Current Events, Political

Dhimmitude or hearings?

From Reuters: Halliburton to move headquarters, CEO to Dubai

MANAMA/HOUSTON, March 11 (Reuters) – U.S. oil services firm Halliburton Co. (HAL.N: Quote, Profile , Research) 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 centre 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. (KBR.N: Quote, Profile , Research) 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 centre.”…

Let’s see: Democrats in charge, hearings looming, indictments coming, Bush and Cheney falling from power. The rats are abandoning a sinking ship.

Hopefully Mr. Lesar stays clear of the law in Dubai, or at least keeps his lawbreaking to criminal, civil, and commercial matters as those are handled by secular courts. In family matters the Emirate’s Islamic courts rule, and all persons resident in Dubai are subject to Sharia law in family matters. If a Muslim brings a case against Mr. Lesar he will be relegated to the status of a dhimmi.