I haven't been following this issue very closely, but I'm surprised at the number of liberals I've seen who have been against the $87 Billion proposal to help rebuild Iraq. Come on people, don't forget that the US was one who went in there and tore everything up in the first place! It's the right thing to do, even if it's difficult to afford (which I don't think it is).
You want to criticize Bush for forgetting about Afghanistan, and then criticize him again for not forgetting about Iraq?
Posted on October 24, 2003 10:56 AM
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I think ..for me at least the reluctance to spend 87 billion is not because I don't think we have an obligation to fix up these peoples country after we trashed it. Its because what the money itself is for and how it will be spent.
The money is going in these huge no-big contracts that seem to be for the giant "white elephant" construction projects. Its not humanitarian aid or even money to rebuild Iraq by actually paying Iraqis, it seems more like money being siphoned for more political lagresse.
Let me give you and example. During the early spring, a small group of Iraqi businessmen started repairing the cellular towers and selling service. When the CPA got wind of this they closed it down. The reason was because Worldcom was the "designated" supplier of phone service and they could not interfere. The fact that Worldcom screwed it up and had NO exerience with cellular service made no diffirence. Of course , the system they installed is incompatable with the european and existing iraqi system (it is the US model) and doesnt seem to work anyway.
My objection is not that we dont owe the Iraqi people.. we do.
Its that we dont owe the Presidents cronies a thing.
If the 87 billion was going to a multinational independent fund (like the marshall plan did). I would agree with it.. But its not as far as I can tell.
whew....
rant over