U.S. Shuts Out France, Germany for Iraq Work

Reuters/Lycos.com ^ | December 09, 2003 | Sue Pleming

[veronica]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz has ruled that lucrative, prime contracts to rebuild Iraq must exclude firms from nations such as France and Germany that opposed the U.S. war effort, said a document released on Tuesday.

The announcement followed discussions over which countries should benefit from a slew of reconstruction contracts to be advertised in coming days that are being funded by $18.6 billion appropriated by the U.S. Congress.

The decision, while not identifying any countries by name, shuts out companies from nations that opposed the U.S. decision to invade Iraq and topple President Saddam Hussein without U.N. approval. Those countries may apply for subcontracts.

"It is necessary for the protection of the essential security interests of the United States to limit competition for the prime contracts of these procurements to companies from the United States, Iraq, coalition partners and force contributing nations," Wolfowitz said in a notice published on an Iraqi rebuilding Web site (www.rebuilding-iraq.net).

Some officials had argued privately the United States should not limit international competition to rebuild Iraq, where the infrastructure has been shattered by years of neglect, war and post-conflict looting and attacks.

The rollout of tenders to rebuild Iraq has been delayed in recent days while "high-level" policy decisions were being taken on Iraqi reconstruction and as lawyers checked that the final wording complied with U.S. procurement laws.

Wolfowitz said that since May, coalition forces in Iraq other than those from the United States had increased to 23,700 from 14,000, while U.S. troops levels had dropped.

"Limiting competition for prime contracts will encourage the expansion of international cooperation in Iraq and in future efforts," wrote Wolfowitz.

Companies likely to benefit most from the decision come from Britain, Japan, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea and Poland.

Other supporters of the war effort include Albania, Bulgaria, Denmark, Honduras, Hungary, Kazakhstan and the Philippines.

The first round of reconstruction contracts to rebuild Iraq was limited to U.S. firms, with oil services company Halliburton, once run by Vice President Dick Cheney, and San Francisco company Bechtel the dominant players.

A defense official said he expected the new contracts to be advertised on government Web sites later on Tuesday or on Wednesday. Bidders' conferences are expected later this month and contracts are set to be awarded by Feb. 3.

The contracts cover electricity, communications, public buildings, transportation, public works and security and justice. Additional contracts are also being awarded to oversee those projects.

[.cnI redruM]

Good. Hiring the Saddam Hussein Booster Alliance for contract work would send a bad message at this juncture. I'm sure Hemorrhoid Dean will go apoplectic over this recent development.

[reagan_fanatic]

I believe France and Germany just got b*tch-slapped.


heh heh heh...

[Ragirl]

Glad to hear this if it's true.....they deserve to be shut out of the UN too!

[Wheee The People]

Shocked! Schocked I am. I must go lie down.

[Leroy S. Mort]

Hell yeah. I applaud this decision and applaud even more the straight language used to explain it.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

What's wrong with subcontracts ? The French are good at shining the boots of foreign armies...

[duckman]

Better they stay away from wine, cheese and schnitzel while their re-building.

[george wythe]

It's our money, not the UN money, not the EU money, not the French money.

The French and Germans can contribute moneys to the Iraqi reconstruction and make their own rules.

I support using American contractors first, but I understand that an open bid process helps to find the best company by the job.

Btw, I'm disappointed with the Bechtel work in Iraq as far as repairing schools. I hope Bechtel corrects its current record on schools.

[appalachian_dweller]

Best news I've heard all week.

[ElectricStrawberry]

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Screw your dijon!!!

[happydogdesign]

[Shermy]

Clark, Kerry, etc. will go beserk. How can we do this to our "allies?"

[Burkeman1]

About the only thing I can agree with Wolfowitz about. If we have to be in Iraq we better at least make sure American and American companies only benefit from any contracts that arise. That is the least the administration can do.

[Shermy]

Btw, I'm disappointed with the Bechtel work in Iraq as far as repairing schools. I hope Bechtel corrects its current record on schools.

Why are we "repairing" schools? And do any need "repairing?" You see any?

Could be a corporate-welfare scam.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Good, Japan is now going to send troops, perhaps so they can share in contracts. An effective way to promote countries to join the coalition.

[Lancey Howard]

"Excellent."

[PISANO]

Companies likely to benefit most from the decision come from Britain, Japan, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea and Poland. Other supporters of the war effort include Albania, Bulgaria, Denmark, Honduras, Hungary, Kazakhstan and the Philippines.

How did our "UNILATERAL" incursion into IRAQ have so many 'partners'?

[Imal]

Must be present to win.

[cars for sale]

wouldn't ya love to see Kerry( I'm such the Viet Nam soldier) get caught in an elevator with Ollie
North and the power fail for an hour. Boy there is
a book.....and probably a movie deal.