The Boston Globe reports that the Pentagon has canceled the process of giving out bids to reconstruct Iraq until February 1, out of concern for pervasive corruption. It is being alleged that a small group of mercantile clans is manipulating the bidding process through dummy companies, hiding their continued domination of the economy. The Coalition Provisional Authory of Paul Bremer had been counting on the influx of reconstruction monies to win hearts and minds and begin establishing better security in Iraq. This postponement is another obstacle to the smooth transfer of power on June 30 (see the Laith Kubba interview below).
I just lifted that directly off Juan Cole.
....but you do what you want....you will anyway.
Not that corruption concerns delay anything here. I guess it all depends on which corrupt entity is getting the benefit.
Tuesday, December 30, 2003
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