Seems Like Old Times . . .

By DAVID ELLIS

The Bush Administration is considering rewarding the Iranian government for its gulf war neutrality by allowing the export of U.S. satellite technology to the fundamentalist regime. Iran wants to build a $13 billion domestic communications system and aims to buy American hardware and engineering experience. Many European firms have already made bids for satellite contracts, but the Iranians extended the deadline in the hope that U.S.-based companies would be allowed to enter the fray.

With reporting by Sidney Urquart