Iraqi minister seeks to soothe investor jitters (privatization propaganda)

[UpInArms]

http://www.forbes.com/business/newswire/2004/02/25/rtr1275800.html

By Sue Pleming

ARLINGTON,Va. (Reuters) - Iraq's public works minister sought Wednesday to soothe investor jitters over the transition from U.S. occupation to the Iraqis and tried to play down the security risk.

Speaking at an Iraq reconstruction conference attended by more than 500 company representatives, Iraqi Public Works Minister Nasreen Barwari said she expected the transition on June 30 to be smooth and urged companies to come to Baghdad.

"We need the contribution of the private sector," she said in response to a question from Microsoft about the transition and how it would affect businesses.

She said a new government would embrace the same free market principles familiar to U.S. and other firms and the finance ministry was busy finalizing new laws and regulations to assist foreign investors in Iraq.

...more...

[Barrett808]

1. Choppers being shot down, mosques being rocketed, police stations bombed

What's to worry about?

[denverbill]

2. It amazes me how laws and regulations can be created,

before a government even exists.

That's Democracy for you!

[Devils Advocate NZ]

3. And that is the REAL reason for the war...

Oil was only PART of the reason. The true underlying factor was "free market" theft.

[htuttle]

4. Face it guys, those contracts won't be worth...

...the toilet paper they were written on the moment the US military leaves!

There isn't an international legal authority in the world that would uphold these contracts once a legitimate government takes control and cancels them. These businessess must have noticed that nobody but the US Import/Export bank was willing to insure them, right?

And with Bush scramblin to create the appearance that the US is going to leave Iraq by November, what sort of contract are they realistically looking at? 6 months? That's not even long enough to go there, set up shop, get shot at and go back home...

EVEN from a predatory imperialistic standpoint, Bush is a failure. On that count, Iraq will turn out to be as pathetic a 'venture' as Arbusto.