Are there any laws against "War Profiteering" and if so why are they not enforced?

[Toots]

I seem to recall there were laws against "War Profiteering" during WW II but they seem to have gonbe by the wayside since Vietnam.Does anyone know, are they still on the books somewhere and should enforcing them be a priority for Democrats? It sickens me for anyone to profit off the deaths of our children...hell everyone's children...

[illinoisprogressive]

1. Democratic Congress

the problem was a republican congress who did not want to look too close for fear of angering or embarassing Shrub. So, they just let it go on.
This or next week, congress, democratic, will be starting hearings into the profiteering. Then there will be accountability.

[Countdown_3_2_1]

2. If there are such laws, the coprorations have found a way around them.

Corporations don't have lawyers on staff for nothing you know.

I would not expect much of any investigations.

[Robbien]

3. Yes there are laws against war profiteering

No one has been accused of war profiteering so there have been no cases brought to court. No one has been accused because the AG somehow is not recognizing any of the complaints.

Waxman is real kean on following up on this. You could support his efforts by sending him a supporting email.

edit to add link to Waxman's site
http://www.house.gov/waxman/index.htm

[Toots]

4. I was under the impression he was looking for accountability on the handling

of the money but have not heard he was investigaing "War Profiteering". He wants to know what happened to the money (theft, graft etc.) but not whether companies over there were making a higher than normal profit from their labors. How high a profit does it take to be considered War Profiteering? Most companies work on approximately a 25-30% Profit Margin. What percentage does it take to become Profiteering?

[Robbien]

5. Please click through on the link in my last post

The top story on his page is all about war profiteering. Now that he is head of the committee hopefully some movement will get going on accountability.

[Toots]

7. I followed your link

Nowhere in any story on that page was there anything about Profiteering. The fist story was about Inadequate oversight by DOD of Contractors. Waxman is trying to track down where the money is going but no where is there any mention of profiteering. Waxman is focusing on DOD and their lack of oversight. When I see requests for invoices from Corporations and subpoenas for their CEOs to stand before a committee to explain their billings I will be happier.

[The Count]

6. The entire congress needs ro reenact a law with severe punishment

That's how the war will stop.

[Robbien]

8. The current laws on the books are good

Getting bogged down in the process of reenacting laws just delays the process. The process of reenacting laws just goes to committee after committee.

All that is needed is the will of Waxman's committee to enforce the current laws.

[applegrove]

9. If you go into a place like Iraq with the UN, UN procurement laws state

that contracts have to go to locals first. Wouldn't that have been a nice way to keep Iraqis busy in 2003.