Bush is Right Not to Give Contracts to Countries Opposed the Iraq War

December 11, 2003

Bush said money to rebuild Iraq will be given to countries which supported U.S. efforts to rid Iraq of its evil dictator. Bush was correct when he said today, "It's very simple. Our people risked their lives. Friendly coalition folks risked their lives, and therefore the contracting is going to reflect that, and that's what the US taxpayers expect."

Bush went on to say, "If these countries want to participate in helping the world become more secure, by enabling Iraq to emerge as a free and peaceful country, one way to contribute is through debt restructuring."

The Iraqi debt is about $120 billion, all generated by Saddam Hussein with money from France and Russia. These countries are now whining about the contract policy and still expect the future Iraqi government to repay the debt.

These countries have said the U.S. action could be illegal and would take the issue to the World Court. They think international law may apply in awarding our contracts. To that, Bush said, "International law? I better call my lawyer."

Russia, Germany and France have to stop whining, accept reality and the consequences of their past behavior.

Money for contracts to rebuild Iraq, is from American taxpayers. It isn't from a communal pot like a U.N. program. Who are they to demand any money from the U.S. taxpayer?  If they got a contract, it would be rewarding them for their deceitful and outrageous conduct before and after the war.

The countries which opposed our invasion of Iraq:

◊   Not only opposed the pending war action, they paid others to go along with them or made threats for a favorable U.N. vote.  They cheated in diplomacy.

◊   Criticized us every day and made threats against us before and after the war.

◊   Worked actively with Saddam Hussein up to the day the war started, even giving him intelligence to help kill our troops when we invaded. Their denials of this were hollow and untrue.

◊   Gave multi-billion dollar loans to Hussein so he could buy arms and weapons now used to kill our troops. They financed and politically supported a dictatorship that killed thousands of Iraqi citizens.

Many months ago, Bush said there would be consequences for nations which actively opposed our efforts in Iraq.

Payback can be a bitch. In this case it will be. That's good!