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Posted: 12/9/2003 5:26:09 PM EDT
U.S. Shuts Out France, Germany for Iraq Work

By Sue Pleming

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Citing national security reasons, U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz has ruled that prime contracts to rebuild Iraq will exclude firms from nations such as France and Germany that opposed the U.S. war.

In a policy document released on Tuesday, Wolfowitz said he was limiting competition for 26 reconstruction contracts worth up to $18.6 billion that will be advertised in coming days.

"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 the web site www.rebuilding-iraq.net.

The move is likely to anger France and Germany and other traditional allies in NATO and the U.N. Security Council who are being blocked out of prime contracts after their opposition to the war. They may bid for sub-contracts.

But the decision will placate countries such as Britain, Italy and Spain, which provided troops to Iraq but whose companies were excluded from the first round of deals that went to U.S. firms.

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

U.S. trade lawyer Clark McFadden questioned the administration's criterion for the contracts. "Is this going to set a precedent where national security can be used to justify limiting competition?" he asked.

Procurement specialist Prof. Steven Schooner from George Washington University said it was "disingenuous" to use national security as an excuse and predicted an angry reaction from those nations excluded.

"This kind of decision just begs for retaliation and a tit-for-tat response from countries (such as Germany, France and Russia)," said Schooner.

But a defense official said NATO partners had known for weeks they would not get prime Iraq business. "This is not a slight. We still have many agreements with those countries and good working relationships with them."

Wolfowitz is hoping that excluded companies will put pressure on their governments to join the post-war effort.

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

The document, dated Dec. 5, listed more than 60 countries eligible for contracts funded by the $18.6 billion appropriated by Congress to rebuild Iraq.

The list included Britain, Australia, Poland, Japan, Italy, Norway, Spain, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, South Korea, the Philippines, Romania and Saudi Arabia.

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 roll-out 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.
 
A defense official said he expected the new contracts to be advertised on government Web sites later on Tuesday or on Wednesday.

U.S. trade lawyer Roger Schagrin told Reuters non-coalition firms could still get business from selling material and equipment to the lead contractors.

"Much of the money is expended on materials. A British or U.S. company could get a prime contract and then buy 100 percent French materials," said Schagrin.

story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20031209/wl_nm/iraq_contracts_dc_3
Link Posted: 12/9/2003 5:30:13 PM EDT
[#1]
We don't have a icon to show a big enough smile...
Link Posted: 12/9/2003 5:32:58 PM EDT
[#2]
[GWB]France, Germany...let me introduce you to the back of my hand [/GWB]

[:D]

You're right. It isn't big enough.
Link Posted: 12/9/2003 5:33:20 PM EDT
[#3]
Quoted:
[red]Citing national security reasons[/red], U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz has ruled that prime contracts to rebuild Iraq will exclude firms from nations such as France and Germany that opposed the U.S. war.
View Quote


[lol]

Two words: FUCK THEM!
Link Posted: 12/9/2003 5:35:10 PM EDT
[#4]
[ROFL2]
Link Posted: 12/9/2003 5:35:28 PM EDT
[#5]
[:)][:)][:)]
[:)][:)][:)]
Link Posted: 12/9/2003 5:51:05 PM EDT
[#6]
Quoted:
"This kind of decision just begs for retaliation and a tit-for-tat response from countries (such as Germany, France and Russia)," said Schooner.
View Quote


Well the US will just have to risk not getting any contracts the next time France and Germany throw out an evil dictator.  [ROFL2]
Link Posted: 12/9/2003 5:53:24 PM EDT
[#7]
Link Posted: 12/9/2003 6:23:45 PM EDT
[#8]
And this is a surprise?  Shit...this has been absolutely preordained for months.  As soon as those liberal whiney brie-eating surrender monkeys and their emasculated teutonic, cousins said Non...or Nein!, it was over.  Like so many nation-fools before that underestimated us, these morons sadly underestimated President Bush.  They failed to realize that he is a man of his word and that he rates loyalty right at the top of the hit parade.  He also values courage...something the Euro-weenies are a little short of.

They actually thought we wouldn't invade Iraq and fuck up their sweet contracts with the Foul Dictator if they whined enough.  Bush all but put them on notice that if they weaseled out, they would pay severe consequences.  I think we all remember what their responses were.

The fools are now learning what it means to fuck with a man of character.

Fuck them!
Link Posted: 12/9/2003 6:34:54 PM EDT
[#9]
HAW-HAW!
-Nelson Muntz
Link Posted: 12/9/2003 6:44:37 PM EDT
[#10]
So they can put the EU against us in a trade war, tax our products all they want, and if we tell them they didnt get on the bandwagon in time they act like we made the baby Jesus cry?

Fuck 'em, we look after our friends first.
Link Posted: 12/9/2003 6:57:11 PM EDT
[#11]
I think it was just recently released that these three buttheads have over $100 billion in outstanding loans to Saddam.  You wonder why they opposed the war.
Link Posted: 12/10/2003 2:06:51 AM EDT
[#12]
oooooh, what are they gonna do....raise the price of Michelins?

I doubt they will do much at all, since they fear we could drop the hammer on them and curtail/ban the exports of Jerry Lewis videos and paraphernalia.
Link Posted: 12/10/2003 2:34:34 AM EDT
[#13]
[bounce]

Oh yah!
Link Posted: 12/10/2003 3:02:54 AM EDT
[#14]
I am thrilled to see what was suspected all along made offical!! It would of been a slap in the face of the coalition members if this did not happen.

I hope that some of the 'token' supporters such as Poland and Spain each get a juicy contract!!
Although the number of troops they contributed were small, the sacrifce in blood and moral support was great. They stood beside us when our other larger more indebted, so called allies did not. Loyalty should allways be rewarded, trechery should NOT!!
Link Posted: 12/10/2003 4:02:26 AM EDT
[#15]
France, Germay & Russia ---> [img]http://www.uzitalk.com/forums/images/smilies/overkill.gif[/img] <--- U.S.
Link Posted: 12/10/2003 4:02:50 AM EDT
[#16]
G O O D ! [8D]
Link Posted: 12/10/2003 4:07:19 AM EDT
[#17]
I'll vote for the guy again "just for having tha balls" on that little deal alone!!!![smoke]
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