IPE 2007

In my field, "IPE" is an acronym for "International Political Economy."

However, I don't have to know very much about IPE to recognize that there are political and likely even security dimensions to the announcement by Halliburton that it is moving its headquarters to Dubai. The BBC, March 11:

Halliburton, the oil services company formerly headed by US Vice-President Dick Cheney, is moving its headquarters from Texas to Dubai.

The company said it hoped the move to the United Arab Emirates would help it expand its business in the Middle East.

In 2006, the BBC helpfully points out, Halliburton turned $2.3 billion in profit. But growth is good, right?

Here's an unintended critique, from the Veep, former head of Halliburton:

At a 1996 energy conference in New Orleans, Dick Cheney, then CEO of Halliburton said, "The problem is that the good Lord didn't see fit to put oil and gas reserves where there are democratic governments."

Amen.




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