When is the Pentagon going to stop giving hundred million dollar contracts to Chalabi's cronies? Contracts in which Chalabi seems to get handsome 'consulting' fees? This from the LA Times Wednesday.

The U.S. Army has, for the second time, awarded a contract to supply the Iraqi security forces to a consortium of companies with little arms experience and whose participants include a friend of controversial Iraqi official Ahmad Chalabi.

ANHAM, a joint venture based in Vienna, Va., was the winner of a $259-million contract...The consortium includes many of the same companies as a group headed by Nour USA, whose contract to supply the Iraqi forces was canceled this year amid protests from competing firms and confusion surrounding the bidding procedures...

Army spokeswoman Jan Finegan identified one of ANHAM's component companies as HAIFinance, founded in part by A. Huda Farouk. Another is American International Services, of which Farouki is part-owner. Both were part of the Nour USA consortium.

Newsday's Knut Royce - the real Chalabi stalker in chief - explained when Nour won - and then lost - the first contract in this piece. And just how tight Chalabi and Farouki are. Chalabi seemed to basically drain Petra Bank, feeding the money via Farouki and then going on the lam, the first time. Royce also reports that Chalabi is reported to have personally been awarded a $2 million fee "for helping to arrange the contract." Read it and weep.

One wonders....do any of Chalabi's strong supporters have consulting fees at stake in any of these contracts?

Posted by Laura at May 27, 2004 06:54 AM