Iraq rebuilding cash runs dry

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?StoryId=Cp8lH0eidAxjHCs1JyxnO

Date: Tuesday, November 25, 2003 8:55:45 AM EST

BAGHDAD, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- The fund used to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure has temporarily run dry, creating an embarrassing setback for U.S. troops overseeing it.

"It is a tough pill to swallow," Col. Ralph Baker, commander of the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Armored Division, told USA Today. "One of the hardest things I deal with right now is coming face to face with the (Iraqi) contractors who we still owe money."

The money is used for such things as hiring Iraqis to repair roads, sewers and small civic projects.

Replacement funds from the United States are not expected until next month, but commanders say the timing couldn't be worse because it will hurt U.S. credibility and the ability to win over Iraqis.

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[truthspeaker]

1. wtf?

Didn't we just rush an $87 billion spending package through the Congress? What the hell's going on over there, and where is the money?

"Follow the money."-Deep Throat

[PaDUer]

13. Stuffing..

their pockets w/ it while the people watch, then they're going to do their war cry again...Treasonists!!

[La_Serpiente]

2. Great

We have a skyrocketing deficit and the people in Iraq aren't getting their infrastructure built. This is going to look REALLY bad when it is all over.

[Military Brat]

3. No money? No problem! Just fire more Iraqis.

It's the bushie way of paying for what we broke.

[BlackFrancis]

4. Where the hell did all that money go?!?!

There needs to be a criminal investigation starting this second. Bush has one leg left to stand on and that's his "humanitarian" bullshit. If he can't even manage to get the money to Iraq before his Halliburton cohorts loot it all in transit, he needs to be in Federal prison preferably with a cellmate who thinks that stupid little smirk is horribly sexy.

I'm dead serious, this was a stupid contrived war in the first place but if they can't take billions and billions of dollars from the treasury and not wind up stiffing Iraqi contractors and that money is currently in Dick Cheney and friends swiss bank account why aren't they under the jail?

[KansDem]

5. But...but...but...

The Medicare Expansion Bill passed, assuring much-needed prescription drug coverage relief for our nation's senior citizens!

So what if we loose a few bucks in Iraq...?

on edit: Why doesn't the US Government simply outsource the government of Iraq? This might save $$$ if the Iraqi Government were handled by workers in Mexico, or SE Asia, or India, then we wouldn't need to pony up billions of dollars. C'mon! It's working for US business!

[bif]

6. Who cares?

The only thing that's important right now is what's happening to Michael Jackson.

[Barrett808]

7. It's Enron on the Tigris

Why would we expect anything else from these mobsters?

[bushisanidiot]

8. Are Arthur Anderson & Kenny Boy Lay Keeping The Accounting Records

over there? I doubt any of our hard earned tax payer money has gone where it was promised to go.. it's going to the rich because that's the only place repukes know where to throw money at!!

[Gin]

9. The military to pay Iraqis???? I bet Halliburton got paid..

The military were just on the wrong side of the payroll.

[54anickel]

10. Oh great. Now Pink Floyd's Money will be stuck in my head.

So, where did it go this time?

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

11. You Bastard! Now it's in my head as well! Aarghhh!

:-)

[Tinoire]

12. Ran dry? WTF

Just kind of like... disappeared?

Smells like roses, doesn't it!