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From the Hindustan Times and Agence France-Presse, the interesting article "US bars France, Germany, Russia and Canada from Iraq contracts":
The rest of the article is here.
And, more form the Toronto Star:
I leave my readers to interpret this for themselves.
The United States has barred companies from France, Germany, Russia, Canada and other countries that refused to join the US-led coalition in Iraq from competing for billions of dollars in prime contracts to rebuild the country, a Pentagon memorandum made public said.
Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, in a decision dated December 5, cited "essential security interests" of the United States and the need to encourage countries to provide troops for Iraq as the reason for limiting competition for 18.6 billion dollars in prime contracts.
The rest of the article is here.
And, more form the Toronto Star:
Deputy Prime Minister John Manley said the Pentagon statement was "quite shocking."
"Given the urgings that I have received from U.S. officials, it would be very hard for us if they said Canadian companies cannot contribute. It would be difficult for us to give further money for the reconstruction of Iraq," said Manley, who was reached in Paris.
Canada has contributed more than $250 million Cdn to the effort to rebuild Iraq, said Steven Hogue, a spokesman for Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.
"To exclude Canadians just because they are Canadians would be unacceptable if they accept funds from Canadian taxpayers for the reconstruction of Iraq," Manley said
I leave my readers to interpret this for themselves.
