when the vice president is a former ceo of an oil company that was awarded contracts in Iraq without a fair bidding process, one must contemplate a 'conflict of interests; situation. Without competition, economic forecasters and textbooks alike would forecast a mediocre (at best) job of reconstruction and infrastructure upgrades etc associated with the private deals and contracts that have been made. well, ask yourself, are they right? the proof is right in front of you. a horrible job is being done, and a lack of competition is to blame. I cant say I blame the protestors.