I used to work at a company that was pursuing work in Saudi Arabia. Our guys submitted a bid way below what everybody else was asking, and then were taken aside by a government rep who very thoughtfully explained that our bid had faled to include "mobilization fees." What would this be? Why, money you pay to well-connected local firms to set up your office lease, arrange housing, drivers, administrative staff, office supplies, teaboys for the office, and…other stuff.

The cost? Way beyond the reasonable value of the actual services of course. But it was just a vehicle to channel money to the princes and their flunkies.

So the moral is: Cheney's guy wasn't even good at bribery. Too bad for him!