The Bechtel File

I had the most interesting conversation when flying out of Kinshasa (then recently formerly Zaire)( then recently renamed-)DRC beside a somewhat besotted Bechtel VP who informed me of a meeting with newly-minted President Laurent Kabila during which the head of state was offered the means through which to gain access to IMF funds and threatened with a Mussolini-type fate should he renege on the deal. More interesting were his intimations that he had, prior to successful revolution that gave Kabila power, secured the use of US military aircraft to recon the Congo River for use as a MSR in lieu of non-existant land-routes... h-m-m-m... what if???