Rep. Waxman Asks Administration to Disclose Identities of U.S. Companies that Worked in Iraq:
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In a letter to CIA Director Goss, Rep. Waxman questions why the Administration is concealing the identities of U.S. corporations that did business in Saddam Hussein's Iraq under the U.N. Oil for Food program.

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This week, Charles A. Duelfer, the Chief U.S. weapons inspector in Iraq, issued a report regarding the lack of WMD’s, but ALSO addressed abuses by Saddam Hussein of the U.N. Oil for Food program. The report implicated a number of oil and energy service companies in schemes to assist Saddam in diverting funds away from legitimate humanitarian purposes. It contained a list of all the foreign companies that received vouchers for the purchase of Iraq oil, but the report concealed the identities of U.S. companies. Although it claimed that U.S. corporations had 19 different contracts to procure over 66 million barrels of oil from Iraq, the names of these companies were redacted.

When asked why the Bush Administration concealed the identities of U.S. companies, Mr. Duelfer replied that he had wanted to identify them, but was overruled by the Bush Administration. According to Mr. Duelfer, CIA officials warned him that the "Privacy Act ... prohibits publicly putting out American companies names."

Contrary to what Mr. Duelfer was told, however, the "Privacy Act" does NOT apply to corporations, only individuals.

Press accounts indicate that several major U.S. oil & oil service corporations conducted business in Iraq during the Oil for Food program. For example, EXXON MOBIL and CHEVRON TEXACO, "have received subpoenas from a federal prosecutor regarding the U.N. – run oil-for-food program."

HALLIBURTON was also doing business in Iraq, apparently under the Oil For Food Program, as Halliburton held stakes in two firms that signed contracts to sell more than $73 million in Oil equipment & parts to Iraq while VP Cheney was chairman and CEO. In particular Two subsidiaries: DRESSER-RAND and the INGERSOLL DRESSER PUMP CO.
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