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Tough Job: Department of Commerce Secretary Promotes Investment in Iraq?

Share / Recommend - Comment - Print - Monday, Jul 17, 06, 10:07AM

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chalabigutierrez.jpg
(U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and Ahmed Chalabi)

There are some interesting strategic advisory firms out there -- Kissinger McLarty Associates, The Albright Group LLC, The Scowcroft Group, The Ashcroft Group LLC, Wesley K. Clark & Associates -- and others that as part of their portfolio of services offer "risk analyses" of foreign market and investment conditions.

Well, here's a call for any of these firms to outsource to TWN an assessment of Iraq: BAD DEAL under current conditions.

This just in from AP:

Dozens of heavily armed attackers raided an open air market Monday in a tense town south of Baghdad, killing at least 41 people and wounding 42, police and hospital officials said.

The article goes on to note that U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez was in Baghdad at the time:

The attack occurred as U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez arrived in the Iraqi capital for meetings aimed at jump-starting Iraq's economy. Gutierrez signed an agreement with the Iraqis to encourage foreign investment, acknowledging that the country's deteriorating security made that goal a challenge.

As my friend and colleague Jim Pinkerton noted in an email to TWN this morning, this belongs on something like "UNDERSTATEMENT WATCH."

-- Steve Clemons

Reader Comments (15) - post a comment

Posted by Billy Jul 17, 10:50AM - Link

Perhaps Mr. Pinkerton will put his Stanford brains to good use, abandon Faux News propaganda network and abandon the corrupt Republican party which is jeopardizing our standing in the world. Thanks to the Republicans led by Bush, we are no longer Ronald Reagan's "beacon on the hill". That's reality.

Posted by beth Jul 17, 11:07AM - Link

But what about all the GOOD NEWS in Iraq?

Posted by Punchy Jul 17, 12:10PM - Link

It's not really a bad investment decision if your products are band-aids, guaze, needles, or caskets...

J&J needs to partner up in Baghdad, pronto.

Posted by Gary Denton Jul 17, 2:32PM - Link

The former administration official who just committed suicide had that same job.

Posted by Gary Denton Jul 17, 2:38PM - Link

Perhaps I should clarify - the former Assistant Secretary of Commerce, William Lash, who spent a great deal of his time promoting Iraqi contracts and investments.

Posted by profmarcus Jul 17, 2:53PM - Link

why, i would like to know, is a criminal like ahmed chalabi still walking around free as the breeze, doing deals, and being wooed by u.s. cabinet-level officials... haven't we soiled ourselves enough...?

Posted by Carroll Jul 17, 4:40PM - Link

Interesting, considering that I saw this not too long ago also...

"The Miami Herald said it had obtained a draft of the report to President George W. Bush, which recommends an 80-billion-dollar fund to bankroll dissidents, propaganda and aid for a post-Castro transition.

The Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba, co-chaired by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, recommended vigorous application of the 1996 Helms-Burton Act, which allows revocation or denial of US visas to foreign executives doing business in Cuba."

(Carlos Gutierrez born 1953 in Cuba, moved to US in 1960)

Now excuse me but I have to scream....ARE THERE ANY AMERICANS IN OFFICE ANYWHERE IN THIS COUNTRY?

80 BILLION TO FUND CUBAN DISSSIDENTS TO FREE CUBA? 80 BILLION OF TAXPAYER MONEY?

WHY ARE WE FULL UP ON CUBAN BORNS, POLAND BORNS, ISRAELIS BORNS....ALL SPENDING AMERICAN MONEY ON THEIR 'HOMELANDS'..THEIR "AGENDAS"

WE HAVE TOO MANY GD "EXILES" IN THIS COUNTRY USING THIS COUNTRY FOR SOME OTHER COUNTRY.

THIS DUAL LOYALTY DUAL CITIZENSHIP CRAP HAS GONE TOOOOOOOOOOOO FAR.

Posted by Matthew Jul 17, 5:09PM - Link

Carroll: They need the money because how else can the exiles in Miami sell Cuba to the mafia again, er, "liberate" it? However, if we can send Ros-Lehtinen back as part of the package, sign me up!

Posted by Carroll Jul 17, 5:23PM - Link

Matthew....I had in mind more like silver bullets and wooden stakes for the Ros-Lehtinen crowd.

Cheaper, more efficent and final.

Posted by Pissed Off American Jul 17, 7:11PM - Link

"U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and Ahmed Chalabi"

The above caption portrays one of the truly despicable aspects of this administration. As much as there is to despise themn for, at the top of the list must be their willingness to crawl in bed with ABSOLUTE SCUM.

Posted by Steve Clemons Jul 17, 10:24PM - Link

POA -- I agree with you. I'm publicly committed to making sure that Chalabi has a miserable time each and every trip he makes to Washington.

best,
Steve Clemons

Posted by Frank Jul 18, 10:17AM - Link

Have we no shame???What a disgraceful photo. How low can this administration get in sucking up to Chalabi? He must really have a lot to tell the world about how deceitful we were in getting into this Iraqi debacle. I wonder how many American guards he has around him, or hmmmmm, rather, I mean Iranian Shite guards. Or maybe, just maybe, he may be on the CIA parole.....still...How else explain this photo?

Posted by Matthew Jul 18, 7:55PM - Link

Steve: How do you accomplish that and stay out of jail? When our World Affairs Council hosted the former deputy US ambassador to Saudi, he informed us that Chalabi's political "group" couldn't even win one seat in the Iraqi parliament. And some people say the Iraqis can't handle democracy. I demur.

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