DIPLOMACY
Bush Seeks Help of Allies Barred From Iraq Deals
By DAVID E. SANGER and DOUGLAS JEHL
Published: December 11, 2003
[]WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 — President Bush found himself in the awkward position on Wednesday of calling the leaders of France, Germany and Russia to ask them to forgive Iraq's debts, just a day after the Pentagon said it was excluding those countries and others from $18 billion in American-financed Iraqi reconstruction projects.
White House officials were fuming about the timing and the tone of the Pentagon's directive, even while conceding that they had approved the Pentagon policy of limiting contracts to 63 countries that have given the United States political or military aid in Iraq.
Many countries excluded from the list, including close allies like Canada, reacted angrily on Wednesday to the Pentagon action. They were incensed, in part, by the Pentagon's explanation in a memorandum that the restrictions were required "for the protection of the essential security interests of the United States."
The Russian defense minister, Sergei Ivanov, when asked about the Pentagon decision, responded by ruling out any debt write-off for Iraq.
The Canadian deputy prime minister, John Manley, suggested crisply that "it would be difficult" to add to the $190 million already given for reconstruction in Iraq.
Our erstwhile "Allies"are all crying like stuck pigs at being shut out of contracts for the reconstruction of Iraq. However, since they are being financed by Americas tax dollars I cannot believe that it was not expected or justified.
As to the Iraqi debt to Russia, France, Germany and the rest. Why even address the debt and it's repayment? That is something for the Iraqi government to address some time in the future. Probably the distant future.
I must add that as usual the reason given for the Pentagons action is idiotic.
But what can one expect from an administration still looking for WMD's.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/11/international/middleeast/11PREX.html?th
