[knews_hound]

Another thing to consider is that fact that Iraq was run by the Baath party. Period.

They controlled ALL commerce and independent companies were nearly nonexistent once you got out of the small business sector.

Once a business got to a certain size or profitability, it was quickly seized by Saddam or one of his henchmen.

The fact is, there simply were no companies that we COULD out-source these tasks to.

After having bled for the land, I would personally been royally pissed if we gave contracts to anyone BUT US Companies.

Cheers,

knews hound

[Lord Nelson]

Hmm... that's something I didn't know.

What I believe is important is that we keep the Iraqi people working. If only for the reason that they have gone through a lot. But also when people are kept busy they will have more patience to give democracy a chance.

I wonder if you think partition is a much better option for Iraq? Can Kurds, Sunnis and Shiites really function together? God knows how much the Kurds have suffered. I know the US may jeopardize its alliance with Turkey if it did give the Kurds their own homeland.