These people are really unbelievably inept.

They've got one friend in the world -- Tony Blair -- an they are screwing him.

Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Leak reveals ministers' fears over Iraqi contracts: "The British government, concerned about the failure of British companies to win reconstruction work in Iraq, is making a behind-the-scenes effort to lobby Washington.

Confidential documents seen by the Guardian show that ministers and officials are being mobilised to try to head off a domestic political embarrassment to Tony Blair.

Brian Wilson, the prime minister's special representative on overseas trade, and Mike O'Brien, the minister of international trade and foreign affairs, are both being dispatched to Washington next week.

Mr O'Brien is breaking off a family holiday in America to talk to US officials in the run-up to a new round of Iraq contracts being awarded next month.

Briefing papers seen by the Guardian reveal the frustration at the top of government over British companies missing out completely on the Iraqi oil rehabilitation deals on January 16."