Reply #34: Independent Counsel

[CorpGovActivist]

Just a quick update. (I apologize in advance for not being able to respond to everyone personally.)

At least two major media outlets are now doing their fact-checking for a more in-depth look at this story. I have received notice from others associated with the story that they have been contacted to confirm their role. If/when something runs, I'll be sure to post notice here.

Meanwhile, here's a synopsis of the coverage so far: http://www.google.com/search?q=halliburton+nigeria+probe+OR+investigate+OR+investigation+%22david+a.+smith%22&hl=en&lr=&as_qdr=all&filter=0

(If that long URL doesn't work, I'll try to fix it.)

How can you help?

1. Call your local radio station (e.g., NPR), newspaper, and/or television station. Tell them you have something you'd like to fax/e-mail to their newsroom. The SEC filing and letter to Capitol Hill lawmakers are located here:

* SEC filing: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/45012/000126947606000004/0001269476-06-000004-index.htm

* Letter to Capitol Hill lawmakers: http://www.shareholdersonline.org/pdf/092006senateinvestigationrequest.pdf

2. Call your local Member of Congress and your state's United States Senator (regardless of party affiliation), and demand an investigation:

* House: http://www.house.gov
* Senate: http://www.senate.gov

3. Call your local progressive candidate for Federal office (regardless of party affiliation - after all, some of those mavericks, moderates, and "RHINOs" are going to be key in breaking down the stonewall), and provide them the materials.

Public policy and politics are not spectator sports - they're meant to be participatory. The Founders used Committees of Correspondence to organize and coordinate - but they didn't just read each other's letters; they acted on the shared intelligence. If they were alive today, we'd have Thomas Paine and Benjamin Franklin blogging about Bunker Hill (with embedded photos of the "whites of their eyes").

We've got better tools than the Founding Mothers and Fathers - so we should be more effective against tyrannical Georges, right?

; )

Finally, for those who aren't familiar with how to find pending Federal requests for proposals, or Federal contract awards, check out this site: http://www.fedbizopps.gov/

1. In the upper left-hand corner, click on "Find Business Opportunities".

2. Click the "Both" radio button under "Documents to Search".

3. In the Full Text Search box, type any search string you like (e.g., Halliburton, KBR, Kellogg, Landmark Graphics, Dresser, etc.).

4. For more limited searches, you can use the narrowing functions further down the page to restrict your search to contract "Awards," or to limit your search to only one particular agency (e.g., DoD).

Among the currently-pending solicitations is a "Sources Sought" notice - seeking a firm capable of performing a "special audit" of the settlement between KBR and the U.S. Government: http://www.fbo.gov/servlet/Documents/R/1445399

Best to all, and I'll continue to post updates here and on my websites (the placeholders up now will soon be replaced; anyone with graphics know-how, please contact me):

* HALwhistleblowers.org
* BushBunglesBrigade.org

Cheers!

- David A. Smith ("Dave")
(not to be confused with David R. Smith, VP of Tax at Halliburton)