The Bush administration has invited five American contractors to bid for a $900 million contract, part of an initial reconstruction effort that is to take place following the anticipated US-led military campaign in Iraq. The move leaves little doubt that the US is determined to go ahead with its war plans, whatever the UN Security Council decides.
Operating under contingency regulations since February, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has offered American companies a chance to take part in post-war humanitarian and infrastructure projects. The six-month contracts will include seaport and airport management projects, rebuilding of highways and bridges, schools and hospitals, rehabilitating sanitation systems and electrical grids and printing textbooks.
While the disclosure of the multi-million dollar contracts is expected to reinforce the case of those who suspect the motives behind Washington’s impending invasion, US policymakers hope the announcement would serve to demonstrate Washington’s commitment to the Iraqi nation and sway Iraqi public opinion to support the presence of occupying forces in a post-Saddam setting.
The private firms that were approached by USAID include engineering and construction corporations Bechtel, Fluor, Parsons and Louis Berger Group, as well as Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR), which is a unit of energy-services giant Halliburton. US Vice President Dick Cheney served as Halliburton's chief executive officer (CEO) from 1995 and until the 2000 elections.
The US government already awarded on February 21 a post-conflict personnel support contract to the Washington-based International Resources Group. KBR won last week a government contract to oversee firefighting operations at Iraqi oilfields. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
