http://www.libertyforum.org/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=news_news&Number=293171466&page=&view=&sb=&o=>>One of the Bremer Orders in particular—No. 39—effectively allows for, “(1) privatization of Iraq’s 200 state-owned enterprises; (2) 100% foreign ownership of Iraqi businesses; (3) “national treatment” - which means no preferences for local over foreign businesses; (4) unrestricted, tax-free remittance of all profits and other funds; and (5) 40-year ownership licenses,” Juhasz writes.
In sum, those measures do not provide preference for Iraqis in doing business in their own country, while they allow foreign companies to buy Iraqi businesses and perform all of the reconstruction/rehabilitation work without being required to spend any of their money in the Iraqi economy.
Examples of Iraqis suffering as a result of the Bremer Orders are abundant.
Abu Gouda, 50, used to work in a factory of the Ministry of Military Industry. He earned one of the largest monthly salaries at the factory. Now he too is selling vegetables in the Al-Adhamiya market. “I make between 8-10000 Iraqi Dinars per day, and this is just enough to feed my family of seven.”
Sabah Ahmed used to serve on the council of his neighborhood in Bahgdad. He is currently out of a job and doesn’t know what he will do. “The economic situation is very bad,” he said with dismay. “The people are in a critical situation because of the increase in prices. Gasoline, transportation, everything is going up so much.<<