How Iraqi politicians get paid $1,000 a minute, don't make laws and live it up for free at Baghdad's

[sabra]

Source: daily mail UK

Politicians in Iraq have raked in more than $1,000 a minute for working just TWENTY minutes this year.

They picked up a fee of $90,000 and a monthly salary of $22,500 a month for doing next to nothing and staying free in Baghdad's finest hotel.

Their lavish perks and salaries emerged as the 325 lawmakers prepared to hold second parliamentary session since the election last March.

...

A politician's basic monthly salary is $10,000 - just $4,500 short of that of rank-and-file members of the U.S. Congress.

In addition, an MP gets a $12,500 monthly allowance for housing and security arrangements, for a combined total of $22,500.

They also get to spend nights free at Baghdad's Rasheed Hotel in the relatively safe environment of the Green Zone, regardless of whether parliament is in session. And they collect a $600 per day when traveling inside or out of Iraq.

Once out of office, they get 80 percent of their salary monthly for life, and for eight years they can keep the diplomatic passports that they - and often their families - are issued.

Since June, when the lawmakers first met for 20 minutes, Iraq's second elected parliament since the 2003 overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime has failed to convene.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1325597/How-Iraqi-politicians-paid-1k-minute-dont-make-laws-live-free.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

[ixion]

1. So that's what we call 'democracy' in these days of nation building...

how lame.

[herbm]

2. Just like Congress. Ain't life grand?

[NV Whino]

3. Sort of up to the Iraqi people

these days to deal with that, isn't it. Unless the salaries are coming out of our pockets.

Not to diminish the atrocity, but it's no longer our problem.

[TheWatcher]

6. Yes, it's great to just be able to wash our hands and not care isn't it?

I mean, we invade and destroy their country, based on lies and false intelligence, slaughter and torture their people, say we're "leaving" (while leaving a still sizable force over their, along with a huge embassy and permanent bases), and now we get to throw up our arms and say "Well, not my problem!"

It's great work if you can get it.

Let Freedom Reign!

:eyes:

[NV Whino]

9. A. We shouldn't have been there in the first place.

B. Having invaded, we should have left sooner.
C. The Iraqis must deal with it at this point. Our staying and interfering is not going to solve the problem. It isn't and never was our responsibility.

[TheWatcher]

10. On THAT we both agree.

We never should have invaded in the first place, and Bush and Cheney should be in JAIL.

But unfortunately, we have to "move on." You know, "for the good of the country."

I mean after all, if the people in Power can't commit crimes with reckless abandon, how can we be "safe?"

[bongbong]

4. The problem

This problem stems from the original goal set by ex-President Cheney's errand-boy bush. Recall he started the war with Iraq because he said he wanted to set up Democracy in Iraq. BTW, I think that was reason number 12 for starting the war, which was the successor to reason #11 "Saddam tried to kill my daddy".

What errand-boy bush didn't tell us was that he wanted to set up a REPUBLICAN style Democracy, which most people call instead "Fraudulent Nepotistic Mega-Criminalistic Fascism".

[indepat]

7. Your phraseology wins my gold-star award of the day for hitting the nail squarely on its

head with aplomb. :)

[Solly Mack]

5. K&R

[pattmarty]

8. Hey, it's America on the Tigris!!!!!!!! We "bought" democracy to Iraq!!!

[yurbud]

11. subtext: they won't pass the Bush drafted Hydrocarbon Law that would give 88% of oil income

to foreign oil companies.