How to win friends???

A hidden message too: "Dont oppose us when we go to war folks, costs u loads of money ;)" Which reminds me, any job for me lads, i swear i didnt participate in any demonstration against war in Iraq .

Originally posted by Grigori looks like our government is really trying to make sure that we get the rest of the world involved in the "rebuilding" of Iraq...hmmmm...who makes these decisions???(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.

I guess it boils down to rewarding those who did the heavy lifting with us during the war and now during reconstruction.

It could be said that the reason the United States is not including France and Germany is because their respective governments (please note that "governments" does not by extension indict the entire populous) acted like duplicitous back stabbers before, during and now after the conflict. But, I wouldn't say that. That would be inflamatory. Heaven know's, if there's one thing that I don't want to be known for , it's being inflamatory. :D

Originally posted by Michael McDermott > Originally posted by Grigori> looks like our government is really trying to make sure that we get the rest of the world involved in the "rebuilding" of Iraq...hmmmm...who makes these decisions???> > (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.

I guess it boils down to rewarding those who did the heavy lifting with us during the war and now during reconstruction.

It could be said that the reason the United States is not including France and Germany is because their respective governments (please note that "governments" does not by extension indict the entire populous) acted like duplicitous back stabbers before, during and now after the conflict. But, I wouldn't say that. That would be inflamatory. Heaven know's, if there's one thing that I don't want to be known for , it's being inflamatory. :D

Perhaps it's just me, but even if those are the real reasons why France and Germany are being shut out, you can't help but look at it as a petty slap in the face. Here we've got two long-time allies who, because they chose not to support a war with dubious causes and spankingly "wonderful" results, being kept from trying to help us rebuild Iraq so in twenty years there isn't a whole new generation saying "Death to the USA". We might as well admit that Iraq isn't going according to plan (or perhaps there weren't any plans in the first place?... ) and try and get a little help (hell, I'm all for French/German/Anybody but Us troops going in to lighten the burden off the US and keep our postwar casualties from becoming more obscene than they already are). Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, the whole lot of 'em over in Defense can go to hell in a handbasket for all I care, the blood of many innocent soldiers who simply wanted to serve America is on their hands. I'm not surprised they want nothing to do with our old allies. Shame on them, the "Murderer's Row" of Washington DC......

It's all good; the frogs and krauts are allowed to compete for subcontracts

It could be said that the reason the United States is not including France and Germany is because their respective governments (please note that "governments" does not by extension indict the entire populous) acted like duplicitous back stabbers before, during and now after the conflict. But, I wouldn't say that. That would be inflamatory. Heaven know's, if there's one thing that I don't want to be known for , it's being inflamatory. :D

Really, Michael..."duplicitous backstabbers"? I fail to see the logic of your accusation. The UN decision on Iraq was made by voting, as I recall-- a democratic process. France and Germany had a different viewpoint than the United States. In what way were they duplicitous? Are you saying that they lied to Bush about how they were going to vote? In what way were they "backstabbers"? Did they "owe" it to Bush to vote the way he wanted? In a democracy, we have differences of opinion. Elections don't always come out the way we'd like. Should I say you stabbed me in the back by voting for Bush? France and Germany voted their consciences (or if you prefer, their policy). That's not backstabbing, it's democracy.

So the vote didn't turn out the way Bush liked- they never do.

hehehe Its more obvious than ever we re talking business here... Whatever happened to "democracy" in Iraq? We re still waiting for the elections, like its difficult for joyfull Iraquis to write down in a pice of paper who they wish to be their president and throw that paper into a poll.... No, its too early for that... Contracts havent been issued yet, our friends havent been awarded, neither our "alies-enemies" punished yet... Lets do that, and later we can leave the greatefull Iraquis to decide their future. I know there is a little trouble in the meantime: Innocent civilains get killed or starve to death, even afraid to leave their residents alone cos even God (or Allah) cant guarantee them that they re goin back home without something missing.... Even American kids get killed everyday, who all they wanted when joining the army is earn their living and protect their country.... But, its not such a big deal isnt it? The first category are just Arabs, they are not like us, arent they? As for the American soldiers, there not business executives, neither politician's sons, right??? Suddenly i lost the smile off my face....

Originally posted by Grigori what I really liked though...was the part about "Citing National Security reasons...what???by allowing the Germans and French into the bidding, would this somehow undermine the democracy that is going to be installed??? Do the French intend to get all the contracts, and then bring Mr. Hussein back to power???are the Germans secretly plotting to build a new Reich in Baghdad???I don't get it...or is the real reason that elf and FINA (I would add some German oil companies, if I knew of any) may end up getting the oil contracts instead of Texaco-Chevron and/or Mobil-Exxon??? Maybe everyone was right, and I was fooled!!!

Actually, TotalElfFina (France), LUK (Russia) and some German conpanies already HAD the oil contracts with Saddam worth about 20 BILLION dollars a year (and, this not to mention what our bestest buddy in the whole wide world Koffi Annan was skimming off the top of the Oil For Food program). Now, tell me again why it is they voted against us in the UN?

On a lighter note, I talked to "Ed" on the telephone last night. He said you had already left for the night. I had some shopping to do and was going to drop by and say hello. Maybe another time.

:)

Originally posted by Michael McDermott > Originally posted by Grigori> what I really liked though...was the part about "Citing National Security reasons...what???> > by allowing the Germans and French into the bidding, would this somehow undermine the democracy that is going to be installed??? Do the French intend to get all the contracts, and then bring Mr. Hussein back to power???> > are the Germans secretly plotting to build a new Reich in Baghdad???> > I don't get it...or is the real reason that elf and FINA (I would add some German oil companies, if I knew of any) may end up getting the oil contracts instead of Texaco-Chevron and/or Mobil-Exxon??? Maybe everyone was right, and I was fooled!!!

Actually, TotalElfFina (France), LUK (Russia) and some German conpanies already HAD the oil contracts with Saddam worth about 20 BILLION dollars a year (and, this not to mention what our bestest buddy in the whole wide world Koffi Annan was skimming off the top of the Oil For Food program). Now, tell me again why it is they voted against us in the UN?

On a lighter note, I talked to "Ed" on the telephone last night. He said you had already left for the night. I had some shopping to do and was going to drop by and say hello. Maybe another time.

:) The funny thing is that is if the French, German, Russian and Canadian corporations own companies based in other countries such as Spain, then those affiliate companies are allowed to compete for contracts. The Pentagon's measure against the opponents of the war is ridiculous; at first glance it seems to be an awful punishment, yet it is only a measure with many loopholes.

Originally posted by Grigori what I really liked though...was the part about "Citing National Security reasons...what???by allowing the Germans and French into the bidding, would this somehow undermine the democracy that is going to be installed??? Do the French intend to get all the contracts, and then bring Mr. Hussein back to power???are the Germans secretly plotting to build a new Reich in Baghdad???I don't get it...or is the real reason that elf and FINA (I would add some German oil companies, if I knew of any) may end up getting the oil contracts instead of Texaco-Chevron and/or Mobil-Exxon??? Maybe everyone was right, and I was fooled!!!

I liked today's headline-- Bush is upset because the memo about the contracts was released a little earlier than would have been convenient for him. Now he has to call all the countries that are being stiffed by the US and ask them to forgive Iraqi debt, even though we're going to be stiffing them on the contracts.

Chump.