Iraqi government expected to have $79 billion surplus.

[tannybogus]

A new report by the Government Accountability Office estimates that the “soaring price of oil will leave the Iraqi government with a cumulative budget surplus of as much as $79 billion by year’s end.” Federal lawmakers have responded angrily to the news, noting that the U.S. government has spent $42 billion for the stabilization and reconstruction in Iraq since 2003. From a statement by House Oversight Committee chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA):

This report is going to make a lot of American families very angry. The record gas prices they are paying have turned into an economic windfall for Iraq. But the Iraqi government isn’t spending the money on rebuilding. American taxpayers are paying that bill too. This doesn’t make any sense, and the Bush Administration never should have let this happen.

The report also notes that although the Iraqi government has allocated $28 billion for similar improvements, it has spent less than $4 billion.

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/08/05/iraqi-government-expected-to-have-79-billion-surplus/

[jtrockville]

1. Frankly, I'd hold onto the dough as long as Blackwater, KBR

are hanging around. It'd be more prudent to save it until the occupiers and their thugs are out.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

2. should they spend their money

to fix things WE blew up?

[madokie]

4. I bet if you were to ask them they would agree to that so fast as to make your head swim

[niyad]

3. let's see: the iraqis didn't ask us to invade their country and destroy it, did they? the USA

bombed and destroyed lives, infrastructure, culture and history, and we expect the iraqis to pay for rebuidling????? it is, after all, THEIR oil.

americans are angry??? they SHOULD be angry--but with the murderous cabal that perpetrated this evil.

[Disturbed]

5. Does this include the $50 Billion that the US Govt. is holding that

is Iraq's money?

The Iraqi Oil will go to America, won't it?

[niyad]

6. what makes you so sure of their oil coming here? let me remind you, we INVADED and are OCCUPYING

a sovereign nation that does not want us there. we destroyed their people, their culture, their infrastructure. it's THEIR money, THEIR oil.

what part of this do you not see?

[Disturbed]

7. I see all of it. I also know that the Bush Regime is pressuring

the Iraqi Govt. to allow four Oil Giants to plunder Iraqi Oil with major profits going to the Oil Multi-Natl. Corps.

[MasonJar]

8. Good, maybe they can actually get some of their basics going

full time. We certainly haven't managed to get anything we destroyed repaired. They can also hire Iraqis to do the work.