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December 10, 2003

Here's Your Ball

Feel free to go home:

In a policy document released on Tuesday, U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said he was limiting competition for 26 reconstruction contracts worth up to $18.6 billion that will be advertised in coming days.

He cited national security reasons for the exclusion of firms from countries that opposed the war including France and Germany. They may bid for sub-contracts.

Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's chief spokesman Bela Anda said on Wednesday that if the reports of such an exclusion were true:

"That would not be acceptable for the German government. And it wouldn't be in line with the spirit of looking to the future together and not into the past."

Actions have consequences, Herr Schroeder. Allow me to play the world's tiniest violin for you.