Cheney, the GAO, and Iraq

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Remember Dick Cheney wouldn’t turn over some papers to the GAO? Soon after taking office, the President had Cheney chair a National Energy Policy Development Group, which came out with its report in May of last year. After Enron imploded, it surfaced that its officers had met with Cheney and his commission. So, the GAO wanted to know who Cheney met with and what they talked about.

Since then, Cheney has refused to turn over any information. The White House hasn’t exercised executive privilege and has told the GAO to go get a subpoena if they’re serious. Of course, they can’t do that without the approval of the Republican-controlled House. The end-result: Comptroller General David Walker has taken Cheney to federal court, and according to the New York Times, the case was argued yesterday before a Bush appointee.

So what does this have to do with anything? Well, it occurred to me that maybe the reason Cheney and the gang are so adamant about keeping the meeting records to themselves has nothing to do with Enron. Instead, it might have to do with the war. The commission’s report made recommendations for U.S. foreign policy such as, “The NEPD Group recommends that the President make energy security a priority of our trade and foreign policy.” Here’s some more from the Cheney report:

By 2020, Gulf oil producers are projected to supply between 54 and 67 percent of the world’s oil. Thus, the global economy will almost certainly continue to depend on the supply of oil from Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) members, particularly in the Gulf. This region will remain vital to U.S. interests. … By any estimation, Middle East oil producers will remain central to world oil security. The Gulf will be a primary focus of U.S.international energy policy, but our engagement will be global, spotlighting existing and emerging regions that will have a major impact on the global energy balance.

Existing and emerging regions? Can anyone say Iraq?

Sep 28, 2002 | Comments

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