Iraqi official says limited German, French help won't be forgotten

CNN.com ^ | October 23, 2003

[debg]

A top Iraqi official attending an international conference on raising funds to rebuild Iraq warned Thursday that France and Germany's limited donations would not be forgotten.

Ayad Allawi, the current head of Iraq's U.S.-appointed governing council, said he hoped German and French officials would reconsider their decision not to boost their contributions beyond funds already pledged through the European Union.

[Michael81Dus]

Following the recent downward growth forecast revisions of the country's leading economics institutes, the Economics Ministry on Thursday said the German economy would stagnate this year. Minutes later, the Finance Ministry jumped on the bad news bandwagon, announcing that deficit spending for the year would reach a previously unsurpassed €43.4 billion ($53.1 billion.)

Though Economics Minister Wolfgang Clement shaved estimated growth from 0.75 to zero for 2003, the news did come with a silver lining. In 2004, the government expects modest growth of 1.7 percent.


And anybody expects Germany to give more money for Iraq??

[Dog]

By some estimates we(America) took a $1 TRILLION dollar hit from the 9/11 attacks and aftermath......by we will contribute $20 billion to the rebuilding of Iraq.

Don't tell me how Germany can't afford a couple of hundred million.

[OpusatFR]

And it looks like the German economy will take an ever bigger hit.

Time to boycott German products. Guess I won't be buying shares of a German steelmaker after all.

[Michael81Dus]

Germany gives $ 200,000,000 - more cannot be paid. Different to the US, we have lots of debts to pay (today: 1,300,000,000,000 €) and we have to take care the the deficit is not too high, because of the Euro. Our wallet is empty, the taxes are expected to be at a new low while the taxation is nearly at an all-time high. You can read the economic predictions above... sad enough, but the worst case scenario becomes reality, Iraq is currently not one of our problems.

[netmilsmom]

>>By some estimates we(America) took a $1 TRILLION dollar hit from the 9/11 attacks and aftermath......by we will contribute $20 billion to the rebuilding of Iraq.
Don't tell me how Germany can't afford a couple of hundred million. <<

The difference is that we are caring people....

[seamus]

Those countries have been opposed to what they see as too much U.S. control of the reconstruction process.

Boo effin' hoo! We dedicate $20 billion to the reconstruction -- at considerable political cost to the president, not to mention our own deficit. On top of that, we spend around $175 billion to liberate Iraq and keep our troops on the ground for security. And Europe, who didn't lift a finger, now says they won't give any money because we have "too much control of the reconstruction??!!

We don't want control. We'd happily give it to the U.N. if it had ever proven competent at nation-building. Unfortunately, to make sure our enormous sacrifice in blood and treasure -- for the sake of the oppressed Iraqi people and the security of free nations -- we want to keep our hands on the wheel before the paddleboat gets too far downstream.

Remind me never to vacation in France or Germany, so I don't contribute too much to the reconstruction of their failed socialist economies.

[Dog]

Our wallet is empty, the taxes are expected to be at a new low while the taxation is nearly at an all-time high.

And who is to blame ??

Your countrymen bought what Schroeder was selling hook line and sinker.... being a cradle to grave welfare state can get very expensive.

[Post Toasties]

Our wallet is empty, the taxes are expected to be at a new low while the taxation is nearly at an all-time high.

Higher rates and lower revenue. That comes with the territory with socialism.

[WHBates]

"Our wallet is empty, the taxes are expected to be at a new low while the taxation is nearly at an all-time high."

Reminder to self - Remember this reason on the list reasons to never vote for a Democrat again for any office on any level.

[river rat]

" Iraq is currently not one of our problems."

True, but the feckless imbeciles in your government made it a bigger and more costly problem for us to solve....
French and German steadfast support and protection of Saddam - gave him false hope and made it necessary for the U.S. to resort to WAR to enforce the U.N. Resolutions that France and Germany voted FOR!
Many in America believe this suppport was related more to profit motive than one of principal......Hell, we all know the French whore has no principals..... We expected MORE from the Germans.

There are large numbers Americans that will NOT forget the inexcusable behavior of France and Germany....
We will shop very carefully in the future - to AVOID French and German products....

If neither Germany or France can "afford" to help financially -- they could certainly do what "diplomats" do so well --- is support us with their MOUTHS....or VOTES.

But even there, they chose to demean and insult our President and our efforts in Iraq.

This has become an issue that will NOT soon be forgotten...
This is NOT a temporary "rough spot" in the road.....this has become major detour.

Semper Fi

[Cobra64]

Remind me never to vacation in France or Germany, so I don't contribute too much to the reconstruction of their failed socialist economies.

I've worrked in these two countries as a business analyst and software application consultant. The project was based in Antwerpen, Belgium. The French were so arrogant that they would not go to dinner with the rest of the 18 man project team (Spain, Germany, France, UK, Belians, and USA). EVERYONE HATES the French. Even their own European neighbors; and vice versa.

As a Yank, I kept my mouth shut and let these Europeans verbally spank the French.

Bliss would be that, IF, another terrorist attack happens, I don't want it on our soil, but I would NOT shed a tear if the Eiffel Tower dropped the way the way in which we were attacked two years ago. I lived in upstate NY near West Point, and we saw the smoke from the WTC 40 miles away from Manhatten.

/endrant

[NordP]

Drive on over to the dealership, W - we've got to return this baby!

No More German Free Rides

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Isn't that the BMW they make here in South Carolina?

[debg]

It could be said then that Old Europe is in fiscal stagnation while New Europe flourishes. After all, New Europe found the funds and fortitude to support the change in Iraq.

[Redcoat LI]

Yes,the Z4 and its predecessor the Z3 are made in the U.S.
The picture was taken in Portugal,though.

[NordP]

Thank you so much - I thought George looked fabulous in this James Bond car....

In my heart, I MUST have known it was made here in America!!!

thanks for the idea!

[Colonel_Flagg]

"As far as Germany and France are concerned, really, this was a regrettable position they had," Allawi said. "I don't think the Iraqis are going to forget easily that in the hour of need, those countries wanted to neglect Iraq."

They neglected Iraq long before then. So it's not surprising they shouldn't wish to change their tune now.

[Michael81Dus]

Actually the Kohl government made serious mistakes. But under Schröder things went worse.

It´s just that one cannot blame us now for the refusal to contribute for Iraq- because it is the economy and not the political will that leads us to close our wallet for third countries.

[Michael81Dus]

French deficit is also very high. But different to us, they don´t have had a broken communist country to integrate again in their society, which has cost us more than a trillion.

And they´re not even showing the will to reforms... makes me angry. For me - and this is also a credit I can give FR - the French are the worst neighbours. I´m actually promoting aversions against France in my environment.

As far as your post concerned Schröder: don´t worry, this won´t take long. Lately in 2006, but more likely in May 2005 his government is at an end.