Halliburton Adds Headquarters, CEO to Dubai
“Halliburton, the big energy services company, said on Sunday that it would open a corporate headquarters in the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai and move its chairman and chief executive, David J. Lesar, there. The company will maintain its existing corporate office here as well as its legal incorporation in the United States, meaning that it will still be subject to domestic laws and regulations.” (The New York Times)
Padilla Interrogation Video Missing
“A videotape showing Pentagon officials’ final interrogation of Al Qaeda suspect Jose Padilla is missing, raising questions about whether federal prosecutors have lost other recordings and evidence in the case. The tape is classified, but Padilla’s lawyers said they believe something happened during that interrogation that could explain why Padilla does not trust them and suspects they are government agents.” (Associated Press)
No Guilty Plea For DC Madam
“A former escort service owner who has threatened to sell a list of 15,000 phone numbers from her client list to help her defense pleaded not guilty Friday to racketeering. Deborah Jean Palfrey, 50, of Vallejo, Calif., entered the plea in U.S. District Court. She was released but ordered to wear an electronic monitoring device.” (Associated Press)
Critics Note Privatization of Walter Reed
“The scandal over treatment of outpatients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center has focused attention on the Army’s decision to privatize the facilities-support workforce at the hospital, a move commanders say left the building maintenance crew understaffed. Some Democratic lawmakers have questioned the decision to hire IAP Worldwide Services, a contractor with connections to the Bush administration and to KBR, a Halliburton subsidiary.” (The Washington Post)
Despite Open Laws, State Government Often Closed
“Though laws in every state say government records and meetings must be open to all, reality often falls far short: Laws are sporadically enforced, penalties for failure to comply are mild and violators almost always walk away with nothing more than a reprimand, an Associated Press survey of all 50 states has found. Even in the handful of states that monitor such cases, when citizens appeal over lack of access to information, the government usually wins — and keeps public business secret.” (Associated Press)
Lawmakers Push to Protect Anonymous Sources
“House lawmakers, spurred by recent high-profile cases, plan to reintroduce a bipartisan measure that would allow reporters to protect the identities of confidential sources. Efforts to create a federal shield law failed last session, but supporters say the new Democrat-controlled Congress is likely to renew the push, setting up a battle with the Bush administration, which opposes the legislation.” (Gannett News Service)
Labor Dept. Sought Cut in Aid For Sick Nuclear Workers
“Federal officials secretly schemed to limit payouts for sick and dying nuclear weapons workers, including thousands from the Rocky Flats plant outside Denver, newly released documents show. The officials responsible for helping those workers went behind their boss’s back, called on White House officials for help and tried to hide their efforts, according to internal e-mails and memos obtained by a congressional committee and posted on its Web site.” (Rocky Mountain News)
