Frank and Don got here before me, T, but I would like to add just a little bit of personal experience here... Let's rewind back to Bush I's war with Iraq.

I was workin' for my brother's firm, TradeTech, which was a procurment company. We were sellin' lots of different kind of stuff to the Kuwaiti's. Then I get this tender for "dymethal cloride" (sp) which is used in assistin' folks in finding gas leaks. Problem is, that back then there was just one company in either Denmark (or Belgium?) that was producing it and every procurment company in the world ended up there that morning... Including, I'm sure Halliburton. The point is this. Halliburton doesn't produce anything like dymethyl cloride. It's basicly a construction company that does pipe fitting and other construction related stuff. Texas must have a 1000 such companies. Seems back when I was writing proposals, I spent a lot of time with Texas firms when it came to anything related to pipes, valves, etc. But there were lots of big firms doing this stuff....

I disagree with you, Tetibus, that Halliburton is the only company that can put out oil fires or fix pipe lines. There are many... If you like, and you agree to admit you're wrong on this one, I'll dig out my old files and provide you with names of a few that we represented...

BTW, Tradeteck's gross profits in the year after the Persain Gulf War, were in the $2M range and that was achieved from the labors of just 5 of us. Three here and 2 in Kuwait...

Bobert