate if you want a right side circle jerk.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:05 pmI remember. MSM gave Cheney a free pass on this. Sort of a theme played out for the last eight years. free pass for criminal behavior.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:05 pmMaybe that’s because Iran was not threatening to build nuclear weapons when Cheney was CEO of Halliburton.
Comment by Manslagt — November 26, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
Nor are they doing so now that he’s vice president of the United States. The only thing that’s changed in the meantime is where he gets his salary.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:06 pmCheneys ears are burning hes been taken to hospital as we type with an irregular heartbeat
November 26th, 2007 at 4:07 pmHeart Arrhythmia seems to be Darth’s diversionary tactic when the room begins to close in on him. Hah! Faux Arrhythmia.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:07 pmHow’s about this for a question: would the sanctions being proposed now by W and Cheney require Halliburton to stop doing business with Iran? If they do, how does Cheney, the VPOTUS fell about his government being sanction happy because Iranian oil is not under his house in the great out west. If not, what are we sanctioning, if not the ability of companies like Halli from doing what Cheney has allowed them to do in the past?
November 26th, 2007 at 4:08 pmManslagt: Neither – just someone who appreciates remaining on the topic at hand. Obviously, if we are to discuss the historical perspective of hypocrisy in public office, then we could draw from the tomes of historical information on corruption, not the least of which would also include Bush #41 – however, the topic of the thread happens to be the hypocrisy of Dick Cheney. Your transparency in attempting to hijack the thread to a totally disparate topic is utterly amazing. Nice try, though. One problem you have: You underestimate the intelligence of the average TP poster who can spot a hijacker troll a mile away.
Thanks for playing though.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:11 pmfreeze out Manslagt – One more troll nailed.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:12 pmCEOs can evade law to deal with a nation that held American hostages.
How Patriotic
Not.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:13 pmManslagt: And Leo Strauss must have had you in mind when he defined fascism.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:14 pmX: CEO’s can and have been under Bush’s watch. Veeps can’t but have which results in the finest definition of hypocrisy I’ve heard in a long time. Cheney is the epitome of the term “hypocrite”.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:15 pmFor Truth: I thought you were jesting. Just noticed the headline at Huffpo – the old codger’s ticker is timing out. Makes the case for mind/body theory, that’s for sure.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:17 pmOne problem you have: You underestimate the intelligence of the average TP poster who can spot a hijacker troll a mile away.
Thanks for playing though.
Comment by Veritas
Absolutely. Nicely done. Go away Manslagt, you are not needed here – or anywhere I presume.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:17 pmComment by Veritas — November 26, 2007 @ 4:15 pm
Indeed.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:18 pm“CEO’s in the private sector don’t have to worry about laws and stuff”.
Thanks for bringing that to light Dick.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:18 pmManslagt: Contrary to your accusation, I did not miss your rather obvious point; however, I could care less about your assertion as it has no relevance to the topic of the thread which is the hypocrisy of Dick Cheney. Stay alert or we’ll have to dismiss you from this class!
We know how difficult it is for trolls to remain on topic particularly when the news of the day is rather bleak for your party. We are cognizant of the tactics and techniques used to switch topics and hijack conversations which is precisely why your comment has absolutely no relevance here.
Beep….thanks for playing!
November 26th, 2007 at 4:19 pmManslagt = He who doth protest too much?
November 26th, 2007 at 4:20 pm#37 what exactly does your comment mean? Most of us here have served our country in the military as well. So…..what??
November 26th, 2007 at 4:21 pm#37 BFD! Who cares? You’re beginning to sound like our egomaniacal, schizoid troll named Mr. Pee? Did we catch you again??
November 26th, 2007 at 4:22 pmYup, if only the media stop putting their head in the sand on Daddy Warbucks Dick’s business connections with Iran and Dick’s persistence in keeping the Iraq war going. That is why Dick made sure with the help of his buddy judge to have the Government Accountability Office lawsuit known as Walker v. Cheney and Dick’s Energy Task force meetings with late Ken Lay tossed out. Dick claimed executive privilege.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:22 pmManslagt: Chocolate’s not a bad thing; a corrupt, ignorant troll is a disgusting thing. Adios, Mr. Big Deal!
November 26th, 2007 at 4:23 pmMaybe that’s because Iran was not threatening to build nuclear weapons when Cheney was CEO of Halliburton.
Comment by Manslagt — November 26, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
They have not threatened to build nuclear weapons. Although that is the rhetoric coming from Washington…
November 26th, 2007 at 4:23 pmTroll hijacker: Manslagt
November 26th, 2007 at 4:23 pmCheney’s hypocrisy is still the topic of this thread the last time I looked.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:24 pmNo guys, we want him alive for the hearings after all.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:24 pmThe marine oath is to defend the constitution against foreign and domestic enemies
says nothing about defending the economic system and those that abuse it for monetary gain by subverting laws and dealing with nations that once held americans hostage.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:25 pmI suspect if you took the brains of the average TP poster and converted them to chocolate, you would not be able to fill an M&M.
Comment by Manslagt — November 26, 2007 @ 4:21 pm
This actually creates a very funny mental image. Your insults are a lot more pointed than the commentary you’ve offered thus far.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:27 pmFor more background on the past business dealings of Dick Cheney and Mitt Romney with Iran, see:
November 26th, 2007 at 4:28 pm“Romney, Cheney in Deep with Iran Investments.”
can we impeach him now?
November 26th, 2007 at 4:29 pmManslagt is a small person, pleading for attention. Why would he/she spend valuable time and energy bothering people who don’t believe in the Bush Monarchy as he/she does? Go away and find your King (maybe No. Korea or Saudi Arabia) – just go away quietly and we can forget about this unfortunate occurance of your posting.
The inbred trolls at redstate would love to circle jerk with you. Go away before you make the adults angry.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:30 pm“Hillary Clinton did it!”
The New Bush Apologists’ Blame Clinton Kit, V2 Rev. 2007
November 26th, 2007 at 4:31 pmSo how will then wipe Israel off of the map? Do you think those 3,000 centrifuges are for peaceful purposes?
Comment by Manslagt
What? Are you still here? Don’t you have small animals to torture? Take your incorrect assertions and go…
November 26th, 2007 at 4:40 pmComment by Manslagt: “Faiz is also ignoring the fact that Hillary Clinton supports sanctions on Iran today while her husband vetoed sanctions on Iran when he was president.”
Meaning what, exactly? That Hilary holed some positions which differ from those of her husband? Horrors!
I’m definitely not a Hilary fan but c’mon, get real!
November 26th, 2007 at 4:45 pmI can tell that this one is a mean little troll. The angry and bitter kind that knows his side has lost and is on its way out.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:47 pmComment by Veritas: “Why the hell is this impotent lameduck veep even in the news at this point? He’s totally irrelevant to the US landscape and this country is eclipsing him and his ilk by leaps and bounds.”
Well, he and Charlie McCarthy are still running the country. Doesn’t strike me as all that irrelevant. Ignore these monsters at your peril!
November 26th, 2007 at 4:49 pmThis Just In-
November 26th, 2007 at 4:52 pmCheney Sends Easton to GITMO for re-education, along with “those doctors who diagnosed me with an irregular heartbeat”.
Do you think those 3,000 centrifuges are for peaceful purposes?
Comment by Manslagt
I think we have a word for it. It is called deterence
November 26th, 2007 at 5:02 pmPermanent minority status, Manslagt. Start getting used to the idea.
November 26th, 2007 at 5:05 pmSo how will then wipe Israel off of the map? Do you think those 3,000 centrifuges are for peaceful purposes?
Comment by Manslagt — November 26, 2007 @ 4:36 pm
They might use an eraser, but they’re not planning to do that either and they’ve never threatened to.
November 26th, 2007 at 5:07 pmVeritas: “what exactly does your comment mean? Most of us here have served our country in the military as well. So…..what??â€
Comment by Manslagt: “Now you know that’s not true.”
No, probably not since the draft ended around thirty years ago… but I did and I remember the oath I took and it wasn’t to defend the country’s “system”. It was to defend the country against “all enemies foreign and domestic”. Right now I reckon that the Bush Maladministration is just about the biggest domestic enemy this country has ever had to contend with.
November 26th, 2007 at 5:07 pmI’m certain that the irony in that statement is lost on you.
Comment by Manslagt
Who cares what you think. Again, why are you here? There are places set aside especially for folks like you – please go there.
November 26th, 2007 at 5:09 pmComment by Manslagt: “Faiz is also ignoring the fact that Hillary Clinton supports sanctions on Iran today while her husband vetoed sanctions on Iran when he was president.â€
So your point is that, in the intervening eight years, nothing has changed in the dynamic between the two nations?
Ample demonstration of Stephen Colbert’s dead-on characterization of Bush’s (and conservatism’s) mindset: “He believes the same thing on Thursday that he believed on Tuesday, regardless of what happened on Wednesday.”
November 26th, 2007 at 5:10 pm†That Hilary holed some positions which differ from those of her husband? Horrors!â€
I’m quite certain that Hillary “holed†different positions from her husband.
Ouch! A little Freudian slip there! Anyway, that should have been “held”. And it should have been “Hillary”.
Sleepy now………..
November 26th, 2007 at 5:13 pmHillary Clinton supports sanctions on Iran today while her husband vetoed sanctions on Iran when he was president.
Comment by Manslagt — November 26, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
Earth to troll:
Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton are two different people.
They are married, it’s true, but my wife doesn’t agree with me all the time on every topic. I would suspect the Clintons are no different in that respect. Duh.
November 26th, 2007 at 5:25 pmPull your string, MannySlag – and let’s see which one of the Twelve Different Republican Talking Pointsâ„¢ comes out this time!!
November 26th, 2007 at 6:11 pmSo how will then wipe Israel off of the map? Do you think those 3,000 centrifuges are for peaceful purposes?
Comment by Manslagt — November 26, 2007 @ 4:36 pm
#
No, I don’t. But at the same time, Israel has plenty of nukes as well. I don’t see Iran being much of a threat to them, considering that. Also, if Iran really wants nukes, they can always ask Pakistan for them.
November 26th, 2007 at 6:12 pmMaybe that’s because Iran was not threatening to build nuclear weapons when Cheney was CEO of Halliburton.
Comment by Manslagt
And who says they are threatening to build nuclear weapons today. Iran says they are working on nuclear technology for energy purposes. The IAEA says there is absolutely NO proof that Iran is working on a nuclear weapon. So, how do you know they are building a nuclear weapon? Because Bush says so. You need to lay off the kool-aid RW Loon.
November 26th, 2007 at 8:54 pmCheneys ears are burning hes been taken to hospital as we type with an irregular heartbeat
Comment by Bush Cover Ups
And how many times are you going to post this Under Cover Troll?
November 26th, 2007 at 8:57 pmThis is standard operating procedure for Republicans. Sell the enemy weapons so when you get elected you can be against them and get a bunch of our boys killed with the same weapons. Why should this idiot worry, none of his family members are serving in the military. Also it’s just another way for them to make more money.
November 26th, 2007 at 9:09 pmThat was weak. I spent four years in the Marines and took an oath to defend this country’s system.
Comment by Manslagt — November 26, 2007 @ 4:18 pm
why have you abandoned that oath, then?
November 26th, 2007 at 10:12 pmPut this murderous corrupt bastard in jail where he belongs.
November 27th, 2007 at 8:30 ammanslagt, did you conveniently forget that Clinton cut trade ties to Iran?
http://www.iht.com/articles/1995/05/02/iran.php
The POINT here buddy, is that Cheney cheated Americans as a corporate schmuck by ignoring United States law. What about that do you not get?
The POINT here buddy, is the hypocritical money grubbing dishonesty that SHOULD (if you’re a “do the right thing” kind of human) make your skin crawl, is a person who is willing to bend US law as a corporatist, will sure as hell break US law as Co-President.
The issue isn’t Clinton…it’s not Hillary…it’s big dick cheney…get it right.
November 27th, 2007 at 1:46 pm..oh..and you know, manslagt’s misreading of the intent of this post, is another example of right-wing authoritarians’ low reading comprehension:
http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~altemey/
November 27th, 2007 at 1:51 pmCheney’s a crook? Shocking!
November 27th, 2007 at 5:53 pm