U.S. bars opponents from Iraq bids....

[hntngirl]

U.S. bars opponents from Iraq bids

Iraq reconstruction contracts estimated at $18.6 billion

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 "” The Pentagon has formally barred companies from countries opposed to the Iraq war from bidding on $18.6 billion worth of reconstruction contracts.

Bush administration officials have suggested since before the war started that countries that opposed the United States on Iraq would be cut out of lucrative rebuilding contracts.

A DIRECTIVE from Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz limits bidders on those 26 contracts to firms from the United States, Iraq, their coalition partners and other countries which have sent troops to Iraq.
The ruling bars companies from U.S. allies such as France, Germany and Canada from bidding on the contracts because their governments opposed the American-led war that ousted Saddam Hussein"™s regime.
The Wolfowitz memo, dated Friday and posted on a Pentagon web site Tuesday, says restricting contract bids "œis necessary for the protection of the essential security interests of the United States."�
Bush administration officials have suggested publicly and privately since before the war started that countries that opposed the United States on Iraq would be cut out of at least some of the lucrative rebuilding contracts administered by Washington. The order from Wolfowitz covers contracts to manage the entire rebuilding effort, train and equip the Iraqi National Army and rebuild infrastructure including roads, sewers, power plants and oil fields.
Wolfowitz wrote that the restrictions would encourage other countries to join the coalition in Iraq. A Pentagon spokesman, Maj. Joe Yoswa, said the order does not prohibit companies from the excluded countries from getting subcontracts in Iraq.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/1003413.asp?0cv=CA01

[James B]

Sounds only fair to me. The old story about the little Red hen comes to mind.

[Stickemup]

Yep. If they're not going to be in it for the hard part, they sure as heck shouldn't reap any rewards from OUR efforts.

[Charlie P]

Pentagon spokesman, Maj. Joe Yoswa, said the order does not prohibit companies from the excluded countries from getting subcontracts in Iraq.

So you set up a corporation with it's headquaters in a country that's excepted, and sub the work out where ever you want. Much to do about nothing.

[BigBore1895]

Good riddance. Hopefully they will get limited sub-contracting work out of it too.