Halliburton moves to Dubai

Pro Street · 03-13-2007, 01:01 PM

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- When Halliburton Co. said it would move its corporate headquarters to Dubai, the nation's biggest oil field service company was acknowledging a major structural shift taking place in the global energy market.

This worries me, if Halliburton moves out of the US, they will be exempt from accountability. I don't feel they shoudl be able to hold US military contracts given the current state of corruption in reconstruction and the investigations of the company.

ballz2wallz · 03-13-2007, 01:04 PM

What makes them any different from other companies we do business with outside the US?

Why should we limit companies from setting up shop where they want? Should we force Microsoft to leave India?

What worries me more is people like you get worried about companies doing what they want. You'd rather have a socialist system. THAT worries me.

I don't know what politicians are so up in arms about. It's like they have Halliburton as their target, and no matter what they do, it's the wrong move, and they'll bitch. Halliburton is the Walmart of government contracts.

Pro Street · 03-13-2007, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

What makes them any different from other companies we do business with outside the US?

Why should we limit companies from setting up shop where they want? Should we force Microsoft to leave India?

What worries me more is people like you get worried about companies doing what they want. You'd rather have a socialist system. THAT worries me.

I don't know what politicians are so up in arms about. It's like they have Halliburton as their target, and no matter what they do, it's the wrong move, and they'll bitch. Halliburton is the Walmart of government contracts.

Because if the primary executorship of the company is outside the US, then it's illegal for the military to contract with them.

ballz2wallz · 03-13-2007, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by Pro Street

Because if the primary executorship of the company is outside the US, then it's illegal for the military to contract with them.

Then that's their business decision, isn't it?

Pro Street · 03-13-2007, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

Then that's their business decision, isn't it?

and you honestly think they're going to lose LOGCAP over the move?

Scrum · 03-13-2007, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by Pro Street

Because if the primary executorship of the company is outside the US, then it's illegal for the military to contract with them.

They paid for their politicians fair and square.

The law will just change for them.

Rouger2 · 03-13-2007, 01:24 PM

What is good for companies in america is not always good for America like companies allowed to kill off the competition and then have no competition. Then they can charge for some things that are absolute necessities what ever they want untill the public yells enough is enough. They will moderate for awhile, but of course you cannot regulate them that is socialism. Capitalism requires real competition as a absolute must. We can tell Halliburton what to do. Companies to survive only think of themselves yet government must think of what is best for all of us. We allow them to give money to politicians that is like letting football teams give money to the referees during games.

Pro Street · 03-13-2007, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by Rouger2

What is good for companies in america is not always good for America like companies allowed to kill off the competition and then have no competition. Then they can charge for some things that are absolute necessities what ever they want untill the public yells enough is enough. They will moderate for awhile, but of course you cannot regulate them that is socialism. Capitalism requires real competition as a absolute must. We can tell Halliburton what to do. Companies to survive only think of themselves yet government must think of what is best for all of us. We allow them to give money to politicians that is like letting football teams give money to the umpires during games.

this is much different, Halliburton is a contractor of the US Government, Congress has the authority to tell them what to do in a sense, just like any General Contractor has the right to tell subcontractors what to do, and also to fire them.

In addition, Congress has the right to see if money has been squandered (a so far it's been proven to be) and also to assess itself (Congress and the Executive) to see if there were any conflicts of interest in setting these contracts.

I understand your point about free markets and capitalism, however this is contract work.

Roonie · 03-13-2007, 01:36 PM

Also Halliburton won a bunch of no-bid contracts worth multi-billions of dollars. If we are going to be giving out no-bid contracts it should be given to US run operations to support our own economy and personnel.

t r u t h o u t - Halliburton's No-Bid Iraq Contract Worth Multi-Billions

Halliburton, the company formerly headed by Vice President Cheney, has won contracts worth more than $1.7 billion under Operation Iraqi Freedom and stands to make hundreds of millions more dollars under a no-bid contract awarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, according to newly available documents.

lew · 03-13-2007, 01:37 PM

I support free market capitalism obviously, but Halliburton doesn't fall under the category of "free market capitalism." It falls more closely under "fascism" being that it is a corporation that has so much influence from and over the government.

Though I do not have problems with corporations relocating to other countries, I do have a problem with a corporation with such close ties to our own government doing it. I also find it ironic that, once again, the Republican elites that are so zealous about protecting us from terrorism that they invade Iraq, torture people with hardly any evidence, suspend civil liberties, etc; yet, with the same breath, do not secure our borders, try to have our ports run by Islamic Dubai, and now have one of the biggest Defense Contractors move to Dubai.

Pro Street · 03-13-2007, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by Roonie

Also Halliburton won a bunch of no-bid contracts worth multi-billions of dollars. If we are going to be giving out no-bid contracts it should be given to US run operations to support our own economy and personnel.

t r u t h o u t - Halliburton's No-Bid Iraq Contract Worth Multi-Billions

Halliburton, the company formerly headed by Vice President Cheney, has won contracts worth more than $1.7 billion under Operation Iraqi Freedom and stands to make hundreds of millions more dollars under a no-bid contract awarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, according to newly available documents.

That's LOGCAP and legit though, the no-bid was placed in 1996.

ballz2wallz · 03-13-2007, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by Pro Street

and you honestly think they're going to lose LOGCAP over the move?

I'm not exactly sure what you have issues with then

thomez · 03-13-2007, 01:46 PM

Dubai hopes that a lot of companies move headquarters there or setup shop there, they are trying to start up a new stock market there etc that is in the process of getting off its feet now. Don't be surprised to see many companies put a headquarters there, it is a great place to be right now.

ballz2wallz · 03-13-2007, 01:47 PM

Before one starts criticizing Halliburton for 'no-bid contracts' we should look at the total number of no-bid contracts given out the government. Who's to blame for these contracts? Is there blame to be placed? Are they wrong?

I doubt you can blame Halliburton for these questions, but many try.

I can't blame them for leaving the states, I'd probably do the same thing. A big 'fuck you' to all those that criticize them.

ballz2wallz · 03-13-2007, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by thomez

Dubai hopes that a lot of companies move headquarters there or setup shop there, they are trying to start up a new stock market there etc that is in the process of getting off its feet now. Don't be surprised to see many companies put a headquarters there, it is a great place to be right now.

Quoted for troof.

Pro Street · 03-13-2007, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by thomez

Dubai hopes that a lot of companies move headquarters there or setup shop there, they are trying to start up a new stock market there etc that is in the process of getting off its feet now. Don't be surprised to see many companies put a headquarters there, it is a great place to be right now.

ok, that's fine.

however this should not apply to companies under a military contract.

there is a reason only domestic companies can have them to begin with.

ballz2wallz · 03-13-2007, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by Pro Street

ok, that's fine.

however this should not apply to companies under a military contract.

there is a reason only domestic companies can have them to begin with.

Looks like we're gonna find someone else then.

Roonie · 03-13-2007, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by Pro Street

That's LOGCAP and legit though, the no-bid was placed in 1996.

I agree it is all legit..... but if they move out of the USA we should take away the no-bid contracts. Just my .02 cents

ballz2wallz · 03-13-2007, 01:52 PM

Out of curiosity, if they move their HQ to Dubai, are they no longer and American company? Why can't US companies have offices overseas?

Pro Street · 03-13-2007, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

Out of curiosity, if they move their HQ to Dubai, are they no longer and American company? Why can't US companies have offices overseas?

exactly the problem.

they can still consider themselves an american company, but no longer be held for the majority of tax dollars since the executor is overseas.

in addition, they can get out of being accountable for a lot of what they do.

add that on top of the ability to launder and manipulate the money from the UAE and outside the US and it becomes a problem. You now have a no-bid contractor that is extremely shady and shown to be corrupt exempt from a large amount of Congressional oversight.

sounds great.