Luke T.
23rd May 2003, 02:15 PM
Now I am a well known free-enterprise, capitalist pig around here. One might even call me an apologist for just about everything Bush does. But I have to admit I am downright puzzled over the selection of Worldcom for the wireless contract in Iraq.
Something smells. (http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/142/business/Rivals_take_swipes_at_WorldCom_s_Iraq_deal+.shtml)
The Pentagon made an interesting choice when it hired a US company to build a small wireless phone network in Iraq: MCI, aka WorldCom Inc., perpetrator of the biggest accounting fraud in American business and not exactly a big name in cellular service.
''We don't understand why MCI would be awarded this business given its status as having committed the largest corporate fraud in history,'' said AT&T Corp. spokesman Jim McGann. ''There are many qualified, financially stable companies that could have been awarded that business, including us.''
''I was curious about it, because the last time I looked, MCI's never built out a wireless network,'' said Len Lauer, head of Sprint Corp.'s wireless division.
That infuriates WorldCom critics, who say the government has kept the company afloat while the General Services Administration barred Enron and Arthur Andersen from getting contracts after their scandals emerged.
And now the
U.S. Senate is looking into it. (http://money.cnn.com/2003/05/22/news/companies/worldcom_probe.reut/)
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Me., head of the Senate Government Affairs Committee, said Wednesday that government procurement officials have allowed WorldCom continued access to lucrative government contracts without explaining why the government should continue to do business with the company.
"The evidence of systematic fraud by WorldCom executives raises serious questions about the eligibility of this company to secure federal contracts," Collins said in a statement.
Anyone?
Somebody want to go to bat in defense of Worldcom?
Something smells. (http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/142/business/Rivals_take_swipes_at_WorldCom_s_Iraq_deal+.shtml)
The Pentagon made an interesting choice when it hired a US company to build a small wireless phone network in Iraq: MCI, aka WorldCom Inc., perpetrator of the biggest accounting fraud in American business and not exactly a big name in cellular service.
''We don't understand why MCI would be awarded this business given its status as having committed the largest corporate fraud in history,'' said AT&T Corp. spokesman Jim McGann. ''There are many qualified, financially stable companies that could have been awarded that business, including us.''
''I was curious about it, because the last time I looked, MCI's never built out a wireless network,'' said Len Lauer, head of Sprint Corp.'s wireless division.
That infuriates WorldCom critics, who say the government has kept the company afloat while the General Services Administration barred Enron and Arthur Andersen from getting contracts after their scandals emerged.
And now the
U.S. Senate is looking into it. (http://money.cnn.com/2003/05/22/news/companies/worldcom_probe.reut/)
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Me., head of the Senate Government Affairs Committee, said Wednesday that government procurement officials have allowed WorldCom continued access to lucrative government contracts without explaining why the government should continue to do business with the company.
"The evidence of systematic fraud by WorldCom executives raises serious questions about the eligibility of this company to secure federal contracts," Collins said in a statement.
Anyone?
Somebody want to go to bat in defense of Worldcom?