Powell: U.S. Will Help Iraq Create Jobs

[RedEarth]

I almost fell out of my chair when I saw article....


BAGHDAD, Iraq - Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) promised Iraqi leaders Friday that the United States will speed up spending to rebuild the country's infrastructure and create jobs, and said doing so will help make Iraq (news - web sites) safer.



Powell didn't announce specific figures. But Iraq's deputy prime minister, Barham Saleh, who joined Powell at a news conference, said $9 billion in U.S. reconstruction money will be disbursed by December.


Powell said the he believes a faster-paced reconstruction effort will enhance public support for the interim government.


"We want to rebuild the infrastructure. We want to create jobs," he said. "We want to show the Iraqi people that this money is being used for their benefit and do it as quickly as we can."


Powell made an unannounced visit here Friday in a show of support for the month-old interim government. In addition to Saleh, he met with Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawar.


more...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=2&u=/ap/20040730/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_powell

[hadrons]

1. well, they aren't doing it here, so maybe they can in Iraq ....

I hear the flowers on the streets are really piling up there :eyes:

[cthrumatrix]

26. bush priorities are for his $$$ in Iraq...forget the common US citizen

[mhr]

2. Unemployed 4 Years In Dallas, TX - How About Jobs Here?

Look at how Bush has destroyed the Dallas, TX economy!

[fob]

17. Boy, something seems to go seriously wrong about the 3rd week

in January 2001 on that graph. What happened then? Hmmm.

[Jazzgirl]

3. Are they going to hire the Iraqi people to rebuild their own

infrastructure? That would do a lot to create jobs immediately. Somebody built all their infrastructure before the occupation and I'm sure it was Iraqi's. Why can't they do it now? It would be a lot cheaper and give them jobs. Geez! That makes way too much sense! x(

[Tansy_Gold]

28. Your post just gave me a wild idea

I'm sure no one has ever thought of it before. It's a totally revolutionary concept that would change the course of history as we know it.

If rebuilding the Iraqi infrastructure using Iraqi labor would create jobs for Iraqis and lower Iraqi unemployment, what might happen here in the US of A if -- and I know this is really really radical, but I'm sure it would work, in theory at least -- what if we employed USofAers to rebuild the USofA infrastructure and lower USofA unemployment? Huh? Whaddya think? Could it work? Could it?

::sigh:: /sarcasm now off/

[Kool Kitty]

37. Absolutely!

Iraq is just the pilot program, and if it works, they're going to try it here! ;-)

[0007]

29. I think they're talking about building military installations,

'ya know those 14 Air Bases?

Colin is just winking us all off.

[wryter2000]

4. Suuuuuuure

Just look at what a great job they've done creating jobs here. Maybe they'll give the Iraqis a tax cut. That ought to do it.

[wellst0nev0ter]

34. No, Even Better

Have the Iraqis send their resumes to the Heritage Foundation and have their staffers pick and choose the most partisan, well-connected young Republican among them who will fuck up their country.

[democrat_patriot]

5. * can work there

in a McDonald's.

Thanks *. Don't need any jobs here, thought we did, Faux news tells me economy is chugging right along. I was worried there.

Hey *, why do you need to travel across the US to "help American's adapt to the changing economy"? You mean changing for the better? We need to adapt to all the money we're going to have? Thanks!

You asshat.

[ramapo]

6. What a racket

First they blow up the infrastructure. Then they dole out sweetheart contracts and jobs to Iraq.

Did anybody think about the infrastructure here at home? Mass transit,
old bridges, alternative energy, crumbling schools, inner cities.

How many jobs would $200,000,000,000 (my estimated cost of this fiasco) fund here at home????

[saigon68]

10. COLON BOWEL says "LET THEM EAT CAKE"

What a miserable human being.

Tell that story to all the poor and hungry in this country.

All of the citizens working at walmart. whose parents have no money for prescriptions.

[fob]

18. Either 1 million jobs at $40,000 for 5 years or 5 million jobs at $40,000

for a year. Either way quite the potential.

[Paradise]

7. Isn't that just duckey! nt

[yellowcanine]

8. This out to go over big in Michigan and other Battleground states. Hey

guys - we don't have a job for you here but there may be something for you soon in Iraq. Better get your immunizations up to date - and bring your own body armor.

[Barrett808]

9. Why don't they just ship Iraqi jobs overseas?

If it's good for America, it must be good for Iraq.

[tom_paine]

11. Colon Foul is a distgusting and disgraced liar

And how the hell are these Totalitarians create jobs in Iraq when they can't even create them here (well, there are some new burger-flipper and cashier positions now, hooray...)

Just another disgusting lie from the worst band of Dsgracefuk Totalkitarians to ever rue Americva, that INCLUDES the British in 1776!

[Pachamama]

12. Firehouses & Jobs in Iraq - What about here in America?

:eyes:

[leesa]

13. Too Funny. Will we outsource our jobs to Iraq now?

[Soaring_Eagle]

14. The complexity of the situation

really calls for much more than to bash domestic policy.

Having said that, I totally agree with the replies to this thread. We need our own infrastructure and our own economy bolstered. At the same time, there is a pressing issue that is not getting its fair due.

Kerry noted during his speech two priorities. First, to focus on creating jobs in America. His goal is to cut the sweetheart deals for corporations that take American jobs overseas.

I've been involved as a trade journalist with an industry that has seen significant harm from the outsourcing of jobs and the influx of imports from nations where wages are miniscule, but I've also managed to see two sides of this issue.

It all becomes cloudy when we consider Kerry's focus on building up America's respect abroad. As in any case, poverty often breeds crime and hatred. It is the cause of drug dealers. It is the cause of bank robberies. Even in the cae of Enron, the allure of the almighty dollar led to serious criminal acts. So, I assume we can all agree that extreme third world poverty has given rise to the hatred for Americans that now stands as our greatest foreign policy challenge.

Now, sending jobs overseas builds up foreign countries. We look at this job outsourcing and see that environmental standards and human rights issues for workers are seriously threatened. But that, in many respects, is a completely different issue. By helping other countries build their economies through the outsourcing of jobs, we create bonds with them. As their economies flourish, as in China, we stand to win the hearts of minds of those people.

At the same time, of course, we want to ensure that Americans are employed in fields that are respectable (i.e. careers and not hamburger flipping). So, I struggle again and again with how we can accomplish both.

A few short years ago, as a left-leaning fella, I was championing the act of helping foreign countries rise up out of poverty. Then the recession hit and the job outsourcing picked up significantly. Now I'm clearly conflicted.

Obviously, the issue of job creation in Iraq is a bit different. As someone mentioned, they certainly need to be in charge of their own reconstruction. We don't need Halliburton there raking in cash. We need to help Iraqis form companies and hire workers.

Still, the question remains. Do we bring the rest of the world up out of poverty or do we focus on those in our own country? It's quite a complex issue. I'm sure some would say that I have some borderline conservative views. For, it is my opinion, that Americans have all the advantages. Our unemployed workers have far more opportunities than those living in extreme poverty in foreign lands. Then again, these are our people. They are our neighbors and friends and comrades.

So what they hell do you think?

[Ripley]

19. We didn't win the hearts and minds of the Chinese...

We simply gave them all our jobs. That's what boosted their economy. They make everything we buy. They're laughing their asses off at us.

Why do we need to help Iraqi's form companies? Do you think they had no companies before? Do you think we built their cities in the first place?

NAFTA does not work for America. Period.

[Soaring_Eagle]

23. NAFTA is not the issue

in this case. The issue is how to make a good faith showing to the rest of the world instead of hoarding all of the jobs in the United States.

Some people seem to think that we have some divine right to rule the world economy.

We do not. And we must foster economic opportunity for all or we will continue to fail miserably in our efforts to convince the world's people that we are all in the same boat.

Now, you may not think we've won over the Chinese, but we have. They're now buying our cars and our computers. They are seeing the advantages of open markets and free trade. It's going to take some time to ensure that we have a level playing field because they were allowed to enter the WTO without upholding a plethora of WTO and IMF rules. But they will become market economies, and people, with money in their pockets, will have some means by which to begin seeking independence from strict government rule. Don't kid yourself. The emergence of China is not a bad thing. It's a wonderful change. We have come so far since the Cold War days, and we cannot jeopardize that by refusing to trade freely with the Chinese.

Some products might be made in foreign countries, but the profits go into the pockets of the white-collar folks in America who build these companies and help them to grow. We have so much opportunity to sell our computers and our cars and so much else in China. As sales of U.S. products overseas grow in the coming years, there will be need for more white collar workers in America. The problem we face is that we have two groups of workers, the old Industrial Era holdovers who went to work straight out of high school and those who strive to be more than cogs in a wheel.

The American factory worker is dear to my heart. I live in that world, and hardship comes with each job that is lost. At the same time, I find it difficult to have pity for those who: 1. KNEW that the U.S. economy was shifting toward a college educated workforce and 2. refused to take the steps necessary to ensure their own survival in that economy.

The misconception is that this viewpoint makes me a conservative. I still hold true to the democratic principles of opportunity for everyone, and that is what Kerry and Edwards have been talking about. They want to provide opportunities for people. They want to maximize opportunities for minorities. They want to ensure that everyone has a shot at a college education. But they also want to provide a welfare state safety net for those who do not or cannot take advantage of all of the opportunities that are available in this country.

[Ripley]

25. That's BS.

You're blaming people for not having a college degree for the loss of middle class jobs. 1. I was lucky enough to have the grades, get a loan and go to college...Do you really believe everyone in America is smart enough to get in and graduate from college with some "white collar" degree? 2. How the hell do you think they are going to pay for college...Have you looked at tuition costs lately?

If you don't think there will always be those not smart enough, or not rich enough or not priviledged enough or not cut-out to get a college degree...you are lost. And what are you suggesting...we all get MBA's in paper-pushing? Don't you think part of being a free American is pursuing the goals and livlihood that you are most suited for? Should artists and philosophers all throw away their vocations so they can be a cog in your "Metropolis" sounding future? Every person living in the filthy rich country like ours should be paid a decent wage for living here. And that means more than $5.50 an hour. That is NOT their fault. It is the government's fault. It is the fault of the greedy rich men who rule this country from their perch in an armed camp in DC and vote themselves raises every year, while they expect the poorest among us to re-educate themselves.

Well guess what Bozo...the teachers I know can't afford to LIVE while they take 2 years off to get re-educated.

Someone has to dig the ditches. Should they get a college degree for that? Or should they be paid enough to live in more than a cardboard box eating 99 cent meals 3x a day because that's all they can afford.

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

33. Can't believe this guy lasted all of eight posts...

What, are the Mods still hung over from the convention?

"hoarding all the jobs in the United States?" That's an observation so jaw-droppingly stupid I can't believe the RNC hasn't picked up on it yet.

[Tight_rope]

24. Welcome to DU Soaring_Eagle.... This is my 2 cents!

As I said in my response below. I'm sick and tired of this administration and it's fucked up priorities. I'm not saying that we shouldn't help to rebuild what we helped to destroy. But by all means, "TAKE CARE OF HOME FIRST"! I'm sure that many will agree with me on this issue.

Everyone with good values and morals knows that you can't help others without first taking care of yourself. If your don't have a home to live in, if you don't have food to eat, if you don't have clothes to wear, if you don't have a job to bring in an income that will pay your bills, how can you expect to help your neighbor get these things, when you and your family are suffering.

President Jimmy Carter works with a great charity called Habitat for Homes. In this organization, people help those that are less fortunate build homes to live in. But the story has a twist, before you the less fortunate can receive a home, you must first help to build a home for someone else who is less unfortunate. And so the clock turns. People helping people and at the same time helping themselves.

We can and should help Iraq rebuild what we help to destroy, however, we can't go around building homes for Iraqis with no one around to help us build our homes.

[montana_hazeleyes]

30. Why are jobs like "flipping hamburgers" not respectable

in your mind? What elitest crappola.

Lots of people in this country don't have a chance in hell of going to college. They do very ,very hard work to try to make a living and they are NOT stupid .

Do you not know of the rise in people having to get their meals at soup kitchens? Whole families? Do you not see homeless people in every city in America? I live in a very affluent area and they are right here also.

Soaring eagle-sounds familiar for some reason.

[Beetwasher]

15. Speeding Up Spending=Loot Quicker, We May Lose the Election

Not too subtle are they?

[Tracer]

16. 70% Unemployment in Iraq ...

... according to news reports of a few days ago.

Yet ... yet ... I've also read that there are thousands and thousands of foreign workers (other than those imported from the U.S.) in Iraq.

Eliminating the foreign workers alone might help to give Iraqis back their jobs and improve the unemployment figures.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

20. By what....outsourcing jobs from the U. S.? Piss up a rope, Powell.

[sandnsea]

21. But... but... government can't create jobs

Government has nothing to do with the economy. God, how ignorant can some people in this country be. They'll do for Iraq the exact things they refuse to do for us and people here STILL won't get it.

[Tight_rope]

22. Bush, Cheney, Powell, Rummy, Rice and the gang should go live in Iraq!

I'm sick and tired of this administration and it's fucked up priorities. I'm not saying that we shouldn't help to rebuild what we helped to destroye. But by all means, "TAKE CARE OF HOME FIRST"!

[Th1onein]

27. These people are absolutely fucking NUTS!

Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.

[Disturbed]

31. The con game continues.

The Neo Fascists are a clever bunch. They service the Multi-Corps and the MIC. Supply dictators with weapons. When the dictators become too powerful destroy them and the weapons. Appoint new dictators and sell them new weapons. It keeps the fat cats fat.

[tabasco]

32. They need to dig out the New Deal program plans.

Sounds a lot like an Iraqi New Deal to me.
- Iraqi CCC
- Iraqi WPA
- Iraqi Civil Works Project

YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK !

[WindRavenX]

35. I'd like some jobs HERE...

...ya know, for this country?
I'd really like to have a job after I graduate from college...the thought of finding a job in this current enviroment is quite scary :scared:

[dArKeR]

36. Iraq bleeds as Powell pledges fast aid - TT

A wounded Iraqi child lies in a hospital in Fallujah on Friday. The child was hurt when a US fighter jet dropped a bomb on a machine shop.
PHOTO: EPA
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/photo/2004/08/01/2003140409

Gunmen shot dead the head of a state-run teacher's institute as he left a mosque after prayers, police said yesterday, an attack in apparent retribution for his refusal to stop working for Iraqi authorities.

Militants had previously warned Ismail al-Kilabi, the head of the Mahmoudiyah Teachers Institute, 32km south of Baghdad, to quit his job following the transfer of power from US occupation forces to the interim government, police Lieutenant Ala'a Hussein said.

He had refused and gunmen ambushed and killed him after he left an evening prayer service on Friday at a mosque, Hussein said.

Iraqi militants have increasingly targeted police and other Iraqi officials they see as collaborators with coalition forces as part of their 15-month-old insurgency.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/08/01/2003181227

Republican Satan incompetence

[Swamp Rat]

38. Well fuck me with a pitchfork!

How about jobs HERE asshole!

[Tight_rope]

39. Iraq is more important because they have the oil...The US doesn't

even have jobs. We are worthless to Bushco!