Army Documents Related to Halliburton Subsidiary’s No-Bid Iraq Contract

Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR), a subsidiary of Halliburton, won a not to exceed $7 billion, sole-source contract to provide services to Iraq. Vice President Cheney was Halliburton’s CEO from 1995 to 2000, and questions arose about his involvement in how KBR could receive such a significant contract without going through the competitive bid process. In April 2003, using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Judicial Watch sought information regarding how contracts relating to the Iraq War and Iraqi’s oil fields were being awarded and filed a lawsuit against the Department of the Army on February 25, 2004.

Through the request and lawsuit, Judicial Watch obtained an email that shows possible involvement of Cheney in the awarding of the contract. The March 5, 2003, e-mail titled “RIO [Restore Iraqi Oil] Status Update” says that a Pentagon official arranged for the contract for KBR “contingent on informing” the White House. It said “We anticipate no issue; since action has been coordinated w VP’s office.”

Judicial Watch has also obtained and released an Army memo dated February 28, 2003, titled “Justification and Approval for Other than Full and Open Competition for the Execution of the Contingency Support Plan.” Click here to read the document.