Rebuild Iraq Expo

Apparently just about everybody is vying for a piece of the reconstruction pie in Iraq. The "Rebuild Iraq 2005" expo coming up this April has over 1000 exhibitors from 35 countries (yes, USA is in this Expo show). This is an increase from 30 countries from last year's first ever expo. The 2005 Expo will be held at the Amman International Fair, Marj El-Hamam, Amman - Jordan, April 4 - 7, 2005. The "Rebuild Iraq 2005" website advertises the fact and makes clear that:

No country in the region has more business-generating potential than Iraq. Almost two-and-a-half thousand projects are creating massive demand for material and equipment. The U.S. government has set aside $18.6 billion for the rehabilitation of Iraq’s electricity, water, oil, health, transportation, agriculture, and telecommunications sectors. Global donors have committed a further total of $13 billion to projects in Iraq.

Power facilities and electrical grids need to be restored, oil and gas supplies nurtured, airports, roads and schools rebuilt, and seaports transformed. The country’s fiber optic network must be rehabilitated, its water infrastructure overhauled and its healthcare system reformed. The quality of education needs to be enhanced, local food production industries upgraded, and agricultural productivity increased.

Emerging Iraq is in desperate need of a full range of infrastructure \ products, services and systems, including hospital and security equipment, medicines, road and rail machinery, oil production tools, and finance and telecom systems.

Soaring demand for materials and technology in key sectors of the Iraqi economy may well exceed $150 billion in the long term. In the medium term, $60-70 billion will be needed to rebuild the country.

No wonder Germany and France are wanting to be nice again with the USA after losing their multi-billion dollar contracts with Saddam under the Oil for Food guise. They stand to make more money in the reconstruction business than the oil business. And by looking at the exhibitors list Germany has more exhibitors than the United States. Yet, it was the Liberals who were screaming bloody murder that the United States were after Iraq for its oil? Looking mighty foolish they are.

And yet over 50 Saudi companies are set to take part in the second Iraq Reconstruction Exhibition. Again, not exactly just a USA thing when it comes to reconstruction.

And how come the MSM won't pick up on this in a positive light? It is because they don't want to give President Bush any more credits on the success of the Iraq war than necessary? Typical mainstream media reaction.