F A C I N G S O U T H A progressive Southern news report June 30, 2004 * Issue 82 _____ INSTITUTE INDEX * Iraq: Loot and Run Amount of U.S. money allotted for "reconstruction" project in Iraq, in billions: $18.6 Number of projects promised in Iraq: 2,300 Number of projects actually underway: 140 Percent of "reconstruction" money spent to date that has gone to security: 25 Amount taken from drinking water projects to pay for U.S. Embassy in Iraq, in millions: $184 Amount "wasted" due to overcharges in Iraq contracts, according to a recent Congressional report, in billions: $1 Value of Iraq oil revenues that are "missing," in billions: $20 Cost of trucks Halliburton Co. instructed drivers to abandon if they got a flat tire: $85,000 Amount spent to house 100 Halliburton employees in five-star hotel in Iraq for three months in Iraq, in millions: $1 Amount spent on housing 400 soldiers in Iraq in tents for one year: $200,000 Sources on file at the Institute for Southern Studies. _____ DATELINE: THE SOUTH * Top Stories Around the Region "FAHRENHEIT 9/11" A BIG HIT IN N.C. MILITARY TOWN Michael Moore's left-sided documentary criticizing the Bush administration's war on terrorism, "Fahrenheit 9/11," sold out two showings its first night last Friday in the military town of Fayetteville, N.C., home of Fort Bragg. Nearly 1,000 more tickets sold over the weekend -- as many as 75% from military families, according to the theater showing the film. (Fayetteville Observer, 6/29) http://www.fayettevillenc.com/story.php?Template=local&Story=6429101
HALLIBURTON CHARGED WITH INFLATING WAR COSTS Houston-based Halliburton Co. paid high-priced bills for common items, such as soda, laundry and hotels, in Iraq and Kuwait and then passed the inflated costs along to taxpayers, according to several former Halliburton employees and a Pentagon internal audit. (Knight Ridder, 6/15) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2001956410_halliburton15.html TAXPAYERS SUBSIDIZING WAL-MART GROWTH State and local governments have given Arkansas-based Wal-Mart -- the biggest retail employer in the world -- over $1 billion in taxpayer-funded give-aways. Over 90% of the company's retail and distribution centers have received such incentives as free or reduced-priced land, tax breaks, and employee recruitment and training grants. (Joplin Globe, 6/13) http://www.joplinglobe.com/story.php?story_id=116727&c=87 ADVOCATES SAY FLORIDA "FELON" LIST RIDDLED WITH ERRORS The state of Florida has released a list of over 48,000 supposed ex-felons -- disproportionately African-American -- who are to be barred from voting in November. But an independent voting rights group -- which had to sue to make the list public -- says that as many as 25,000 may be wrongfully on the list, having been granted clemency or pardons. (Miami Herald, 6/29 -- reg. req'd) http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/politics/9034893.htm?1c YOUNGER FLORIDA CUBANS CHALLENGE OLDER HARD-LINERS A growing number of Cuban-Americans reject the hard-line perspective that has dominated Cuban policy in Miami and Washington for more than four decades. Younger Cuban-Americans are joining more-recent arrivals and former hard-liners who have undergone changes of heart in moderating the political dialogue in Miami, and opposing recent Bush Administration measures that further isolate the country. (Orlando Sentinel, 6/21) http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/nation/8975398.htm TEXAS NATIVE WINS GREEN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION Texas attorney and former chair of the Texas Green Party won the Green Party nomination for president at their nominating convention last weekend. Cobb says the Party's strategy is twofold: beat Bush, and build the Greens. (Fox News, 6/29) http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,124073,00.html -------------------------------------------------------------- Please Note: Due to Florida's very broad public records law, most written communications to or from College employees regarding College business are public records, available to the public and media upon request. Therefore, this e-mail communication may be subject to public disclosure.
