Funds for Iraq Falling Short of Pledges, Figures Show

[Snellius]

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 — Six weeks after organizers of an international donors conference in Madrid said that more than $3 billion in grants had been pledged to help Iraq with immediate needs, a new World Bank tally verifies grants of only $685 million for 2004.

The vast gap seems to have occurred largely for two reasons: some countries, like Japan, changed the nature of their commitment after the conference from immediate aid to slower, long-term help; and some that had left their intentions unclear were incorrectly assumed to be giving immediate aid.
...
In the case of Japan, a promise of large upfront cash grants shifted to the possibility of spending the money over several years. "The Japanese were looking at $1.5 billion in Madrid, but now they've decided to leave it unspecified as to which year the money is coming," an administration official said.

Saudi Arabia pledged $1.5 billion in Madrid but left unclear what form it would take; it turned out that half was to be in credits to import goods from Saudi Arabia.

Some countries similarly changed plans because of growing concerns about the political stability and the security of Iraq; some say they will donate money once the trust fund is set up; some, intent on seeing a greater United Nations role in Iraq, are reluctant to make grants during the American-led occupation.

"The problem with cash is that you don't know where it's going to end up," said an official with a donor country. "Who gets to draw this money down? The only contracts awarded for Iraq so far have been awarded by the Pentagon."

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/07/international/middleeast/07DIPL.html

[Mikimouse]

1. Sounds like

some nations said "maybe", and others probably said "yes, but only under certain conditions", and our illustrious leadership touted all of these responses as "the nations of the world recognize the importance of what we're doing in Iraq, just look at the support we're drawing from everyone." When in reality, the only thing they're drawing is flies!

[acmavm]

2. What did anyone expect? That these nations would turn the money over

to Shrub & Co. with no say in where the money was to be spent? Contrary to what those dumbshits think, the rest of the world is a hell of a lot smarter than the lunkheads in OUR government.

[Wwagsthedog]

3. Any bets on how successful James Baker's Iraq mission will be?

Iraq allegedly has about $125 billion in foreign debt. Baker is supposed to be in charge (reporting directly to dimwit) of getting the nations owed this money to forgive all or part of it. Are the bushies hanging from a tree and spinning in the wind? Aren't the Russians and the French two of the lenders in question? We'll see what happens.

[grasswire]

4. ack! It's too much!

MISERABLE FAILURE!

Lying liars!

It's a freaking kakistocracy.

[cliss]

5. Jeez. Talk about holding the money out

and then pulling it back on a fishing line! And all that talk about 2 months ago, such glowing reports about International Support and Yes, They're All Supporting Us and isn't it Wonderful???

Next, nothing. Silence on the airwaves. Now, they're taking it back, or they never meant it in the first place.

They really are telling us what they think of the US, don't they? There can be no doubt in anyone's mind any longer that the Bush White House are CLOWNS.