The third man
"There are no complaints, we share in-formation, we work together," said the chair-man of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Iraq Reconstruction Task Force, William H. Lash, III. "We realize that the success of a Polish company... is a mutual success - because it's a success for the people of Iraq," he added.
Mr Lash's assertion came two days ahead of the failure of Polish arms maker PHZ Bumar to win a tender to supply arms to the Iraqi army. This is the second time that Bumar has lost to an American competitor in a tender that had to be held again following controversy and protests first time around.
In the first round, Bumar lost to Nour USA. "In that case we found through the Program Management Office that the bid was not only not successful, it did not meet the specifications," said Lash. "We have 18 billion taxpayers' dollars being spent. We have to be accountable not just to the Iraqi people and coalition partners but to Congress and American taxpayers."
But Lash pointed out last week that Poland is getting special attention in the tender process. America's friendship with Poland is especially strong in the Iraqi arena, he says, explaining, "What we're doing... particularly here in Poland, is making sure that our partners have equal access to information."
At present, Lash's task force is counseling 54 Polish companies on Iraqi reconstruction, giving them daily updates on the process. "This is a special effort that we are making for Poland," he said. "The prime contractors know that they've got good Polish firms. They know their capabilities. They know they've got experience in the Middle East. But they don't always know the firms."
The most basic procedure for a prospective Polish firm tendering for an Iraqi reconstruction contract is registration via the Internet with a prime contractor. But, according to Lash, "you seldom will see business development solely over the Internet."
Lash's task force tries to do two things. First, on occasion it has brought sub-contractors to the attention of prime contractors who are looking for cooperation. Second, "it gives the Polish firms a chance to look the prime contractors in the eye, make a presentation, and hear from the prime contractors how they can work together."
Lash identified Polimex's contract from ABB for twenty electric substations and a circa $15 million (zł.56.8 million) contract directly from the Iraqi ministry of housing as key high points in Poland's commercial activity in post-Saddam Iraq.
"We manage the information. We get it out to our coalition partners," said Lash. "The President last winter established a Central and East European regional initiative on Iraqi reconstruction, headquartered in Poland so that our partners in the region - or particularly our partners in Poland - would have [access]. Our motto is 'whatever we know in Washington, you will know in Warsaw at the same time.'"
When his attention was drawn to recently leaked British government documents voicing concerns by the key coalition partner about U.S. military policy in Iraq, Lash refused to comment. He argued that his work is in the commercial sphere, and that the security issue of reconstruction should be put to the military.
But in terms of the commercial initiative in isolation, Lash is positive. "I have spoken to most of our coalition partners... When they see [the tender process] is open, they are comfortable," he said. The extensive counseling process includes around 7,000 companies from over 90 countries, although he did indicate that there could be more Polish companies on the program.
A week ago, another key U.S. supporter, Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, told the Wall Street Journal Europe that mistakes have been made in the American invasion and occupation of Iraq, strongly criticized Israel's Gaza offensive and indicated that there is a growing tide of anti-Western sentiment in his largely Muslim but NATO-member country.
"Reconstruction is totally different from the peace initiative in Israel," said Lash. "It has not blocked efforts to move forward with free trade and stability in the region. It has not blocked discussions about Iraqi reconstruction."
Lash believes that America's struggle to promote its idea of freedom must not be confined to the Middle East. "We were in the Ukraine two weeks ago, meeting with the business sector, young graduates from business school. The focus was [on promoting] democracy and fighting corruption and bribery. Ukraine is an ally, a friend in Iraq. We still spend a lot of time talking about their election process."
"Amongst friends you can always talk about issues very candidly," he continues. "Our ambassador, our team and our government... have spent a lot of time promoting democracy [in Ukraine], as well as on election monitoring this year. It goes hand in hand. When you are trying to promote a stable investment climate, having a stable, predictable, transparent, open system is part of that. Our administration is clear that we must have a clear discussion of election issues, which we've had."
Lash recounted his personal experiences of meeting the Iraqi people. In February, Lash left the Green Zone, the international compound in Baghdad, and walked into the shopping district of Baghdad, wearing a suit and sporting an American flag on his lapel. "I had security a good twenty meters away," he said. "I was talking to young Iraqi men. You know what we talked about? Rap music, football and elections... the issue of Israel never came up once in the discussion."
According to Lash, the music of best-selling U.S. gangster rap artist 50 Cent was playing in the background. "They were playing a song I happen to know very well, In Da Club, and I said 'Hey, this is good music," Lash recalled.
"Iraqis have a priority of rebuilding their country, having democracy take root, having freedom take root. Not the claims of these various rejectionists who still cling to violence."
In a line from In Da Club, rapper 50 Cent (who has been shot nine times) says, "Been hit wit a few shells but I don't walk wit a limp." Let's hope that violence does not shatter the morale and commercial wherewithal of the Iraqi people either.
Mr Lash's assertion came two days ahead of the failure of Polish arms maker PHZ Bumar to win a tender to supply arms to the Iraqi army. This is the second time that Bumar has lost to an American competitor in a tender that had to be held again following controversy and protests first time around.
In the first round, Bumar lost to Nour USA. "In that case we found through the Program Management Office that the bid was not only not successful, it did not meet the specifications," said Lash. "We have 18 billion taxpayers' dollars being spent. We have to be accountable not just to the Iraqi people and coalition partners but to Congress and American taxpayers."
But Lash pointed out last week that Poland is getting special attention in the tender process. America's friendship with Poland is especially strong in the Iraqi arena, he says, explaining, "What we're doing... particularly here in Poland, is making sure that our partners have equal access to information."
At present, Lash's task force is counseling 54 Polish companies on Iraqi reconstruction, giving them daily updates on the process. "This is a special effort that we are making for Poland," he said. "The prime contractors know that they've got good Polish firms. They know their capabilities. They know they've got experience in the Middle East. But they don't always know the firms."
The most basic procedure for a prospective Polish firm tendering for an Iraqi reconstruction contract is registration via the Internet with a prime contractor. But, according to Lash, "you seldom will see business development solely over the Internet."
Lash's task force tries to do two things. First, on occasion it has brought sub-contractors to the attention of prime contractors who are looking for cooperation. Second, "it gives the Polish firms a chance to look the prime contractors in the eye, make a presentation, and hear from the prime contractors how they can work together."
Lash identified Polimex's contract from ABB for twenty electric substations and a circa $15 million (zł.56.8 million) contract directly from the Iraqi ministry of housing as key high points in Poland's commercial activity in post-Saddam Iraq.
"We manage the information. We get it out to our coalition partners," said Lash. "The President last winter established a Central and East European regional initiative on Iraqi reconstruction, headquartered in Poland so that our partners in the region - or particularly our partners in Poland - would have [access]. Our motto is 'whatever we know in Washington, you will know in Warsaw at the same time.'"
When his attention was drawn to recently leaked British government documents voicing concerns by the key coalition partner about U.S. military policy in Iraq, Lash refused to comment. He argued that his work is in the commercial sphere, and that the security issue of reconstruction should be put to the military.
But in terms of the commercial initiative in isolation, Lash is positive. "I have spoken to most of our coalition partners... When they see [the tender process] is open, they are comfortable," he said. The extensive counseling process includes around 7,000 companies from over 90 countries, although he did indicate that there could be more Polish companies on the program.
A week ago, another key U.S. supporter, Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, told the Wall Street Journal Europe that mistakes have been made in the American invasion and occupation of Iraq, strongly criticized Israel's Gaza offensive and indicated that there is a growing tide of anti-Western sentiment in his largely Muslim but NATO-member country.
"Reconstruction is totally different from the peace initiative in Israel," said Lash. "It has not blocked efforts to move forward with free trade and stability in the region. It has not blocked discussions about Iraqi reconstruction."
Lash believes that America's struggle to promote its idea of freedom must not be confined to the Middle East. "We were in the Ukraine two weeks ago, meeting with the business sector, young graduates from business school. The focus was [on promoting] democracy and fighting corruption and bribery. Ukraine is an ally, a friend in Iraq. We still spend a lot of time talking about their election process."
"Amongst friends you can always talk about issues very candidly," he continues. "Our ambassador, our team and our government... have spent a lot of time promoting democracy [in Ukraine], as well as on election monitoring this year. It goes hand in hand. When you are trying to promote a stable investment climate, having a stable, predictable, transparent, open system is part of that. Our administration is clear that we must have a clear discussion of election issues, which we've had."
Lash recounted his personal experiences of meeting the Iraqi people. In February, Lash left the Green Zone, the international compound in Baghdad, and walked into the shopping district of Baghdad, wearing a suit and sporting an American flag on his lapel. "I had security a good twenty meters away," he said. "I was talking to young Iraqi men. You know what we talked about? Rap music, football and elections... the issue of Israel never came up once in the discussion."
According to Lash, the music of best-selling U.S. gangster rap artist 50 Cent was playing in the background. "They were playing a song I happen to know very well, In Da Club, and I said 'Hey, this is good music," Lash recalled.
"Iraqis have a priority of rebuilding their country, having democracy take root, having freedom take root. Not the claims of these various rejectionists who still cling to violence."
In a line from In Da Club, rapper 50 Cent (who has been shot nine times) says, "Been hit wit a few shells but I don't walk wit a limp." Let's hope that violence does not shatter the morale and commercial wherewithal of the Iraqi people either.
