WP: Countries Resist Aid To Iraq

[kskiska]

Few Pledge to Help Because of Security Fears, U.S. Control

The Bush administration's effort to secure significant pledges of money to help rebuild Iraq is meeting stiff resistance from many foreign governments because of continued concerns over security and the predominant role played by the United States, according to diplomats and aid officials.

The concerns, which were fueled by the Aug. 19 bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad and continuing doubts about the politics of the U.S. occupation, have dramatically lowered expectations for a donors conference scheduled for October. Some U.N. officials are asking whether the meeting in Madrid should be postponed until the United Nations can reinforce its team in Iraq and reach a more solid understanding with the Bush administration over the world body's role in the battered country.

The implications for U.S. taxpayers could prove significant. With postwar Iraqi revenue running lower than the administration anticipated and expenses running much higher, the administration is seeking significant help from outside. L. Paul Bremer, the coordinator of the U.S.-led occupation, said in an interview last week that "several tens of billions of dollars" will be needed in the coming year alone.

France is the most prominent country that opposes endorsing the existing occupation or substantially underwriting Iraq's expenses. But many other countries are also showing a "reluctance that is not just unfortunate, it's disgraceful," said a senior foreign diplomat in New York, who spoke on condition of anonymity. He said potential donors were in a "wait-and-see mode."

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11848-2003Sep1.html?referrer=emailarticlepg

[Robin Hood]

1. reluctance that is not just unfortunate, it's disgraceful!!! WTF?!!!

Can you believe the nerve of these turds?!! We stirred up this hornets nest, despite the pleadings from the world. We nixed every legitimate contract that Iraq had with other countries and are trying to suck off of every Iraqi oil teet. And now they think that it's disgraceful that France won't save our sorry asses, again.

What ever anonymous chickenshit chickenhawk said that, they can go screw themselves, as they have done so to the rest of America. I'm sure that they have gotten used to being told to fuck off by other countries by now. Bunch of morans.

[legin]

10. Mmmmm...

"...said a senior foreign diplomat in New York..."

A fair guess is that this is a UN guy, why else would they be in New York as opposed to Washington.

He's foreign so it has to be one of the 'coalition of the willing' and probably someone that's in there.

It's probably got to be either britain, australia or Poland.

I think it is the british UN ambassador (don't know his name and don't really want to either).

[pfitz59]

12. UN Ambassador Negraponte

Wouldn't be surprised if this asshole made the remark. he's a blight on the US.

[Raenelle]

2. Reminds me of an old Norman Mailer line--about Vietnam

paraphrase--The US acts like a mugger who, after beating up someone in an alley, stops to ask for a kiss.

:hippie:

[diamond14]

11. bush* is a pimp with a crowbar.....nt

.

[JohnyCanuck]

3. Sure they're in a "wait and see mode."

More likely they were in a, "Fuck you, you dumb sack of shit. We told you so. Now if you want us to pony up cash for reconstruction we expect to be cut in on some of those lucrative Halliburton type contracts too" mode.

[DuctapeFatwa]

4. Why pledge to Iraq when they can just give it directly to Halliburton

If any nation or other entity wishes to go out of their way to increase the already bulging coffers of the bush regime henchmen, the "donation to rebuild Iraq" route is rather circuitous and requires more paperwork than just writing a check to Cheney.

It's a question of efficiency.

[Starpass]

5. Perhaps they are trying to sink this arrogant asshole

(it's tragic that the Iraqis have to pay in blood). Read in Time mag few days after the UN bombing that a senior WH official was joyous about the bombing because he said this was going to be the "turning point" where the other nations would be outraged and want to support us with troops and money (and bow to the asshole who won't give them anything in return) and that the American people would now be so supportive of continuing whatever it takes. Polls a couple days later showed no support, no more troops, no more money, etc. And now it looks like Bush is told to go fuck himself. Since the destiny of this nation and thus the world is at stake, I pray they keep sticking it to Bush until we can get another president. But, I'll bet this slime cuts backroom deals that looks to the Americans like everyone bowed before Bush, but really Bush is putting back into their pockets from our pockets whatever they pledge. God, I hope they keep resisting him and we can get George, the worst evil doer in the world, off the world stage.

[are_we_united_yet]

6. Maybe *co

should turn to the "Coalition of the willing"

[Robin Hood]

8. Hahaha, Romania to the rescue.

lol...

[Feanorcurufinwe]

7. France position has been proven correct - there never was a threat

from Iraq. And now they are supposed to send their troops to die and spend their money to protect the oil we stole?!

[ixion]

9. lower revenues / greater costs then they expected

But I thought that Whistle Ass was supposed to be the CEO President? I guess he's running the WH the same way he ran Harken... right into the ground. This is a huge mess, and we are all going to wind up paying for it, and enriching Haliburton while we're at it, not to even mention the tragic human costs. :-(