have you ever heard of the bechtel corporation it's america's biggest construction firm and these are some of its oil projects well kuwait was one of them it helped to restore oil fields back in one thousand nine hundred one following the gulf war between the u.s. and iraq we all know how washington is passionate about oil bechtel corporation pushed for the invasion of iraq and was then i was going to construct a motorway in kosovo which by some estimates will cost the breakaway republic almost a quarter of its own budget a million euros and this is the man who pushed for the project his name is christopher dell and he's america's former ambassador to kosovo dell now has a new job according to the guardian he's been appointed project manager at the construction firm somehow i'm not surprised that he ended up joining back to well he's definitely done some good things for the company raked in loads of cash but did he do any good for the coast of ours let's ask jack davies is that on line manager editor of kosovo two point zero a pristine a base magazine thanks so much for being with us

the bechtel foundation and others we've got a lot of generous people i want to say one other thing about the club. some of you that know me better than others are aware of my politically i think inclinations on the conservative side who pains me, however, the dialog the political dialog in our country has become unfortunately bitter, contentious, derivative and one of the things that the club offers all of us is an opportunity for civilized dialog in a world that sorely needs it so congratulations to all of us particularly to the people are involved directly that with the commonwealth club and gloria and may god bless that wonderful project. thank you (clapping) and now to give us some words of prayer and benefit decision that go beyond any message arab by doug and reverend >> it's a an honor to participate in this wonderful event today. those and those are the words of living god the jewish law follows the word of in teaching codified in the sixth servant plaques sure that the opinions of the stability and the benefit of for all of informed debate over the issues effecting socialite for

allison bechtel's work is remarkable. her most recent book is called "are you my mother," and you read that book, and it's incredibly dense and interesting and intellectually satisfying. you learn a lot about the british psychoanalyst d.w. winochot. there's a lot of references to people like james joyce and people like that. let me quote from your introduction then and get into the topic of bohemianism. you say bohemians have occupied a status in society without being politically minded or even organized. the danger that they pose for the fretful of every generation is also the secret of their lasting appeal. and then in a chapter, an amazing dual biography of billy holliday and a gentleman named abe mirapol who wrote the great song "strange fruit," a writer named sharon rudolph writes: for a hundred years or so, bohemia was a safe meeting place for artists, deviants, revolutionaries, dilettantes and outcasts. perhaps this smoothed the path for change. can care to elaborate on that? >> well, art comics as i produce them a

of the largest, richest, most politically corporations in the world like boeing, general electric, bechtel, and caterpillar. in 2013 over half of ex-im's financing went to a handful of the fortune 500 companies and big wall street banks apparently benefit as well. as reported in the press recently, one former jpmorgan and citigroup banker said of ex-im's credit guarantees, quote, it's free money, unquote. so if you're politically connected bank or company, that benefits from ex-im, no doubt you would like it to continue. after all, it's a sweetheart deal for you. taxpayers shoulder the risk, you get the reward. if you work at a small business or another american company competing in the global marketplace, it's unfair. ex-im effectively taxes you while subsidizing your foreign competitors. we hear a lot from powerful voices on k street and wall street about the bank but we also should listen carefully to some voices from main street like harold richards in my district. quote, as a small business owner who exports, i think it's outrageous that my own government puts my business and other sm

allison bechtel's work is remarkable.most recent book is called "are you my mother," and you read that book, and it's incredibly dense and interesting and intellectually satisfying. you learn a lot about the british psychoanalyst d.w. winochot. there's a lot of references to people like james joyce and people like that. let me quote from your introduction then and get into the topic of bohemianism. you say bohemians have occupied a status in society without being politically minded or even organized. the danger that they pose for the fretful of every generation is also the secret of their lasting appeal. and then in a chapter, an amazing dual biography of billy holliday and a gentleman named abe mirapol who wrote the great song "strange fruit," a writer named sharon rudolph writes: for a hundred years or so, bohemia was a safe meeting place for artists, deviants, revolutionaries, dilettantes and outcasts. perhaps this smoothed the path for change. can care to elaborate on that? >> well, art comics as i produce them are in