Documents Raise New Halliburton Questions

WASHINGTON - Halliburton chose a high-priced Kuwaiti supplier for gasoline in Iraq (news - web sites) just one day after considering bids from only three companies, an Army document says.


The Army Corps of Engineers document, obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, raises new questions about Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites)'s former company two days after Pentagon (news - web sites) auditors requested an investigation of possible criminal wrongdoing.


Halliburton has denied doing anything wrong and called criticism of its actions unfair and politically motivated.


The Defense Contract Audit Agency on Tuesday asked the Pentagon's inspector general to investigate a "suspected irregularity" involving the Halliburton contract to provide gasoline to civilians in Iraq. Auditors had said last month that Halliburton and its Kuwaiti fuel supplier, the Altanmia Marketing Co., may have overcharged the Army by $61 million between May and September.

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