Law waived (by State Dept) to allow Kuwaiti firm to build U.S. embassy in Iraq

[rodeodance]

Source: McClatchy Newspapers




Law waived to allow Kuwaiti firm to build U.S. embassy in Iraq


Jonathan S. Landay and Warren P. Strobel | McClatchy Newspapers

last updated: October 18, 2007 08:09:20 PM

WASHINGTON — Even as bombings and insurgent attacks turned Baghdad into the epicenter of Iraq's civil war, the State Department pushed hard to have a new, highly secure U.S. Embassy built there in just two years, documents reviewed by McClatchy Newspapers show.

When it solicited bids in 2005, the office that oversees embassy construction received only one proposal for the project, from J.A. Jones International of Charlotte, N.C., according to the documents.

.........

The State Department's Bureau of Overseas Building Operations (OBO) then waived a law that requires open and competitive bidding. It awarded a sole-source contract for the unclassified portions of the new embassy complex to a Kuwait-based firm, First Kuwaiti General Trading & Contracting Co.
........

Instead, the embassy construction has missed several deadlines; numerous problems have emerged, including faulty firefighting and electrical systems; and the project is the subject of a criminal investigation.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/world/v-print/story/20677.html

[rodeodance]

1. McClatchy: Criminal probe into U.S. Embassy in Iraq construction

Criminal probe into U.S. Embassy in Iraq construction
Warren P. Strobel and Jonathan S. Landay | McClatchy Newspapers

last updated: October 18, 2007 08:06:59 PM

WASHINGTON — A mortar shell smashed into the hulking new U.S. Embassy that's under construction in Baghdad last May, damaging a wall and causing minor injuries to people inside the building. It also exposed enormous problems in the management of what's become a $592 million government construction project.

The State Department contractor in charge of the project, James L. Golden, attempted to alter the scene of the blast, according to government officials familiar with the incident. The State Department inspector general prevented Department officials from investigating the incident, according to interviews and documents.
..........

U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker banished Golden from Iraq, but he continues to oversee the construction of the embassy in Baghdad; to be the liaison with the contractor, Kuwait-based First Kuwaiti General Trading and Contracting Co.; and to supervise other projects for the State Department's Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) bureau.
...........

McClatchy Newspapers has also learned that:

— Aspects of the embassy's construction are the subject of at least one U.S. government criminal investigation, according to officials in Congress and the administration. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter and declined to divulge more details for publication.......

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/v-print/story/20676.html

[DrDan]

2. a few of their major clients

US Army Corps of Engineers, (USACE)
-Halliburton, Kellog Brown & Roots (KBR)
-US Government, Army
-US Government, Marine
-US Government, Air Force for Environmental Excellence (AFCEE), subcontract through ECCI
-Bechtel

[DrDan]

3. and they seem to have an interesting approach to hiring their labor force

http://www.modelminority.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=24383&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0&sid=6301200fce6dd1d3504fcea3e1d09f52

[Barrett808]

4. k & r

[Trillo]

5. Above the laws....

why does that sound familiar.

Oh, right, just earlier today the FCC called to change rules so a high-powered media "Deal" ($$$) can go through.

To bad there's no "Deals" for healtcare for all in the U.S. Not enough "interest" ($$$) by the "deal makers" for that one.