Halliburton to Move Headquarters, CEO...

**Theophylact** · March 12th, 2007, 12:53 PM

...to Dubai.

U.S. oil services firm Halliburton Co. is moving its headquarters and chief executive to Dubai in a move that immediately sparked criticism from some U.S. politicians.

Texas-based Halliburton, which was led by Vice President Dick Cheney from 1995-2000, did not specify what, if any, tax implications the move might entail. It plans to list on a Middle East bourse once it moves to Dubai -- a booming commercial center in the Gulf. The company said it was making the moves to position itself better to gain contracts in the oil-rich Middle East.

"This is an insult to the U.S. soldiers and taxpayers who paid the tab for their no-bid contracts and endured their overcharges for all these years,'' said judiciary committee chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat.
Rep. Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, might hold a hearing on the implications, an aide to Waxman said.

Halliburton has drawn scrutiny from auditors, congressional Democrats and the Justice Department for the quality and pricing of its KBR Inc. unit's work for the U.S. army in Iraq.

"My office will be in Dubai, and I will run our entire worldwide operations from that office,'' Chief Executive David Lesar said at an energy conference in Bahrain on Sunday. "Dubai is a great business center.''

And does it have an extradition treaty with the US?

**Pexster** · March 12th, 2007, 12:56 PM

Maybe they can assist in running their port(s)?

**MTAtech** · March 12th, 2007, 02:26 PM

According to this Communist rag, Forbes, Haliburton will be able to sell items banned by the U.S. to America's enemies, like Iran, by operating out of Dubai.

**Chuckiechan** · March 12th, 2007, 04:10 PM

Well, they definitely don't feel too welcome here in the USA. They are treated like an enemy anyway, so why should they stay here and pay an extra 100m a year in taxes when most of their business is overseas? Combine this with the attitude people take toward them, give me one good reason to stay here?

The are, after all a oil field services and support company and we don't drill here. The action is in Asia and the middle east. If I was the CEO I'd have been gone a long time ago!

The press release:

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?se...cal&id=5111617

**Theophylact** · March 12th, 2007, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckiechan

give me one good reason to stay here?

Uhh, because they're scarfing up no-bid Federal contract money like it was going out of style? Just sayin'.

**Chuckiechan** · March 12th, 2007, 04:33 PM

Well that won't be a problem when they're gone.

Seriously, why would an oil drilling support company be in the USA anyway?

I don't think it's a big deal other than another loss of jobs overseas.

**MTAtech** · March 12th, 2007, 06:33 PM

Chuck, you just proved what we always suspected about HAL. They have no loyalty to America and are care about money over the national interest.

**chipbgt** · March 12th, 2007, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by Theophylact

Uhh, because they're scarfing up no-bid Federal contract money like it was going out of style? Just sayin'.

You act like no contract bids were something the bush administration created...

**Chuckiechan** · March 12th, 2007, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by MTA

They have no loyalty to America and are care about money over the national interest.

You would sooner have the bubonic plague in America than Halliburton!

Spare me the alligator tears.

**SiliconJon** · March 23rd, 2007, 05:38 PM

You got a ticket out of the country maturing after you reap what you can from your buddies somewhere in office?

**SiliconJon** · March 23rd, 2007, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by chipbgt

You act like no contract bids were something the bush administration created...

And that makes them OK?

**Epidemic** · March 26th, 2007, 10:43 AM

No bid contracts are ok!!! absolutely!!!

but they should only be a stop gap while bid contracts go on in the background.

**Chuckiechan** · March 29th, 2007, 10:04 PM

Actually, they are useful in wartime. I mean really, can you see a public bid offer for infrastructure and troop support prior to the Iraq war - for a company to go in after a war that hasn't happened yet?

Request for Bids:
Location: Iraq
Type of work requested: Repair and replace war damaged infrastructure.
Scope of work? I dunno no.
Start date? We'll let you know, but be ready
Suppose there is no war and we are ready? We'll pay you.
How much? I dunno - no scope of work.
Why no scope of work? We don't know what will be blown up.
When is the bid due? 6o days
How long must the price be good? I dunno.
Why? We don't know when the war is going to start.

Ok. Call me when you get your act together!