U.S. blocks foes to war from Iraq contracts

[Shyriath]

It's in a section of the articale down near the bottom.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/12/10/sprj.irq.main/index.html

The Pentagon plans to bar France, Germany and other countries that opposed the U.S.-led war in Iraq from competing for $18.6 billion worth of contracts in the Mideast nation's reconstruction efforts.

A memo posted Tuesday on a Pentagon Web site restricts the list of countries eligible to compete for the contracts to nations that participated in the coalition effort in the Iraq war or supported it.

...

An attachment lists 63 countries eligible for contracts to improve Iraq's ravaged infrastructure -- including electrical, water, transportation, housing and health systems -- as well as to arm the new Iraqi army and restore oil production.

Noticeably absent from the list are France, Germany, Russia, Canada and China -- countries that strongly opposed the war.

I have the feeling that, unless Bush abandons this decision (if he made it), or distances himself from it and declares it to not be the official position on the matter (if it was, or if he wants it to be perceived as, a purely Pentagon-based decision), this could turn into a major row.

[Ellen Forradalom]

1. Oh well, so much for free trade

I guess free trade is just a sick joke.

[jokerman93]

2. This was obviously what they resolved to do

when they concocted their "coalition of the willing".

Based on past performance of relinquishing all unpleasant responsibility, Bush will probably find some specious way to sidestep this one, but in the end, the whole world is going to want to see these pirates go down.

[Maple]

3. Pthththb!

to Iraqi contracts.

[AndyP]

4. just goes to show you

Just more of the "either for us or against us attitude"