Nightline has the Natsios interview (4/23/03) for $30. Do I buy?

[Mugsy]

I remember watching it when it first aired on April 23, 2003.

I just found it for sale on Nightline's video archive order page. But they want $30. I'm not sure I'm willing to shell out that kind of cash just because I can't find a copy of the video on the web. Anyone willing to go halvsies with me on this? :)

(Order page)

Anderw Natsios, the Director of "USAid", in an interview with an incredulous Ted Koppel, REPEATEDLY INSISTED that the cost to the U.S. taxpayer for the reconstructing Iraq would be (quote) "$1.7 Billion tops." He was very emphatic about it:

TED KOPPEL
(Off Camera) Well, it's a, I think you'll agree, this is a much bigger project than any that's been talked about. Indeed, I understand that more money is expected to be spent on this than was spent on the entire Marshall Plan for the rebuilding of Europe after World War II.

ANDREW NATSIOS
No, no. This doesn't even compare remotely with the size of the Marshall Plan.

TED KOPPEL
(Off Camera) The Marshall Plan was $97 billion.

ANDREW NATSIOS
This is 1.7 billion.

TED KOPPEL
(Off Camera) All right, this is the first. I mean, when you talk about 1.7, you're not suggesting that the rebuilding of Iraq is gonna be done for $1.7 billion?

ANDREW NATSIOS
Well, in terms of the American taxpayers contribution, I do, this is it for the US. The rest of the rebuilding of Iraq will be done by other countries who have already made pledges, Britain, Germany, Norway, Japan, Canada, and Iraqi oil revenues, eventually in several years, when it's up and running and there's a new government that's been democratically elected, will finish the job with their own revenues. They're going to get in $20 billion a year in oil revenues. But the American part of this will be 1.7 billion. We have no plans for any further-on funding for this.

What does anyone think? :)

[Spinzonner]

1. That they know nothing and will say anything

for public consumption to try and get their way.