U.S. contractor that left Iraq gets Afghan deal

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N24607440.htm

WASHINGTON, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Contrack International Inc., which this week became the first major U.S. company to withdraw from Iraq reconstruction work because of rising violence there, has won a $63.9 million U.S. Army building deal in Afghanistan, the Pentagon announced late on Thursday.

The new contract involves design and construction of regional brigade facilities for the Afghan army. Contrack was awarded the deal Tuesday after 10 bids had been sought by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Oct. 27, and five were received, the Pentagon said.

Arlington, Virginia-based Contrack had been running a $325 million deal overseeing a consortium rebuilding roads, bridges, railways and airports in Iraq before pulling out this week, citing rising violence and resultant security costs.

Neither the Army Corps of Engineers nor the company returned phone calls seeking comment on the new work.

more

[NYC]

1. Do they pay a penalty for leaving the job undone in Iraq?

I know better. It's just a rhetorical question.

[gratuitous]

2. Gee, I hope we don't stiff Contrack

Those poor guys! I hope they get the full $325 million (plus a little more, if you know what I mean) for their Iraq contract as well as the full $63.9 million for any work in Afghanistan they supposed to do, done or undone. Contractin' is hard work!

Meanwhile, I see our local neighbors-helping-neighbors agency is overwhelmed with requests for food and clothing. A dime on the dollar being squandered on the cut-and-runners at CONtrack spent there could feed, clothe and house the lot of them, and get them all a medical examination.

But Republicans are moral, so that MUST be the moral choice: Bidness over persons.