The War Dividend: The British Companies Making a Fortune...Iraq

[Gloria]

From the new World Media Watch up now at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical
Tomorrow at Buzzflash.com


2//The Independent, UK Published: 13 March 2006

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article350959.ece



THE WAR DIVIDEND: THE BRITISH COMPANIES MAKING A FORTUNE OUT OF CONFLICT-RIVEN IRAQ



By Robert Verkaik



British businesses have profited by at least £1.1bn since coalition forces toppled Saddam Hussein three years ago, the first comprehensive investigation into UK corporate investment in Iraq has found.

The company roll-call of post-war profiteers includes some of the best known names in Britain's boardrooms as well many who would prefer to remain anonymous. They come from private security services, banks, PR consultancies, urban planning consortiums, oil companies, architects offices and energy advisory bodies.

(SNIP)

The evidence of massive investments and the promise of more multimillion-pound profits to come was discovered in a joint investigation by Corporate Watch, an independent watchdog, and The Independent.

The findings show how much is stake if Britain were to withdraw military protection from Iraq. British company involvement at the top of Iraq's new political and economic structures means Iraq will be forced to rely on British business for many years to come.

(SNIP)

The waters are further muddied by the Government's refusal to release the names of companies it has helped to win contracts in Iraq.

Many of the companies enjoy long-standing relationships with Labour and now have a financial stake in the reconstruction of Iraq in Britain's image. Of the total profits published in the report, the British taxpayer has had to meet a bill for £78m while the US taxpayer's contribution to UK corporate earnings in Iraq is nearly nine times that. Iraqis themselves have paid British company directors £150m.

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[Kagemusha]

1. That much? They were being shut out hard early on.

Perhaps 1.1 bil pounds is low compared to what they hoped.

[NYC]

2. Private corporations profit from wars.

Same as here. That's why they shouldn't be allowed to influence politicians to start wars.

[salin]

3. In the past this was viewed as war-profiteering, not a

dividend.

[izzie]

4. I said this from the start, we will never find the money they steal from u

Once they put party people in to run that country, as they did, the money was gone. Same as in NO. There is no one to watch it and Congress just wants to get in on the greed. This has been a way of life for Bush so why would we think it would change now? He has always had his hand in some ones pocket. I am sure that his party people know his history in business so knew what they also could get away with.

[Barrett808]

5. British firms enjoy billion-pound Iraq war dividend

LONDON (AFP) - British businesses have profited by at least 1.1 billion pounds (1.9 billion dollars) since coalition forces toppled

Saddam Hussein three years ago, The Independent newspaper reported.

Thanks to the "war dividend" 61 British companies have benefited from contracts and investments in

Iraq, according to a joint investigation by independent watchdog Corporate Watch and The Independent.

The amount involved could be the tip of the iceberg, according to the study, because many companies prefer to keep their Iraq relationship secret.

The companies involved include private security services firms, banks, PR consultancies, urban planning consortiums, oil companies, architects' offices and energy advisory bodies, said the paper which has always opposed the war in Iraq.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060313/wl_mideast_afp/britainiraqbusiness

[donkeyotay]

6. War profiteers brought us this war as a business decision

Bush, the GOP, the privatized military... they are all profiting from the world's suffering. Blair's elite will go to work for the British version of Carlyle... bunch of vampires, blood-letting rat bastards destroyed America while lying about stopping commies and homos...

Betch you these guys think they're real patriots, too.