Bush pals hired to rewrite Iraqi law

Bush pals hired to rewrite Iraqi law

Ben Wootliff

An American law firm with ties to the Bush administration has been hired to help set up a legal system in Iraq. The firm, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, has been drafted in by USAID to advise on privatising former government-held industries, structuring government economic and regulatory agencies, and developing a tax structure.

The legal deal is part of a larger package worth up to $79.6 million taken on by Bearingpoint, formerly called KPMG consultants, to advise on the restructuring of Iraq. The deal is expected to lead to several million dollars of work for Squire, Sanders, effectively as sub-contractor.

It was also announced on Friday that the administration in Iraq has appointed a JP Morgan-led consortium that includes France's Credit Lyonnais to set up and manage a trade bank for Iraq.

The Coalition Authority in Baghdad created the bank to allow Iraqi ministries and oil concerns to begin making big-ticket purchases abroad.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1032312,00.html