but IIRC, there was a media kerfuffle at the time over the intransigence of folks high in the chain not being willing to deal with the Shieks from early 2004. I have this vague recollection it was in the Economist (whose subscription I had not canceled at that time; since have done so) and in some of the papers I read most every day on the internet. I also vaguely recollect there might have been good reasons to not do so at that time due to both Iraqi and US domestic politics...

Deal cutters are indeed everywhere but my observation in the ME was that they're quite expert at it -- we westerners don't even know how to begin...

Interesting article; Thanks...