The Current Online

by Clayton Sedler

Unseen by the naked eye, a battle wages. A co-evolutionary struggle for survival has been taking place since the inception of the human race. Some might speculate that human-kind’s greatest foe is itself; however, under the view of a microscope, we see that our greatest adversary. It takes residence on our skin, hair and even the food we eat, and can invade the body via many facets. No one is safe.

Some don’t think about them and some are deathly afraid of them, but bacteria come in many forms. Comparable to your next door neighbor, they could be your best friend or your worst enemy. Some bacteria are helpful, and others are very destructive.

Helpful bacteria live in our guts and help with food digestion, while others live on hands and fight bad bacteria that can cause infection, sickness, on occasion death, and can even be powerful enough to dissolve skin and body cells.

During the 1960′s surgeon general William H. Stewart announced that the war on deadly diseases had been won. Diseases such as smallpox, rheumatic fever and polio had been conquered and it was time, he said, to focus more energy on ailments such as cancer and heart disease.

But now, as time goes on, resurgences of tuberculosis and other infectious bacteria have not gone unnoticed. Some 90 percent of people diagnosed with tuberculosis are treated and cured, but roughly 10 percent of people afflicted do not survive the drug-resistant TB. In the Journal of the American Medical Association, Robert W. Pinner, M.D., writes that infectious disease is now the third leading cause of death world wide, and that death from infectious diseases rose 22 percent from 1980 to 1992.

Before the birth of the first antibiotic, penicillin, the human body was forced to fight off infection via antibodies created in the immune system. Now some 160 antibiotics are used in the U.S. to ward off these infectious bugs. One should question, then: if these harmful little boogers have been conquered, why do some people succumb to such horrendous infections? One good example is Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets and various other forms of entertainment for kids.

Henson died of an upper respiratory infection caused by an invasive form of streptococcus (strep.) A that did not respond to any known antibiotics. This mutated form of strep. A has been found to also devour flesh and muscle tissue in some cases, with no known cure other than amputation.

The rise of deadly mutating bugs can be almost directly attributed to misuse of antibiotics and other anti-bacterial agents according to Fortune. Gene Fenster, instructor of biology at Longview, believes that due to the abuse of antibiotics, a potential health threat has arisen and is becoming more of a reality since the noticeable increase of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Probably the most common form of misuse is when a patient prescribed antibiotics does not ingest the full amount of medicine because the symptoms of sickness recede. The bacteria living inside the patient’s body then are not fully destroyed, and the strongest, most resistant bacteria mutate and live on to pass their genes to further generations, spreading to other people, transforming regular bacteria into a more powerful form. The answer then is to find a stronger antibiotic, furthering the problem of creating stronger, super bacteria.

The American Academy of Pediatrics Centers for Disease Control states that two main types of germs cause infection-bacteria and viruses. Most coughs, cause infection-bacteria and viruses. Most coughs, colds and sore throats are caused by viruses. A virus must run its course in order for the body to fight the infection, and antibiotics have no affect on viral infections.

A large misconception held by many is that antibiotics are a cure-all for any infection. This is not true, Ronald Janssen, D.O., of Parkway Family Care in Lee’s Summit, says, “If a parent demands an antibiotic prescription for their child, for a sickness that is viral, and doesn’t get one, they will more than likely go down the street till they find a doctor that will prescribe one.”

If misuse does occur, the end result could be that the bacteria harbored within the body become resistant to antibiotics, and then multiply, spreading to the rest of the human populace, meta-morphing into super bacteria over time.

A few years after penicillin was first introduced, scientists found the first few strains of penicillin-resistant staphylococcus. Now some strains of staph. have a mortality rate of 70 percent and are resistant to every antibiotic but one. This last form of defense, known as vancomycin, are some patients’ only form of help against a deadly infection. However, the question must be pondered-what happens when bacteria are finally able to curtail this super antibiotic and overcome us, can medical science keep up, or will time run out? Along with misuse of prescription antibiotics, anti-bacterial soaps and antibiotics force-fed to cattle and chickens for human consumption worsen the problem. If medical science cannot keep up-scenes from a cheesy sci-fi movie fill the imagination. A plague of unimaginable proportions comes to mind, worse than the bubonic plague, because our societies are more closely knit than those of several hundred years ago, and transportation has made leaps and bounds-a greater plague for a smaller world.

by Clayton Sedler

Whether it is a sport compact, domestic hot rod, old classic, truck or SUV, most guys admire cars. Big trucks with monster wheels or speedsters barreling down the quarter-mile grudging it out for the best time are what we dig.

If you take pride in your ride and want to trick it out, but lack time under the wrench and understandings of engine mechanics that give your ride the personal touch, then you need to listen up. You want a ride that stands up to the taunts at the red light. Here’s how to start to give your ride that extra punch power you so desire.

Be forewarned that performance upgrades can be very costly, but if you plan on saving your ride in the garage and have some cash to blow, the quarter-mile track awaits you. Nowadays, every new car is fuel-injected, but if your car predates 1987 and comes equipped with a carburetor for its fuel intake, then some these things will not apply to your ride.

Before taking on any project involving your vehicle, the purchase and study of a repair manual is essential, make it your bible. Also borrow as many tools from your Dad and neighbors as possible. Once you have a grasp of the material in the manual always follow all safety procedures recommended by the manufacturer of your vehicle and the manual.

The first thing to consider is increasing the airflow to your motor internal combustion system. An increased flow of oxygen allows the motor to burn more fuel and create more tire to pavement power. To start, get rid of that factory air filter and replace it with a K&N air filter. This unit filters more air faster than the previous stock version.

To really begin uncorking the bottle, you must first upgrade the exhaust system. Flow Master Mufflers are usually gear-head exhaust of choice, and if you want to go all out, you could purchase a high-flow catalytic converter, which will allow even more air flow and still remain within transportation and environmental laws. Hire a professional for exhaust work because it will require a skilled welding job and is not recommended for a novice, unless you enjoy singed body parts.

While upgrading the exhaust, it would be a good idea and a cost savings in labor to remove the exhaust manifold and replace it with headers. The exhaust manifold is what connects the motor to the exhaust system and headers will make a nice horsepower addition to your manufactured stock motor. These minor upgrades could run between $1,500 – $2,500 depending on the vehicle and how much a mechanic will charge for labor. However, these upgrades can increase the rubber to cement punch power by roughly 30 – 70 horsepower.

To continue to elevate a car’s performance on the race-track, the following step should probably include the purchase of a cold air induction kit, or ram air injection, but if the ride is not fuel injected, a carburetor upgrade is what the motor needs. This next step can increase rear end power from 25 to 60 H.P. depending on how far your pocket book will open, this upgrade can run from $250 up to about $2,000. For a fuel injected model, a new throttle body is key because it directly controls the levels of air flow into the motor, whereas in early model cars the carburetor performs both functions of the throttle body and air induction systems.

If still wanting to continue to chuck away money, an ignition upgrade should be your next step. An ignition upgrade will provide extra spark within the internal combustion system allowing the motor to run more efficiently, cleaner and create more power. New spark plugs, plug wires, cap and rotor are usually a good idea even if not building a hot-rod. If the desire is that thundering street machine, M.S.D. makes some of the best ignition upgrades available and is used by professionals on the racetrack everywhere.

If a supercharged beast is the heart’s only desire, then go all out and buy a new distributor and M.S.D. ignition control box. The M.S.D. box can be described as the supercharger to you ignition upgrades. Without it you will not be able to take full advantage of the car’s capabilities. If the plan is to take that baby to the track during the summer and spend all day in the 100-degree temperatures, then a new starter will be a great idea because the high temps can cause motor stall. A starter is what provides the initial charge of spark to the internal components of the motor forcing it to start. Scorching temps causing combustion problems or over-heating can usually be avoided by replacing that factory starter.

The novice can usually upgrade ignitions as long as proper research is done prior to surgery and access to the right tools. These enhancement parts are costly, but provide that extra oomph under the gas pedal and help keep grime and mineral build-up from inside the motor.
These projects are costly, but if inclined, a person could learn a lot about there car and how it works, and if one has enough patients you too can be the bad boy on the block. With these upgrades the driver will notice a substantial increase in power along with a several extra trips to the gas station. These projects mentioned are only the tip of the iceberg and further upgrades are usually based on how big of a bank account one possess.

With some confidence, a lot of back ground reading, a good mechanic and whole bunch of reading service manuals and car magazines the next king of the street could be you.

by Clayton Sedler

The Pipa/Knowledge Networks conducted a poll through the months of June and September. Choosing people randomly from a nationwide panel, they discovered that 48 percent of the people involved in the study were misinformed about Iraq’s possession of weapons of mass destruction and that Saddam Hussein was linked to the September 11, attacks. These un-facts were Bush’s reasoning for invasion of a foreign country.

The Pipa poll found that the more information obtained from television news sources, the more likely it was for people to be misinformed about the war. The poll asked three main questions and found that: 25 percent believed that world public opinion favored our capital’s decision for invading Iraq; 22 percent thought that our troops found WMD in Iraq; 40 percent believed that our intelligence found close links between Iraq and al-Queda.

Bush has openly admitted that no links have been found between Baghdad and al-Queda, and thus far the so-called smoking gun has not revealed itself.

On Nov. 2, the U.S. military suffered its worst loss to date. On the outskirts of Fallujah, a Chinook helicopter was shot down by a rocket powered grenade, killing 15 of our sons and injuring many more of our soldiers. As of Nov. 6, 240 soldiers had sacrificed their lives to a war that was declared victorious some six months ago. This doesn’t include non-military casualties, such as reporters, journalists and Red Cross personnel. The absolute control over Iraq we were led to expect is a farce after the guerilla missile attack on the Chinook.

The clock upon the wall is chiming 13 and America’s darkest hour is at hand. While death, dismemberment and blood shed water the soil on the other side of the world, we are able to sit back comfortably and enjoy a safe and secure existence. As we go about our daily routines, it is easy to push away the thought of death and war because they are far away and unseen.

While we passively watched and trusted in our president, he declared war on a country that threatened us with weapons of mass destruction and ties with al-Queda, linking Iraq to the September 11 attacks. And now, with an average of one American soldier dying a day, we have made a choice.

We have made a choice to accept an act of murder and mayhem and the imprisonment of people of a certain creed. Why? Because we were probably misinformed about the facts.

The Pipa poll went on to say that two thirds of the people believing at least one of these un-facts supported Bush’s decision to go to war with Iraq.

The in-depth study found that some 80 percent of Fox News viewers believed at least one of these un-facts questioned in the poll and 71 percent of CBS viewers were mistaken as to at least one of the three questions asked. NBC viewers answered incorrectly 55 percent and ABC fans were wrong 61 percent of the time.

If you are a supporter of the Iraq occupation and enjoy being force-fed garbage, and feel our men and women involved are giving their life for a just cause, and feel that the genocide of a certain group of people is a matter of population control – then disregard the facts and continue about your mindless routine.

You should feel as though your lover has scorned you and your father lied to you and feelings of hurt should turn to anger. You should want to raise your fist and shake it and protest in the streets. But it seems to me that your choice to swallow crap has been made evident. Maybe, once you have received a letter from the Draft Board, the realization of an unjust war will finally hit home.

by CLAYTON SEDLER

Gentlemen, have feelings of inadequacy been getting you down lately? Have you been coming up short after exiting the shower in the locker room? Has your lack of confidence left you dateless on Saturday nights?

To be a true man, according to society’s standards, we must have the fastest car, the loudest stereo, the biggest house on the hill the biggest SUV and, of course, the biggest penis to satisfy every voluptuous women who comes our way.

Realizing that we cannot have the biggest of everything, feelings of being inadequate begin to swell up inside of us, and our egos becomes shattered.

If you can’t afford the fastest car or the biggest house on the block to entice the ladies, maybe purchasing a supply of pills to increase the length and girth of your penis is the answer.

After researching all of the spam emails you have received explaining the validity of these products, and thumb through the advertisements of the last few pages of your favorite magazine and porno star Ron Jeremy spokesman for penis enhancement products giving his personal word that this miracle in a bottle truly works, you finally tell yourself that this could be the answer you are looking for.

Well, think twice before handing over your hard earned dollars, because you are about to be scammed. “These companies are bogus, none of the pills work,” says Dr. John Weigel a professor of Urology at K.U. Med., specializing in sexual dysfunction. This particular industry is playing of the emotions of consumers earning a profit from men’s personality complexes created by an unattainable persona portrayed in television, movies and music. “The average size of male genitalia is about six inches, and is based on heredity. People fooling with Mother Nature end up in my office weeping about the disastrous results,” says Dr. Weigel.

Reluctantly, Weigel stepped forward to speak out about the hocus pocus these products claim, however mum’s the word, according to Dennis Munich media relations specialist at the university of Kansas hospital, “Because of the millions of dollars revolving around these products our doctors are afraid to comment one way or another because of reasons of liable.”

MSNBC reports that authorities seized the assets of the company producing Longitude, which sold more than $74 million dollars worth of enhancement pills. Not only was Longitude ripping off gullible consumers, they were also illegally charging consumer credit cards as well.

The Arizona based company C.P. Direct, makers of Longitude, said that they studied the list of ingredients on similar web-sites before developing their formula but never consulted medical experts nor conducted any independent tests of their product, according to court documents.

Franklin C. Lowe, professor of clinical urology at Columbia University is quoted in the Miami Herald as saying, “If it were legitimate, I’d be a billionaire.” Don’t count on the promised three inches these products guarantee, he said. There is no scientific evidence that any pill can enlarge your penis.

Flora Research of San Juan Capistrano conducted an independent analysis of 10 different enhancement pills, the Herald reported, and turned up significant levels of E. coli, yeast, mold, lead and pesticide residues. The independent analysis did state that the capsules contained gingko and ginseng, which in proper doses can increase blood flow to the penis to help correct erectile dysfunction.

The U.S. F.D.A. does not regulate health supplements as long as they are harmless to consumers. However, Canada requires for any health product announcing a specific claim to be scientifically proven or it will not allow it to be sold or imported into the country.

The Food and Drug Administration has different sets of rules for supplements and drugs. The F.D.A. sends drugs through strict studies before approval. Manufacturers of supplements don’t need to prove validity of their products and in some cases the manufacturer does not have to prove whether the ingredients listed on the bottle are actually contained within the supplement.

A common ingredient found in penis enhancement products called yohimbe, extracted from the bark of a West African tree, stimulates the area of the brain responsible for arousal and also increased the flow of blood throughout the body. yohimbe has been used with some success in treating erectile dysfunction; however most over the counter supplements don’t contain enough active ingredients to do the trick. A doctor prescribed medication is best when dealing with erectile dysfunction. yohimbe poses many risks as well and is ranked in the same category as ephedrine. Adverse side effects include abnormal heart rhythms, insomnia, nausea and increased blood pressure.

Ginkgo biloba, another common ingredient within penis products, is known to increase the flow of blood to the brain, but not the penis, and has been used on rare occasions as a placebo effect for men with penile dysfunction, but yohimbe was found to be a better remedy. (Consult a doctor before taking any form of ginkgo biloba if on a blood thinner because of Ginkgo’s effect of increased blood flow.)

Another top three ingredients incorporated inside the pills, ginseng can improve sexual function by increasing hormone levels and telling the body to produce more testosterone. Ginseng can be harmful if taking diabetes medication because ginseng can lower blood sugar levels, causing a bad reaction with the diabetes medication.

As of yet, none of the ingredients found in penis upgrade supplements are scientifically proven to increase the size of your penis. They might help if you can no longer achieve erection, but will not aggrandize your penis, if they did, your nipples, lips and nostrils would enlarge as well.

To help avoid being completely ripped off by herbal supplements look for products that recognize the United States Pharmacopoeia Convention and have it plainly printed on the container. Also look for other quality control standards such as lot numbers and expiration dates. Last but not least always consult a doctor before taking any supplement.

Gentlemen, have feelings of inadequacy been getting you down lately? Have you been coming up short after exiting the shower in the locker room? Has your lack of confidence left you dateless on Saturday nights?

To be a true man, according to society’s standards, we must have the fastest car, the loudest stereo, the biggest house on the hill the biggest SUV and, of course, the biggest penis to satisfy every voluptuous women who comes our way.

Realizing that we cannot have the biggest of everything, feelings of being inadequate begin to swell up inside of us, and our egos becomes shattered.

If you can’t afford the fastest car or the biggest house on the block to entice the ladies, maybe purchasing a supply of pills to increase the length and girth of your penis is the answer.

After researching all of the spam emails you have received explaining the validity of these products, and thumb through the advertisements of the last few pages of your favorite magazine and porno star Ron Jeremy spokesman for penis enhancement products giving his personal word that this miracle in a bottle truly works, you finally tell yourself that this could be the answer you are looking for.

Well, think twice before handing over your hard earned dollars, because you are about to be scammed. “These companies are bogus, none of the pills work,” says Dr. John Weigel a professor of Urology at K.U. Med., specializing in sexual dysfunction. This particular industry is playing of the emotions of consumers earning a profit from men’s personality complexes created by an unattainable persona portrayed in television, movies and music. “The average size of male genitalia is about six inches, and is based on heredity. People fooling with Mother Nature end up in my office weeping about the disastrous results,” says Dr. Weigel.

Reluctantly, Weigel stepped forward to speak out about the hocus pocus these products claim, however mum’s the word, according to Dennis Munich media relations specialist at the university of Kansas hospital, “Because of the millions of dollars revolving around these products our doctors are afraid to comment one way or another because of reasons of liable.”

MSNBC reports that authorities seized the assets of the company producing Longitude, which sold more than $74 million dollars worth of enhancement pills. Not only was Longitude ripping off gullible consumers, they were also illegally charging consumer credit cards as well.

The Arizona based company C.P. Direct, makers of Longitude, said that they studied the list of ingredients on similar web-sites before developing their formula but never consulted medical experts nor conducted any independent tests of their product, according to court documents.

Franklin C. Lowe, professor of clinical urology at Columbia University is quoted in the Miami Herald as saying, “If it were legitimate, I’d be a billionaire.” Don’t count on the promised three inches these products guarantee, he said. There is no scientific evidence that any pill can enlarge your penis.

Flora Research of San Juan Capistrano conducted an independent analysis of 10 different enhancement pills, the Herald reported, and turned up significant levels of E. coli, yeast, mold, lead and pesticide residues. The independent analysis did state that the capsules contained gingko and ginseng, which in proper doses can increase blood flow to the penis to help correct erectile dysfunction.

The U.S. F.D.A. does not regulate health supplements as long as they are harmless to consumers. However, Canada requires for any health product announcing a specific claim to be scientifically proven or it will not allow it to be sold or imported into the country.

The Food and Drug Administration has different sets of rules for supplements and drugs. The F.D.A. sends drugs through strict studies before approval. Manufacturers of supplements don’t need to prove validity of their products and in some cases the manufacturer does not have to prove whether the ingredients listed on the bottle are actually contained within the supplement.

A common ingredient found in penis enhancement products called yohimbe, extracted from the bark of a West African tree, stimulates the area of the brain responsible for arousal and also increased the flow of blood throughout the body. yohimbe has been used with some success in treating erectile dysfunction; however most over the counter supplements don’t contain enough active ingredients to do the trick. A doctor prescribed medication is best when dealing with erectile dysfunction. yohimbe poses many risks as well and is ranked in the same category as ephedrine. Adverse side effects include abnormal heart rhythms, insomnia, nausea and increased blood pressure.

Ginkgo biloba, another common ingredient within penis products, is known to increase the flow of blood to the brain, but not the penis, and has been used on rare occasions as a placebo effect for men with penile dysfunction, but yohimbe was found to be a better remedy. (Consult a doctor before taking any form of ginkgo biloba if on a blood thinner because of Ginkgo’s effect of increased blood flow.)

Another top three ingredients incorporated inside the pills, ginseng can improve sexual function by increasing hormone levels and telling the body to produce more testosterone. Ginseng can be harmful if taking diabetes medication because ginseng can lower blood sugar levels, causing a bad reaction with the diabetes medication.

As of yet, none of the ingredients found in penis upgrade supplements are scientifically proven to increase the size of your penis. They might help if you can no longer achieve erection, but will not aggrandize your penis, if they did, your nipples, lips and nostrils would enlarge as well.

To help avoid being completely ripped off by herbal supplements look for products that recognize the United States Pharmacopoeia Convention and have it plainly printed on the container. Also look for other quality control standards such as lot numbers and expiration dates. Last but not least always consult a doctor before taking any supplement.

by CLAYTON SEDLER

A swirling black cloud of controversy has formed around Pres. Bush and his war in Iraq, the reconstruction of Iraq, the faltering economy and rising prices at the gas pump. Many people are sickened by the current state of affairs and Bush’s abuse of his power. Anytime a topic related to Iraq or gas prices pops up on the news, most of us would rather change the channel or turn off the TV than be forced to swallow the garbage that Bush helped to create.

However, amidst the turmoil of chaotic events taking place, our vice president, Dick Cheney, has managed to remain in the cover of darkness amongst the shadows, sight unseen, as if he were an ancient ninja warrior of old Japan, working for the highest bidder.

Before his tenure as vice president, Cheney was C.E.O. of a company called Halliburton. Created some 84 years ago, Halliburton served as an oil well service. In 1962 it merged with Brown & Root, a Texas oil contracting company, and soon became a corporate conglomerate, with the help of Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson, whose political career they funded.

Prior to his five-year seat with Halliburton, Cheney was defense secretary for the previous Bush administration. In 1998, he pulled off one of the biggest business mergers of the century: Halliburton and its biggest competitor, Dresser Industries, forged the world’s largest oil company and the nation’s fifth largest military contractor.

With Cheney at the helm of Halliburton and his connection with the federal government, Halliburton dominated the gasoline market, raking in billions of dollars of revenue, according to the New York Times.

During his five year stint as C.E.O. of Halliburton, government-backed loans and contracts for the corporate mega-hound doubled, to $3.8 billion. Republican party contributions from Halliburton reached $1.2 million, as compared to the previous $534,750, before Cheney’s seat in the captain’s chair.

Because of Cheney, Guardian Unlimited online, Halliburton and its subsidiary Kellog, Brown & Root will profit in gargantuan amounts from the wars on terrorism and with Iraq and Afghanistan. They were first contracted to build the detention camp at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba for al-Qaida suspects, a job worth nearly $33 million. Next they were awarded the contract for the reconstruction of Iraq, estimated to be valued at $900 million, for preliminary work such as hospitals, ports, airports and schools, plus a $1.59 billion to date from the Army Corps of Engineers said the Kansas City Star. That amount does not include future work or the wealth of black gold that runs rich beneath Iraq’s sands yet to be tapped.

Upon his retirement from Halliburton, Cheney stepped into the shoes of vice president and received a hefty retirement package up to $1 million dollars a year in the form of “deferred compensation,” not including his stock options. When asked whether there was a conflict of interest, Halliburton’s spokeswoman, Wendy Hall told reporters, “We have been working as a government contractor since the 1940′s. Since this time, KBR has become the premier provider of logistics and support services to all branches of the military.”

According to the Financial Times of London, Cheney oversaw $23.8 billion worth of business contracts and oil-industry equipment with Iraq, during his stay at Halliburton, through two of its subsidiaries, Dresser Rand and Ingersoll-Dresser Pump.

Cheney denies any further contact with his previous employer and claims that he had no influence on the no-bid contract been given to Halliburton’s KBR; however, Democrats disagree. President of company in question Dave Lesar urged employees of Halliburton to write letters of retort to local newspapers, defending Halliburton. and KBR, accusing the press of misleading the public. The truth of the matter is Cheney denied working with Iraq and other oil rich countries that are on the US’s terrorist lists, when in fact he and Halliburton’s subsidiaries did.

When U.N. sanctions over Iraq were calmed, Cheney worked with Saddam Hussein via subsidiaries in Austria, Germany, France and Italy in order to avoid public controversy from business arrangements with Iraq and not embarrass Washington. Because of lucrative business dealings with Iraq, Cheney’s Halliburton was able to help Saddam’s government profit by illegally exporting some $1 billion worth of crude oil.

Along with Iraq, the oil and military defense contractor conglomerate worked with several other brutal dictatorships such as Algeria, Angola, Bosnia and Croatia that have committed horrid human rights violations. A Washington D.C. based human rights watchdog called EarthRights condemns Halliburton for a project in Burma, now Myanmar, where a two-energy pipeline was constructed that led to indentured labor, forced relocation of villagers, murder, rape and many other crimes against humanity. In violation of U.S. sanctions, Halliburton was fined $3.8 billion for dealing with Iran and Lybia, countries that remain on the State Department’s list of terrorist states.

This is not the first time an American-based corporation has done business with its adversaries. During WWII, while the blood of American troops enriched the soil of Germany, companies such as Ford, G.M. and General Electric traded in secret with Nazi Germany, and, most recently, as bombs began plummeting onto Iraq, G.E. conducted business with Saddam. As our men and women in uniform fell under sprays of gunfire and U.N. sanctions blocked food and medicine from the Iraqi people, the likes of Halliburton and G.E. lined their pockets with paper.