My Journey into the World of Conspiracies
It all began during my first deployment to Iraq, where I observed a striking contrast between military personnel and civilians. Our bases were filled with soldiers, some with limited tasks to perform, while civilians seemed to be running the show. They were responsible for base security, managing gyms, overseeing dining facilities, and even taking care of laundry services. The name that stood out prominently was KBR, adorned on signs and uniforms alike. These civilian contractors were earning upwards of $100,000 each year and enjoyed a three-month leave after every deployment, while we, the service members, were risking our lives for a meager salary of $20,000 to $30,000.
During an exhausting three-day convoy from Iraq to Kuwait, as we transported the many broken-down vehicles of my division, I found myself distributing Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) to my fellow soldiers. We had an abundance of these rations. However, upon arriving at our destination, we received the disheartening directive that all remaining supplies were to be destroyed. The reason? Something about preventing cross-contamination between military theaters. Even then, something felt profoundly wrong. Why were we not distributing this food and water to civilians in need? Instead, it was standard procedure to dispose of perfectly good supplies.
Once I returned to Germany, I came across the documentary Fahrenheit 9/11. Though it’s been years since I last viewed it, I vividly recall its critique of Halliburton, the company that owned KBR at the time. The film highlighted how Halliburton was awarded lucrative no-bid contracts in Iraq, essentially writing themselves blank checks while we were left feeling like mere instruments in a grand profit-making scheme.
The more I learned, the more I uncovered about the business practices of companies like KBR, particularly their operation under cost-plus contracts. These arrangements meant they were reimbursed for every dollar spent, in addition to earning a guaranteed profit margin. Essentially, the more resources that were consumed or wasted, the more money flowed back into their pockets.
That experience marked the beginning of my journey into the realm of conspiracy theories, opening my eyes to the complex interplay between military operations and corporate interests. As I delved deeper into this world, I found myself questioning far more than I ever had before.
