Gitmo Grows and Halliburton Gains

The Pentagon released a "presolicitation notice" for a $125 million contract to expand the Guantanamo Bay detention facility (Gitmo) again (AP, 11/17/06.) Apparently they were waiting for the passage of the Military Commissions Act which removed habeas corpus, allowed torture, the admission of secret evidence, and legalized the extra-judicial courts for enemy combatants. However, Gitmo has been growing ever since the delivery of prisoners from Afghanistan in 2002. Halliburton has received most of the construction contracts, so they are likely in prime position for this one as well.

Halliburton has received at least $196.5 million.

$9.7 million to build the initial cell structure in 2002.

$7.8 million to add a permanent death row facility with an execution chamber in 2003. Interestingly, the contract stipulates that the total bill "must not exceed $300 million." Now that's a cost overrun provision.

$24 million for a 200 bed medium security prison in 2004.

$30 million to expand the facility another 220 beds in 2005

$125 million detentions and "courts" facility.

It doesn't look like Gitmo is going away any time soon.

Other Items of Interest
Guantanamo Bay "GITMO". Global Security's historical overview of Gitmo.

$385 million for detention facilities in the US for Homeland Security - Immigration and Customs Enforcement

1/24/06 Business Wire, KBR Awarded US Department of Homeland Security Contingency Support Project for Emergency Support Services

8/04/02 CBS News, Halliburton Unit Got Exclusive Military Bid. Halliburton received a decade long exclusive contract for troop support for both the Navy and the Army.

Posted by rowan at November 19, 2006 6:45 AM | [eMail this article!] |