Strike Busting in Iraq
So there’s no way the Bush Gang are going to let the strategically important Umm Qasr port be run by smelly Iraqis. Whatever about the dribbles of food aid coming through it, it’s essential that the Pentagon controls this port in order to shorten its supply lines from Kuwait. To that end, they’ve handed over control of the port to a company run by some of Bush’s very best strike-busting buddies.
Serious divisions emerged last night between Britain and America over plans for the running of Iraq’s largest port at Umm Qasr. Air Marshal Brian Burridge, Britain’s chief military officer in the Gulf, said it should be run by Iraqis as a model for the future reconstruction of the country. But earlier this week the Bush administration handed the $4.8m (�3m) contract to the private Stevedor ing Services of America (SSA). The Seattle-based firm has clashed with workers across three continents and faced accusations of being union busters. SSA will manage the port and handle cargo and shipping at Umm Qasr … The US and UK military say Umm Qasr is vital for delivery and unloading of humanitarian supplies, though some experts think it could also be very useful if the war drags on and fresh supplies are needed for the troops.