Who is getting the contracts to rebuild Lebanon?

[happydreams]

May as well start a topic on this now so DUers can keep their eyes and ears open. I wonder if it will be mostly Western contractors: Bechtel, Halliburton, etc. After all they are the "most qualified" chaos capitalists. :crazy:

I wonder what the money flow on this will be? Will there be a program for donor nations and/or a US fund?

I know that the Bushboy has already sent aid to Lebanon before the cease fire.

Let's keep track of this.

[angstlessk]

1. Can you spell H A L L I B U R T O N? I knew you could!

I WILL be a bush crony passing out taxpayer money, loaned to us by our benifactor China.

[cigsandcoffee]

2. I'll bet EU or Saudi companies get the nod.

Lebanon is bound to be friendlier with them than us.

[happydreams]

4. "Saudi Bin Ladin Group"......Carlyle?

Interesting.

[demosincebirth]

3. I'd say let the Iranians and the Syrians

pay for the rebuilding.

[scarletwoman]

5. Don't worry, Hizbullah is on it. Did you watch CBS evening news tonight?

In any case, I don't think the U.S. has the kind of stranglehold on the Lebanese government that would grease the wheels for Haliburton and its ilk.

More likely there will be French companies involved at the very least. I would hope that regional powers -- other Arab states or NGO's -- would take the lead in the reconstruction effort. Some Arab unity would do wonders for the balance of power in the Middle East. Iran could be an important player as well, although it puts it in a touchy political position vis-a-vis the West.

What would really be telling is if Russia and/or China decide to pitch in. Not that I've come across any indication of such, but this would be a golden opportunity for them to stake a claim in opposition to the U.S. hegemon.

sw

[happydreams]

6. Interesting take. The US has already greased the skids by

offering aid. Was there a quid-pro-quo? I don't even know if Lebanon accepted the aid.

Should be interesting to see what happens. :hi:

[Kagemusha]

8. That aid's maybe 1% of what's actually needed $-wise.

It's pathetic compared to what the Saudis have offered. Iran's not going to make public what it funnels.

[scarletwoman]

11. Early on in the Israeli war on Lebanon, I caught part of a bush speech

where he was promising all kinds of aid to Lebanon for rebuilding. The words he used were oddly familiar -- and then it came to me. These were the exact same words he used to assure both Iraqis and the residents of New Orleans: "We will help you rebuild!"

Yeah, right. It's just empty rhetoric to appease the domestic audience, it has absolutely NOTHING to do with reality. And in the event that some agency of the U.S. government actually DOES put together some sort of aid package for Lebanon, if I were Lebanon I would tell the U.S. to take their "aid" and stuff it.

sw

[happydreams]

17. I agree with you and Robbien. But if Bush can make a buck for

the Bushies or their cronies then they will. Marvin and "Bucky" Bush's finances were closely linked to Homeland Security.

Inevitably the roads and other infrastructure will have to be rebuilt and the Western capitalists have traditionally had the "know how". It will be real interesting to see if these projects are put up for competitive bidding, if they are the West may be able to low-ball the bids to get their foot in the door so to speak.

Rebuilding defeated countries is the predatory chaos capitalists mainstay. Germany after WWI and II, Kuwait, Iraq, etc. Saudi Arabia seems a likely candidate to "launder" operations.

[Robbien]

14. The US only pledged money. Bush never actually gives any money

He gets the publicity of pledging but never follows through in handing over the cash.

Africa is still waiting for the AIDs pledge Bush made four years ago and Tsunami victims have not gotten the money the US pledged it would give.

Pledges are just a PR stunt.

[Kagemusha]

7. You really think Halliburton can build there without Hezbollah's say-so?

Man, ok, they got beat up, but Israel didn't beat them up quite that bad...

[happydreams]

18. It's a good question. What I am finding out from some research on

international power brokering over the last 100 years or so is that the US or other aggressor nation will destroy, or turn a blind eye to its destruction, a country's infrastructure then come in and rebuild. To some extent the Lebonese have become accustomed to a Western lifestyle and will try to get that lifestyle back. Who else can supply the "know how". This impetus could divide them from Hezbollah and/or Hezbollah could be "assimilated"/co-opted into the Western capitalist model

Just some thoughts. This is just a brainstorming topic.

[Igel]

9. Nasrallah will be mostly in charge, I fear.

The majority of the damage is in Hezb territory, and this is a great opportunity for bribery and graft.

The culture already says to blame the least related group to the greatest extent possible, so Hezb gets no blame in this from Shi'ites. After all, they're joined at the spine in Lebanon. But if they can channel millions, or even billions, into reconstruction, well ... they have no problems buying loyalty. They know the price, and that they're the preferred recipients. Honor, Allah, and waqf.

[Subdivisions]

10. I don't condone

Nasrallah or his ideology.

However, it would seem that he is determined to do for Lebanese, Hezbollah or not, what Chimp and Chumps have completely refused and ignored doing for New Orleanians.

[Igel]

12. I think that it's easy to confuse means and goals.

He's doing all kinds of stuff for the Lebanese. Part is sincere; part is incidental to his goals.

As he said, the destruction of Hezb controlled areas, the massive refugee problem, and the deaths of civilians didn't concern him: he was more concerned about Hezbollah's dignity and goals. He's gotten considerable buy-in from the public. But public service to him as public service was to medieval monks: it's something to be done, but it is not a goal in and of itself.

I had a minister that was like that. Fine, as long as you don't cross him; he'd smile, and be helpful and supportive. Cross him on some point of doctrine or honor, and suddenly you're worse than scum. He didn't like people, he liked the people, and it didn't take much for a person to stop being one of 'the people.'

[The Stranger]

15. You speak as if you know him personally.

Actually, Israel has done a bang-up job making Nasrallah a hero for years to come. It doesn't have to do with his "goals" or someone's "dignity," they launched an invasion and murdered innocent Lebanese civilians -- many of whom never had anything to do with Hezboallah -- and now they have made him a hero.

THAT is what is going on here.

[The Stranger]

13. Actually, Hezbollah is so well-liked because it is LEAST corrupt, given

the problems with the main Lebanese Government.

And it doesn't look as if anyone from Hezbollah dumped all their stocks just before giving the order to launch the invasion -- now does it?

[happydreams]

19. Please see reply #18.

:hi:

[happydreams]

16. I read something today on the rebuilding but cannot find the article

in the Seattle PI.





Here is some general news on the relief program,etc.




http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apmideast.asp