the news at 11:09 pm

Late Friday night, while you were sleeping and when all of the important news usually sneaks out from the dark back alleys of Washington DC, it was announced in a New York Times article that Bechtel is a top contender in bidding for construction projects in post war Iraq. Just hours earlier, Newsweek hinted Halliburton had pulled out of the bidding process because Cheney is their former CEO. Phew. Wouldn't want a conflict of interest tainting reconstruction of a post war Iraq.

Oops. There's a new problem.

Former Secretary of State George P. Shultz is on the board of directors at Bechtel. Oops again. There's a second problem. George P. Shultz is also on the Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee.

That's the same committee Richard Perle just relinquished the chairmanship of earlier this week. Perle had a bit of a problem with potential conflict of interest because he's in the middle of advising Global Crossing on potential defense contracts. (Don't worry, Perle's still on the DPBAC. He's just not the chair anymore.)

But, oops thrice! There's a third problem. George P. Shultz is also on the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq with Richard Perle and James Woolsey. The Committee for the Liberation of Iraq advises Condoleeza Rice on Iraq policy. James Woolsey, coincidentally, is also on the Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee. Makes you wonder which of the companies Woolsey is affiliated with are currently participating in the bidding process for reconstruction in post war Iraq.

Maybe we'll find out next Friday night.