US sets deadline for $19bn in Iraq contracts

[ze_dscherman]

US authorities on Wednesday laid out an ambitious timetable to rebuild Iraq, saying they planned to award $18.7bn in contracts for reconstruction projects by the beginning of February.


David Nash, head of the new Iraq Infrastructure Reconstruction Office, said bids for 25 prime contracts covering tasks such as reparing electricity stations, training security services and fixing roads and bridges, would be due in early January.

Those prime contracts will be reserved for companies from the US-led coalition, although sub-contracts will be open to others.

SNIP

However small businesses remain concerned that they will be shut out. "Our chances of winning are probably zero because we're going up against companies like Halliburton," one executive complained to Mr Nash. "I doubt we'll see one penny from helping to rebuild Iraq."

http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1069132006085&p=1012571727102

[pinniped]

1. Tough break.

"However small businesses remain concerned that they will be shut out. "Our chances of winning are probably zero because we're going up against companies like Halliburton," one executive complained to Mr Nash. "I doubt we'll see one penny from helping to rebuild Iraq.""

Again, it's not what you know but who you know.

[w13rd0]

2. There's a rather large construction company...

...here in the Midwest that will likely be going under soon. Republican supporters and contributors, a real hotbed of right wing thought. Not particularly happy about the way they've been shut out of all the "good news" coming out of the Bush regime. Some of them are saying that in essence, they're getting shut out of the payoff from having owned a slice of the chimp in chief. Apparently, they don't own quite as large a slice as others though. What is the going price for a controlling interest on George W. Bush? I'm pretty damn sure it's more than a $2,000 dinner ticket.

Heck, what happens when not only people of every race and geographical locality get together to oppose the seats of power, but the poor, the middle class, and the a little rich and recently rich also join the fray?

Or we could all just kick back and trust in Bush.

Sorry, it can be said I've little faith in the "man", but that's for plenty good reason. And I'm more than happy to explain some of those reasons to anyone who might want to talk about it...

[cliss]

3. Does this mean they're going to open up

franchises like Kentucky Fried Chicken and Honey Baked Ham in Baghdad?