Firms ‘making money’ off Iraq

[cosmicaug]

By SHAHANAAZ HABIB reporting from Iraq

BAGHDAD: Iraqi Fares Mohamad feels like a guest in his own country. There are so many places that he is now not allowed to go to.

“I can't go to Rasheed Hotel but the KBR (Kellogg Brown Root) people can just walk in. I can't go to the presidential palace but again the KBR people can simply walk in.

“Do they own the country now?” he asked.

Fares' resentment is typical of Iraqis who are keeping a close watch on the US company which seems to have its hands in everything in the so-called rebuilding of Iraq.

The feeling here is that KBR is making tons of money off Iraq.

The schools in Iraq, said Fares, were “okay” before the war but when the “Americans started the war,” many classrooms and schools were destroyed by the bombings, fighting and looting that followed.

TIGHT SECURITY:Soldiers guarding Firdaus Square,where Saddam ’s statue was brought down during the invasion,yesterday.
So he is more than angry that the contract to renovate the schools has been given to KBR.

“KBR is charging Iraq US$180,000 (RM684,000) for each school they renovate. They then give the project to Iraqi sub-contractors and pay them just US$20,000 (RM76,000) to do the job.

No problem with profits, but the above, if accurate, is disgraceful and immoral (but, unfortunately, not unexpected --one can't ever be too cynical). And, BTW, I suppose were it says "KBR is charging Iraq" it might also mean KBR is charging the U.S. government, Iraq or both.

[DuctapeFatwa]

1. That will be a great comfort to the families of the dead soldiers

No one can say their sons died for "nothing."

[wtmusic]

2. KBR is charging you, the taxpayer

and next April 15th your share of the $87B will help line their pockets.

[wabeewoman]

3. War profiteering.

Used to be illegal and immoral under Truman; encouraged under Bush. Wasn't there a law that the repugs voted down making excess profiteering a crime?