# Bush & company the antidiplomat **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 10, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-company-the-antidiplomat/218198 "2003-12-10T21:09:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-company-the-antidiplomat/218198/41 "2003-12-11T19:38:55Z")
Well it isn’t “security” and it isn’t “The Little Red Hen” exception to the general rule for the expenditure of public money. The general rule requires that the contract go to the lowest bidder who can reasonably be expected to do the job. It is plain and simple an extension of the Big Dawg theory of government and of relations between governments that has been the touchstone for this administration and the economic imperialist who are its guiding lights and supporters. The Big Dawg approach holds that the US can do anything it wants to anyone they want any time they want without regard or concern for the ramifications, short term or long term, because nobody can stop us. The real question is: whose interests are served if Iraq gets no funding from anyone but the ”Coalition of the Willing” (US, UK, Spain, Italy and the Republic of Tonga) and gets no reduction, forgiveness or restructuring of debt to Russia and Old Europe. Do you suppose the exclusion of the unwilling might just put Iraq in perpetual economic peonage to the US? Unlike others I don’t think that the restriction of the contractors list shows that there is no one in charge. Rather, I suspect that it shows very much that Rumsfeld-Wolfewitz is in charge and that any attempt by the State Department that gets in the way of the “make a dependency of Iraq” agenda is going to get run over, one way or another. I trust that efforts to have Russia cut Iraq some slack on the foreign debt are now dead in the water, as are efforts to have France and Germany and Canada participate in the rebuilding operation. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-company-the-antidiplomat/218198/42 "2003-12-11T20:58:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by furlibusea \* > \*\*Somehow the 180 million Canada has given and the 40 Billion they want Russia to forgive and the 80 billion they want the EU to forgeve don’t count… but I digress) \*\* And if they actually forgiven those debts, this would be a different situation. As it is, Russia may have ensured they get neither. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Beagle_ > Every time I hear a Democratic candidate talk about how they are going to “engage our allies,” I laugh. Recently Hillary stealthily went to the right of the Bush Administration on the war. Brilliant! That proves that at least one Democrat has a working knowledge of modern history … And (surprise, surprise) it’s the one with the best, most recent insight on the way foreign policy actually works and what/who we’re dealing with. She’s also a great politician who can win elections. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Spavined Gelding \* > \*\*The Big Dawg approach holds that the US can do anything it wants to anyone they want any time they want without regard or concern for the ramifications, short term or long term, because nobody can stop us. \*\* Yep. That’s exactly the way my (pro-war Syrian, BTW) roommate phrases it when talking about the post-9/11 world. “If you kick the Big Dog too many times, he’s gonna bite you.” ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-company-the-antidiplomat/218198/43 "2003-12-11T21:33:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by furlibusea \* > **So I guess I am [wondering who is in charge.](http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/11/international/middleeast/10CND-PREX.html?hp)** Where’s Haig when you need him? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-company-the-antidiplomat/218198/44 "2003-12-13T04:16:44Z")
I mentioned this before, but Canada is NOT excluded. Bush personally called Paul Martin to tell him that reports that Canada were excluded were incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-company-the-antidiplomat/218198/45 "2003-12-13T04:36:19Z")
Well, then, this means that the whole policy is different from what they said it was yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-company-the-antidiplomat/218198/46 "2003-12-13T04:45:02Z")
[http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2003/12/12/bush\_defends\_plan\_on\_iraq\_contracts/](http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2003/12/12/bush_defends_plan_on_iraq_contracts/) > [@](#): > > As the first wave of protest crested, the Bush administration was also showing signs of flexibility. > > Bush himself told reporters early in the day that debt renegotiation “would be a significant contribution for which we would be very grateful.” Prime Minister Jean Chretien of Canada told reporters that Bush had personally expressed regret that Canada was being excluded from the postwar projects, although the White House would not confirm that account. I think “Captain army flextime” just showed some flexibility in this case, too much pressure. Nevertheless, **Sam Stone** this excuse that “Canada being excluded was incorrect” flies in the face of what occurred, and also what the prime minister said. Still related to this silliness, is the fact that Germany has also troops in Afghanistan. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south\_asia/2513547.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2513547.stm) We’ll see how flexible Bush is… ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-company-the-antidiplomat/218198/47 "2003-12-13T05:43:52Z")
> [@](#): > > We’ll see how flexible Bush is… Well, the word is that Bush is willing to at least _talk_ to the new prime minister about Canada’s exclusion from the prime contracts: > [@](#): > > Q With Mr. Martin coming to power in Canada today, can we anticipate a meeting between the President and the new Prime Minister in Monterrey or perhaps before? **And what about an exception on the Iraqi contract issue as a show of good faith to an incoming government which has pledged stronger** – > MR. McCLELLAN: First of all, President Bush very much looks forward to working with Prime Minister Martin. As you mentioned, he is assuming his new post today, and the President wishes him well in his new position. And I’m sure that they will have an opportunity to build upon a good relationship that the United States has with Canada. And **if there are issues that he wants to discuss with the President, the President would look forward to doing that**. [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/12/20031212.html](http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/12/20031212.html) ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-company-the-antidiplomat/218198/48 "2003-12-13T06:00:08Z")
> [@](#): > > “As far as Germany and France are concerned, really, this was a regrettable position they had,” Allawi said. “I don’t think the Iraqis are going to forget easily that in the hour of need, those countries wanted to neglect Iraq.” That, of course, is the position of the US goverment talking through their appointed puppet in Bagdhag. The Iraqi people OTOH seem to be expressing themselves quite clearly with their actions that they do not want their country being occupied by foreign forces and I am quite sure that if France sent some French troops the Iraqi resistance would attack them just as vigorously as they attack the Americans. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-company-the-antidiplomat/218198/49 "2003-12-13T18:11:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\*I mentioned this before, but Canada is NOT excluded. Bush personally called Paul Martin to tell him that reports that Canada were excluded were incorrect. \*\* You may be mistaken there, Sam. Unless I missed something on the news. Bush hasn’t had a chance to talk to Martin other than a brief “look forward to doing business with ya” chat. _Outgoing_ PM _Jean Chrétien_ spoke to the media and reported that he had a telephone conversation with Bush in which he was told Canada’s exclusion was incorrect. This immediately prompted a U.S. response that toatlly contradicted the PM’s assertions. Canada is most certianly _on_ the exclusion list, but that it was elligible for some of the smaller sub-contracts – and _this_ may have caused some confusion in the conversation between Bush and Chrétien. _Incoming_ PM Paul Martin complained to U.S. Ambassador Cellucci and quoting from the Toronto Star > [@](#): > > Martin was at the forefront of international condemnation of a policy that was derided by President George W. Bush’s domestic opponents as a childish punishment of long-time allies. > > Martin expressed disbelief over the U.S . position, particularly in light of Ottawa’s commitment of almost $300 million (Cdn) for Iraqi reconstruction and the government’s decision to send troops to Afghanistan. The issues has been left with Bush and Martin each saying they look forward to discussing the matter. Canadian officials optimistic that the Bush administration will “soften” their position. So there’s no error, Canada is on the list unless the Bush administration “softens.” ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-company-the-antidiplomat/218198/50 "2003-12-13T19:43:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eats\_Crayons \* > So there’s no error, Canada is on the list unless the Bush administration “softens.” [Slight nitpick] The list is actually composed of nations which we _will_ allow to bid on the contracts. Canada would have to be added in order to make it eligible. [/Slight nitpick] However IIRC, these contracts are set to be awarded in the next couple of months. That leaves Canada scant time to plead its case, and the president has only to delay things for a bit before he can tell Canada that he loves them, but unavoidable deadlines have made it impossible for them to benefit from this round of contracts. Not that Canada’s being played for a sap here or anything 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-company-the-antidiplomat/218198.md?page=2)