Leak reveals ministers' fears over Iraqi contracts

[kskiska]

Campaign to stop British firms being cut out by US

The British government, concerned about the failure of British companies to win reconstruction work in Iraq, is making a behind-the-scenes effort to lobby Washington.

Confidential documents seen by the Guardian show that ministers and officials are being mobilised to try to head off a domestic political embarrassment to Tony Blair.

Brian Wilson, the prime minister's special representative on overseas trade, and Mike O'Brien, the minister of international trade and foreign affairs, are both being dispatched to Washington next week.

Mr O'Brien is breaking off a family holiday in America to talk to US officials in the run-up to a new round of Iraq contracts being awarded next month.

more…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1147271,00.html

[Gingersnap]

1. How committed to listening to this poodle do you think

Master will be? That's the problem Tony, once you show them you're a manipulable shill, you're ability to leverage goes out the window. Along with your integrity.

[ConcernedCanuk]

2. I sort of sympathize, but when ya deal with the devil . . . . .

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More from the article:

"The failure of leading British companies to make real headway in Iraq is a sensitive issue for Mr Blair and the government, which had to struggle to win domestic political support for the toppling of Saddam Hussein.

Making billions of pounds out of the rebuilding would provide some kind of financial compensation for Britain standing side by side with America during the assault.

But the US has been handing out billion-dollar contracts to such companies as the Texas-based engineering giant Halliburton and the Californian company Fluor, both of which have close links with the Republican party.

Dick Cheney, the US vice-president, was head of Halliburton before he went to the White House.

A spokesman for UK Trade & Investment said it would be wrong to suggest that British companies had failed to win a substantial amount of business. "

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Hmm

just looks like a money-grab anyways, no ?

I'm not on the side of the US, but feck the Brits anyhoo for getting into this illegal invasion/massacre anyhoo

(oh, when I refer to Brits, it's like I refer to Americans, I'm referring to their Governments, not the average workin' taxpayin' citizens. - - )

[truthspeaker]

3. face it Tony, you were USED

You may think Bush is your friend and the US is your ally but the Bush cartel has no respect for any foreign country. You are just an asset to be exploited for as long as you're useful. Bush is laughing at you behind your back; probably makes fun of your accent too.