Iraq: SOMEBODY, (but not us), NEEDS TO PAY FOR THIS!
Remember back in the run-up to the Iraq invasion, when some dumbass said that they were, "dealing with a country that can really finance its own reconstruction"? Well, a couple of Senators has decided that after five years, they should really look into why that hasn't happened.
Two senators are asking congressional investigators to look at Iraq's oil revenues and see if the war-ravaged nation can pay for its own reconstruction, an effort that has been bankrolled to this point mostly by U.S. taxpayers.
Carl Levin, D-Michigan, and John Warner, R-Virginia, said in their Friday letter to the Government Accountability Office that Iraq has "tremendous resources" in banks worldwide but is doing little to improve security and reconstruction efforts.
Iraqi officials did not immediately respond to the senators' allegations.
"We believe that it has been overwhelmingly U.S. taxpayer money that has funded Iraq reconstruction over the last five years, despite Iraq earning billions of dollars in oil revenue over that time period that have ended up in non-Iraqi banks," wrote the senators, who are their party's top members on the Armed Services Committee.
I agree, they really need to look into why members of the Iraqi government are assiduously moving money into out-of-state bank accounts. It can't be because these mostly former exiles don't have much confidence in the continued stability of their US-backed regime and want to ensure they have a nice tidy nest-egg tucked safely away somewhere, can it?
Of course not! The surge is working! iraq is a success just waiting to happen, and these Iraqis need to start showing some confidence by investing those oil revenues into rebuilding all the stuff the US army has blown up. After all, when you invade a country under false, misleading, and continually shifting rationales, it is only right that the people you've conquered be forced to foot the bill for the damage you've caused.
Sure, with the Iraqis running their own reconstruction, Halliburton is unlikely to get as many no-bid contracts. But with their former CEO on the way out of the White House, that gravy train was probably about to dry up anyway.
And if that doesn't work, the folks over at The Astute Bloggers have a solution: (Note: No, this isn't a parody site.)
I think that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and Qatar and the rest of the nations in the region - (including Iran!) - should help underwrite tHe costs of this heroic and noble effort.
They should give the USA $400 billion.
They have the money. Especially now with oil at/near/or over $100/barrel.
THEY ALL SEND PLENTY TO MILITANT MADRASSAS AROUND THE WORLD. WHY OT SEND THAT MONEY TO THE USA INSTEAD?
The money would help the USA continue to take the lead in the war - on all its fronts.
But more importantly it would be just: Those who benefit the most should share the costs.
If they won't send troops, then they must send money.
Or be seen as ungrateful dogs.
The choice is theirs.
ARABS: ARE YOU DOGS, OR ARE YOU HONORABLE MEN? ARE YOU EVEN CAPABLE OF HONOR? THEN SHOW US. Actions speak louder than words. If you don't send us the money, then you have really told us who you all really are: ungrateful dogs.
Now who could refuse a reasonable plea for aid like that?
Edited for clarity
