[Ari's brother Michael] Fleischer said he wanted to serve in Iraq because he believes Bush had embarked on 'a noble path' in freeing and democratizing the country and he believed he had skills that would be helpful.

He said that from his Foreign Service stint [of 4 years in the 70's], he was already acquainted with Paul Bremer, the presidential envoy who heads the CPA.

With an assist from his brother, Ari, who 'got my resume to Bremer,' Fleischer landed interviews that led to his appointment.

Among Fleischer's key tasks was training more Iraqi businessmen in the ways of U.S.-style procurement so they can land part of the $18.4 billion in reconstruction aid the U.S. has earmarked for Iraq.

Competitive bidding "is a new world for the Iraqis," Fleischer said. Under Saddam Hussein, "it was all done by cronies. The only paradigm they know is cronyism. We are teaching them that there is an alternative system with built-in checks and built-in review."