by Mark Fineman
BAGHDAD--The Pentagon has paid nearly $90 million to a
subsidiary of the well-connected Halliburton Co. to cater to the
Americans who are working to rebuild Iraq, U.S. officials said--while
the reconstruction effort has yet to show significant results
for ordinary Iraqis.
The Defense Department gave Halliburton's KBR exclusive rights to
the job--which has included fixing up an extravagant presidential
palace being used by the Americans--under a broad U.S. Army
logistics contract that pays the company a fee based on a percentage
of everything it spends, . . .
As supplies for the Americans continue to arrive by the ton, little
of the millions KBR is spending have gone into the Iraqi economy
that Washington has pledged to restore.
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Enver Masud, "Corporate
Globalization Threatens World's Poor, Middle Class," October
10, 2000
David Teather, "American to Oversee
Iraqi Oil Industry," Guardian, April 26, 2003
["The proposal would give the United States far greater authority
over Iraq's lucrative oil industry than administration officials
have previously acknowledged. Buffeted by charges that the United
States was launching a war to gain control over Iraq's oil fields,
administration officials have for months sought to assure
governments that Iraq's oil revenue would remain in the hands of the
Iraqi people after the ouster of president Saddam Hussein."--Colum
Lynch, "U.S. to Propose Broader Control Of Iraqi Oil, Funds,"
Washington Post, May 9, 2003]
["Washington and London sent a letter to the council president
recognizing their responsibilities and obligations under
international law 'as occupying powers.'
"Under the proposal, the 12-month initial authorisation would be
automatically renewed unless the Security Council decided otherwise.
Since the United States and Britain have veto power in the council,
they could block any attempt to get them to leave Iraq . . ."--"US and Britain seek to limit UN role in Iraq,"
Associated Press, May 9, 2003]
["top American and British diplomats leading reconstruction efforts
here told exile leaders in a meeting tonight that allied officials
would remain in charge of Iraq for an indefinite period"--Parick E.
Tyler, "In Reversal,
Plan for Iraq Self-Rule Has Been Put Off," New York Times, May
17, 2003]
["The United Nations resolution has delayed the goal of Iraqi
sovereignty for what some Western officials say could be two
years."--Parick E. Tyler, "Iraqis Frustrated by Shift Favoring U.S.-British
Rule," New York Times, May 26, 2003]
"More and more Iraqis
view the US as occupation force: poll," AFP, October 23, 2003
Stephen Fidler and Thomas Catan, "Consultant
on Iraq contracts employed president's brother," Financial Times,
November 27, 2003
