Little Rock - The Bush administration has awarded U.S. companies up to $8 billion in contracts for postwar work-and perhaps much more. These companies have given more than $500,000 to the presidential campaigns of George W. Bush, according to a study released today by the Center for Public Integrity. The General Accounting Office is currently conducting two separate probes into these contracts.

Yesterday, the Bush administration announced an extension of Halliburton's no-bid contract in Iraq, even though Halliburton has been accused of gouging American taxpayers with an inflated bill for emergency oil imports.

"It is time for more transparency and less cronyism," General Wesley Clark said. "American taxpayers deserve no less. Leadership is about making the best deal for the American people, not extending sweetheart deals for supporters."