-Caveat Lector- Print this article | Close this window Storm in a port: British chief opposes American muscle By Rory McCarthy in Qatar and Vikram Dodd in London March 29 2003
Serious divisions have emerged between Britain and United States over plans for the running of Iraq's largest port at Umm Qasr. Air Marshal Brian Burridge, Britain's chief military officer in the Gulf, said it should be run by Iraqis as a model for the future reconstruction of the country. But earlier this week the Bush Administration handed the $US4.8million ($8million) contract to the private Stevedoring Services of America (SSA). The Seattle-based firm has clashed with workers across three continents and faced accusations of being union busters. SSA will manage the port and handle cargo and shipping. The US and British military say Umm Qasr is vital for the delivery and unloading of humanitarian supplies, though some experts think it could also be useful if the war drags on and fresh supplies are needed for the troops. Air Marshal Burridge said on Thursday he wanted it handed to the Iraqis when the area was secured. British soldiers have found the port's former manager, an Iraqi army colonel who was arrested in Umm Qasr during the first days of the operation. Officers are trying to find other former staff. The British military say they do not want to appear as imperialist invaders. "This is not the pax Britannica. We don't want to conquer a second Mesopotamia." The Umm Qasr contract was the second awarded by the US Agency for International Development to a US company for reconstruction work in Iraq. The first went to the engineering firm Kellogg Brown & Root - part of Halliburton, the company once headed by US Vice-President Dick Cheney. It won a contract to put out oil well fires and repair oil facilities. Until SSA takes over the port, it will be run by 17 Port and Maritime Regiment of the Royal Logistics Corps. It will be the first time the British military has run a port in wartime since World War II. SSA has business interests at 150 sites around the world, including Vietnam, India, Chile and Panama. Its CEO, Jon Hemingway, has given political donations to Republican candidates. Concern has grown that lucrative contracts for rebuilding Iraq, after the coalition bombing and years of neglect under Saddam Hussein's dictatorship, are going to US firms while British companies miss out. The Guardian This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/29/1048653870969.html Forwarded for your information. The text and intent of the article have to stand on their own merits. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe simply because it has been handed down for many genera- tions. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of teachers, elders or wise men. Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all. Then accept it and live up to it." The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutra <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
