Friday 26th of April 2024

VP business development .....

VP business development .....

‘Cheney's inability to tap Iran's resources has long been a source of frustration. During the administration of Gerald Ford, Cheney pushed a reluctant Ford to sell Tehran Westinghouse technology that would have allowed Iran to reprocess plutonium and obtain uranium for a nuclear energy programme. The deal foundered in 1979 under the Carter administration, when the Shah was overthrown.

Cheney's appetite for doing business in Iran reawakened when he assumed the leadership of the oil services giant Halliburton in 1995. Cheney took the lead through a trade association called USA Engage to oppose US sanctions levied against Iran. In a 1998 speech to the Cato Institute, he lamented that American firms prohibited from dealing with Iran were "cut out of the action".

Not content to follow the rules and lose the market, Cheney led Halliburton in a questionable effort to circumvent sanctions. In 2000, while still CEO, a Halliburton subsidiary registered in the Cayman Islands opened an office in Tehran. Four years later, a 60 Minutes report revealed that the Cayman office was nothing but a letter-drop without employees, a subterfuge to escape the sanctions regime.

Now, once again, the US is being cut out of the action. The rest of the world seems to be ignoring the administration's pleas to isolate Tehran. Europe-based multinational companies are exploring business deals. Middle Eastern countries are bullish about trading opportunities. Russia is developing a billion-dollar pipeline with Iran. Austria is investing in Iranian gas fields. And for Dick Cheney, being vice president means never having to be frustrated again.’

All About Oil

Batteries not included?

From the ABC

Cheney gets new pacemaker as battery fails

The office of US Vice-President Dick Cheney says he will undergo an operation to replace his heart pacemaker, due to an expiring battery.

Mr Cheney, who has a history of severe heart problems, will see doctors at George Washington University Hospital on Saturday morning (local time) to replace the pacemaker implanted to help monitor and maintain his heartbeat, according to a statement from his spokesperson.

During his annual physical examination in June, Mr Cheney's doctors found that the pacemaker's battery was worn down and needed replacing.

His office said the operation will require only "a small incision and no anesthesia", but Mr Cheney will be sedated during the procedure.

During the June check-up doctors said that otherwise the pacemaker was functioning properly and that Mr Cheney showed no evidence of new coronary blockage.

Mr Cheney, 66, had his fourth heart attack in 2000, the year he and US President George W Bush won the White House.

He underwent an angioplasty weeks after being sworn in as vice-president in 2001.

In September 2005 he had an operation for blood clots behind each of his knees, and in January 2006 he was hospitalised for shortness of breath.

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Gus: This 66 year old man look as old as if 75 going on 82... One would think that old age would bring wisdom but sometimes nature makes unfortunate random exception. May the surgeons find and repair the true heart he keeps hidden from the public and remove his cystical desire to bomb sumpthin'...

options ....

I was thinking colonoscopy Gus .... or frontal labotomy maybe?

Modern medicine...

Modern medicine — the sword of Damocles and the dilemma of decent humanity... by allowing the most diabolical as well as the most precious amongst us to survive beyond their godly time.

Yes John, could colonoscopy of the brain be perfect for the VP...?

VP is talking BS

Cheney insists Iraq surge working

Mr Cheney said the insurgency had been stronger than he expected

US Vice-President Dick Cheney has insisted that the recent increase of US troops in Iraq, or "surge", has improved security there.

In an interview with CNN, Mr Cheney said he believed a report on the US-led crackdown, due in September, would reveal significant progress.

Official figures showed 74 American service members died in Iraq in July, the lowest figure since late last year.

US troop numbers have been boosted by 30,000 since the start of the year.

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Gus: The VP is talking BS... And the BBC is not accurate:

The official figure of US soldiers dead in July 2007 is 81 

In March 2007 it was 81...  In February 2007 it was 81... In November 2006 it was 70

In July 2006 it was 43... just a fraction more than half of those killed in July 2007...

In December 2006 it was 106...  In April 2007 it was 104...

In May 2007 it was 126... In June 2007 It was 101...

Every year since the beginning of the war in Iraq, the number of US soldiers killed there is going up and down month by month with a MAJOR TREND towards more dead and more injured despite the ups and downs. 

The VP is talking BS... especially considering the troops are more and more alert to danger and also protected with the most advanced armour for soldiers, trucks and tanks...  

Only the next six months can telll us if the TREND is really going down...