Near as I can tell, the vendors have at one time or another engaged in the age-old practice of handing out small gratuities and the arses in charge are maybe demanding those gratuities in exchange for not losing their contracts.
They want to know who to complain to because complaining locally is resulting in retaliation and the loss of their concessions contracts. I would say call the hotline, but is there even a hotline number for Baghdad? I suppose someone *could* post Mr. Howard's email...
