a train wreck

We need a break but we can't stop looking.

US firm banned in conflict row

Accountancy firm Ernst & Young, No. 2 in Australia, was scrambling yesterday to assess the impact of another conflict-of-interest scandal involving its US parent.

Ernst & Young in the US was barred from accepting new corporate clients for six months for failing to maintain its independence from a company whose books it audited.

It was the first time the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had sought the suspension of a major accounting firm since 1975. Judge Brenda Murray also fined the firm $US1.7 million ($2.3 million), saying it "has an utter disdain" for SEC regulations.

Meanwhile, just a few weeks ago....

Ernst & Young wins Iraq contract

Big Four firm Ernst & Young has won a contract with Iraq's ruling Coalition Provisional Authority to help trace the country's loan contracts and reconcile who is owed money from its estimated $120bn (£66bn) debts.

We forgot conflict of interests from our list yesterday.

peace is a good thing

One Year

The Blogiston Post will be taking a break for a few weeks. We just can't take it anymore. The self dealing, greed and corruption of the current US White House administration is too much. We will continue to collect articles and references to contracts but we need a break.

Please vote for anyone but George W. Bush and Richard Cheney in November 2004.

Thank you.

how sweet

A few days old, but definitely worth the read.

Ages and ages ago we told you how Undersecretary of Defense Doug Feith ran the office charged with doling out Iraqi reconstruction contracts. And we told you how Feith's law partner, Marc Zell -- amazingly contravening the law of averages -- had happened to set up a special lobbying shop to lobby for companies looking for sweet Iraq contracts.

blog to read

Blogger Chris Lehman has posted "a note my friend Scott sent to his wife the day after the four contractors were killed in Fallujah". Go read and then consider writing a letter to your Senator.