Free Republic

Bush scoffed at a question seeking his reaction to Schroeder's statement on Thursday that international law must apply to the awarding of the contracts. "International law? I better call my lawyer," he said.

Bush Defends Iraq Contract Decision Thu December 11, 2003 11:17 AM ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush on Thursday rejected European criticism of his decision to bar Iraq war opponents from $18.6 billion in U.S.-funded reconstruction projects in Iraq, saying the contracts would be reserved for those countries that risked lives in Iraq. Bush told reporters that U.S. taxpayers would want it no other way, to allow U.S. supporters of the postwar mission in Iraq to compete for the contracts, rather than let opponents like France, Germany and Russia seek them as well. "It's very simple. Our people risked their...

Iraq-Contracts Feud Reopens Wounds U.S. Plan to Limit War's Opponents In Reconstruction Sets Obstacle To Overall Peace Efforts in Iraq By CARLA ANNE ROBBINS and NEIL KING JR. Staff Reporters of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL The Bush administration says it wants help in Iraq, but somehow it can't stop infuriating the countries that could shoulder more of the load. The latest provocation came this week, with the Pentagon's decision to bar Iraq-war opponents including France, Germany, Russia and Canada from bidding on $18.6 billion in prime contracts for Iraq reconstruction. The reaction from those governments, which said they hadn't...

Why is anyone surprised? Why does Deputy PM John Manley find it "shocking" that the United States is banning Canada from bidding on $18 billion worth of reconstruction contracts in Iraq? A better question might be why wouldn't the U.S. ban Canada, which opposed deposing Saddam Hussein and sided with America's European opponents to the war? It's all so … so typically Canadian. Here we balked at helping the U.S., even rhetorically in its time of need, yet expect favours now that rebuilding Iraq has begun. Manley thinks Canada should be allowed to bid on contracts because we've already donated...

<p>Excluding countries that opposed the war in Iraq from those that will reap the largest profits in the country's reconstruction is "perfectly appropriate and reasonable," a White House spokesman said yesterday.</p> <p>The Pentagon on Tuesday announced its policy to allow only companies based in the 63 countries that have supported the Iraq war to bid on the "prime contracts" for reconstruction.</p>

The Pentagon has barred French, German and Russian companies from competing for $18.6 billion in contracts for the reconstruction of Iraq, saying this ban is “indispensable for national security and national defense purposes.” Senator Joseph R. Biden of Delaware criticizes the move as a "totally gratuitous slap" that "does nothing to protect our security interests and everything to alienate countries we need with us in Iraq." (New York Times) Do you support or oppose the Pentagon’s decision? Support Oppose I’m not sure I don’t care

Saddam's European and Canadian Allies Furious They Can't Profit From War They Opposed NewsMax.com WiresWednesday, Dec. 10, 2003 BRUSSELS, Belgium – Russia suggested it would not restructure Iraq's debt. The European Union said it would study whether global trade rules had been violated. Canada threatened to stop sending aid to Baghdad. Across Europe, response was swift and angry Wednesday to the U.S. order barring companies based in opponents of the Iraq war from bidding on Iraqi reconstruction projects. Germany, another leading opponent of the war, called the decision "unacceptable." Government spokesman Bela Anda said it went against "a spirit of...

OTTAWA -- Prime minister-designate Paul Martin says it's difficult to "fathom" why Canada is one of the countries the United States is shutting out of $18.6-billion contracts for the reconstruction of Iraq. And Martin says he plans to put Canada's case to U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci when he speaks to him tomorrow. "I find it really difficult to fathom. First of all, Canada is putting close to $300-million in terms of the reconstruction of Iraq. We have troops in Afghanistan and carrying a very, very heavy load in that country (on the war on terrorism)," Martin said, who officially takes...

<p>WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former top U.S. officials are blasting the Bush administration for reopening a rift with Europe by excluding critics of the war from prime contracts for Iraq's reconstruction.</p> <p>"I thought we were in the process of acquiring support rather than alienating it," former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said. "And I think it's petty. I really do think we should not be in the business of alienating people."</p>

Old Europe’s head has exploded with rage, and I say good! Old Europe is mad and in the midst of throwing a temper tantrum, its arms flailing and feet dragging the floor. France, Germany and other countries too self-absorbed, politically inept and globally backward to help support the War on Terror in Iraq, are just shocked that the Pentagon has barred countries who opposed the war from bidding for some of that $18.6 billion in reconstruction contracts. Money, money, money. That’s what it’s all been about for them. They supported Iraq because there was money. Saddam owes Old Europe billions of...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 — President Bush found himself in the awkward position on Wednesday of calling the leaders of France, Germany and Russia to ask them to forgive Iraq's debts, just a day after the Pentagon excluded those countries and others from $18 billion in American-financed Iraqi reconstruction projects.       White House officials were fuming about the timing and the tone of the Pentagon's directive, even while conceding that they had approved the Pentagon policy of limiting contracts to 63 countries that have given the United States political or military aid in Iraq       Many countries...

MIDI - YOU DON'T BRING ME FLOWERS ANYMORE I know we opposed you...we tried hard to stop you Now in Iraq, we're being shut out And we Germans and French learn what payback's about We don't like it much This really isn't funny...we are losing money So why can't you forget and forgive Come on USA...how 'bout live and let live We will even act like we are really pensive Now you won't give us contracts anymore You did the heavy lifting...it looks like we are grifting We know that we are Euro Weenies Without gonads and spine that...

Old Europe’s head has exploded — and good, I say! Old Europe is mad and in the midst of throwing the equivalent of a temper tantrum, with arms flailing and feet stomping the ground. France, Germany, as well as other countries too self-absorbed, politically inept and globally backward to help support the war on terror in Iraq, are shocked, just shocked, that the Pentagon has barred countries that opposed the war in Iraq from bidding for some of that $18.6 billion in reconstruction contracts. Money, money, money. That’s what it’s all been about for them. They supported Iraq because there...

Foreign firms vie for Iraqi factories Baghdad, Iraq Press, December 11, 2003 – Foreign firms are vying for Iraqi enterprises the interim authorities want to lease or privatize. Major US and European firms are involved in the competition, according to Yaakoub Shounya, the economic consultant at the Ministry of Industry and Minerals. Shounya said the ministry has received 20 offers from the United States, Germany, Spain and Russia. The ministry seems to have abandoned the idea of selling its companies and corporations to private entrepreneurs and has instead opted to lease them to both native and foreign businessmen. Shounya said...

Poor Baby Axis of WeaselBarred from Iraq Contracts By Andrew L. Jaffee, December 10, 2003 Home   Search   Forum   Terms The U.S. today barred Axis of Weasel countries (like Russia, Canada, France, and Germany) from bidding on $18.6 billion in contracts for rebuilding Iraq. These countries all opposed the U.S.-led coalition's liberation of Iraq. It seems only reasonable for U.S. taxpayer money to be spent on countries that support the U.S. in bringing democracy to the Middle East. French, Canadian, Russian, and German soldiers aren't being killed in Iraq now. Remember how vociferously these countries defended Saddam? Why should they be rewarded for...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 — The United States on Wednesday suggested it could be willing to open up Iraqi reconstruction contracts to countries that did not participate in the U.S.-led war if they assist ''coalition efforts'' in other ways. ''If there are additional countries that want to participate in our efforts ... the circumstances can change,'' White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters. McClellan also said the United States believed that its new rules denying prime contracts to countries that have not helped its mission in Iraq were consistent with the rules of the World Trade Organization.

AUSTRALIAN firms have won a stake in a $162 million contract to rebuild Iraq's agricultural sector. CSIRO and South Australian firm Sagric will join a US consortium appointed by the US Department of Agriculture to revitalise Iraq's food supply industry. Other Australian firms have also bid for hundreds of millions of dollars worth of work in power, infrastructure, water, sanitation and eduction sectors. Trade Minister Mark Vaile received a briefing from the head of the rebuilding taskforce Rear Admiral David Nash in Baghdad last weekend. Mr Vaile's office confirmed agriculture work had been won and that a bid for a...

US reignites transatlantic dispute over Iraq by locking anti-war camp out of lucrative reconstruction deals In a blatant act of retaliation against those countries that opposed the war in Iraq, the United States has banned France, Germany, Russia and Canada from bidding for billions of dollars worth of reconstruction contracts.A directive issued by the Deputy Defence Secretary, Paul Wolfowitz, ruled that 26 contracts worth $18.6bn (£10.7bn) should be available only to companies from America, its coalition partners such as Britain and Spain and other countries that sent troops in support of the occupation.It was essential to restrict other countries, he...

WASHINGTON, Dec 10 (Reuters) - The Pentagon on Wednesday delayed the issue of $18.6 billion in U.S. tenders to rebuild Iraq amid criticism over the exclusion from bidding of firms from France, Germany, Russia and other war opponents. The prime contracts were set to be advertised last Friday, but were delayed while "high-level" policy decisions took place. A further delay was announced on Wednesday after earlier promises of release on Monday and Tuesday. "The scheduled release of the solicitations in support of the Iraq reconstruction contracts has been temporarily delayed," said a notice on the Pentagon-run Iraq Program Management Office...

<p>WASHINGTON — The White House staunchly defended Wednesday the Pentagon's decision to bar companies from countries opposed to the Iraq war from bidding on $18.6 billion worth of major reconstruction contracts in that country.</p> <p>But nevertheless, the European Union said Wednesday it would examine whether the United States violates world trade rules with its decision.</p>