We knew this was coming
The Pentagon has barred French, German and Russian companies from competing for $18.6 billion in contracts for the reconstruction of Iraq, saying it was acting to protect "the essential security interests of the United States."
The directive, issued Friday by Paul D. Wolfowitz, the deputy defense secretary, represents the most substantive retaliation to date by the Bush administration against American allies who opposed its decision to go to war in Iraq.
The document does not spell out a rationale for its claim that excluding those three countries was necessary to protect American national security interests.
Jeez, I wonder why not. Maybe because there isn't one?
The document does say that the actions of the American-led force in rebuilding Iraq "are indispensable for national security and national defense purposes," and that allowing only members of the allied force to bid for the contracts was intended both as a reward and an incentive for further cooperation in the future.
That's about as plain as you can get.
The guidelines do not affect subcontractors, the document makes clear, so companies that win contracts would be able to hire French, German or Russian firms to work in Iraq.
Gee.
Can you say....Don't mess with Texas.
Arrested development. Juvenile stage.
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
Tuesday, December 09, 2003
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