Europeanfirms like Italy's EniSpA and France's TotalSAalready had substantial operationsinLibya, and the case added to mistrustbetweenBeijingandTripoli.
"Our customers were looking for something different and they didn't want that kind of locker room--type environment where you change in a common area, wait in a common area and so forth, " recalls Gordon Tareta, director of spaoperations for Hyatt.
The hand of the government in Kabul has no doubt been strengthened by negotiations over the SPA. Until now, America has led night raids by special-operations forces which have captured or killed many lower-level Taliban fighters, as well as run Bagram prison for captured insurgents both issues of concern to insurgent commanders.