World spurns US appeal for $30bn to rebuild Iraq

Drudge ^ | 24 October 2003 | Stephen Castle in Brussels

[Radix]

Kofi Annan, the UN secretary general, appealed yesterday at the donor conference for Iraq for nations to give generously to tackle the disease, homelessness and malnutrition afflicting the country.

At the start of the fund-raising conference in Madrid its Spanish hosts lowered expectations by setting a $6bn (£3.5bn) target for the gathering, which is being held against the backdrop of divisions over the US-led occupation. Pledges are certain to fall short of the $30bn sought by Washington, with Europe expected to stump up about €700m (£487m) from EU and national coffers for 2004.

Moufawak al-Rabii, a member of Iraq's US-appointed Governing Council, stepped up pressure for a big cash injection by describing the deprivation in Iraq to delegates from 77 nations. Mr Rabii said more than two-thirds of Iraqis depend on food rations, less than half have access to clean drinking water and one in five children under the age of five is malnourished. Health conditions are deteriorating with maternal mortality quadrupling and diseases such as malaria returning to Iraq.

"We are thinking now of the basic needs, such as providing food and health services and fighting unemployment, which creates the environment for terrorism and which feeds terrorism," he said.

Iraq's Minister of Immigration and Refugees, Mohammed Jassem Khudair, said he needed to accommodate an estimated 4 million Iraqis displaced or driven out of the country.

President George Bush plans to set aside $20bn for Iraqi reconstruction over 18 months, although the US Senate voted to convert $10bn of the package into loans to be repaid with Iraq's oil revenues. Yesterday Washington made it clear that its aid will be paid bilaterally and not through an international trust fund administered by the UN, the World Bank and a committee of Iraqis.

With agreement having been reached on a new UN resolution, the climate of the conference is better than many expected. Japan has pledged $1.5bn for 2004, South Korea has agreed to pay $200m, and Canada has offered $150m. The World Bank has said it will lend Iraq $3bn to $5bn over the next five years. Spain has pledged a total of €300m from 2003-07, although that sum includes loans, and Britain has promised £260m in 2005-05.

Nevertheless several countries have noted a World Bank and UN estimate that Iraq could absorb no more than $5.2bn dollars in aid in 2004. And, despite agreement on the new UN resolution, countries such as France, Germany and Russia, which opposed the war, have already said they will not provide any more money. Worries about security in Iraq and the capacity of the economy to absorb large-scale aid have prompted some potential donors to delay commitments.

Diplomats hope the conference will send a signal of commitment to reconstruction, and that Arab nations will play a significant role. Mr Annan argued that the needs of the Iraqis should transcend political arguments about the country's political future. "We all look forward to the earliest possible establishment of a sovereign Iraqi government but the start of the reconstruction cannot be delayed until that day," he said.

[Radix]

Am I the only person who sees that the political world is about to be smitten by the "W" Administration with serious power, and great force?

[MEG33]

We will remember.

[larryav8r]

I think many of those delaying committments are waiting to see if W gets a 2nd term. What with the CIA "scandal" and the 9 yappy little dogs nipping at his heels, they might actually think he'll lose. Hardly surprising when you consider many of them think the UN actually works.

When 2004 rolls around though and they see the name on the desk in the Oval Office hasn't changed my guess is more money will materialize.

[Galtoid]

I can't help but think that sometimes when the "world" is against us, we are doing the right thing. Unlike the past administration, where Albright & Co. were content to talk, talk, talk . . . ad nauseum . . . thinking the problems would just go away. Bush is building a tremendous legacy for himself and our great country.

[MEG33]

You forget that Maggie was building...a pin collection.

[Unam Sanctam]

There's a lot more work to go in Iraq, particularly with the constitutional process and training the indigenous security forces. However, if it is ultimately successful, all these nations now thumbing their noses at President Bush and the Iraqi people will have made it clear that only Mr. Bush can take the credit.

[facedown]

Am I the only person who sees that the political world is about to be smitten by the "W" Administration with serious power, and great force?

You must be a chess player. It's called a pawn's gambit.

[Jumper]

Iraqi's will not forget how Germany, France and Russia has treated them throughout time, first siding with Saddam in unfavorable Iraqi trade deals (to the benefit of Germany France and Russia), thereby enabling Saddam to maintain his dictatoral grip on the now free peoples of Iraq. And now Iraqis are being snubbed by these same three countries, obstensively because they see it just and right to oppose America who is now savior to the Iraqi people.

America will neither extend advantageous trade deals nor political power to the Axis-Against-Democracy, e.g., Germany, France & Russia!

[Bob J]

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[Russ]

If we had any *alls we would deduct the 30 billion from our foreign aid and tell those countries they can come to us again with their hands out when Iraq is straightened out and not before.

[Stopislamnow]

Yup yup, was about to post that until I saw yer post.

All foreign aid, except to stout allies should cease to exist.

15 billion for African Aids? Lets just send Jorge Felos and call it even.

[Radix]

You must be a chess player. It's called a pawn's gambit.

You must be a poster after my own heart.

 

For me, nothing but wood, and no glossy sheite.

 

Pawn to King 4!

 

 

 

 

[Radix]

Considered, and for your amusement.

 

[Jorge]

So those nations who want to see the US fail in Iraq, are not donating billions to help.

Is this supposed to be a big surprise?

[WhiteGuy]

Is it possible that these "donor countries" simply have more respect for their taxpayers, and wish to put their countymen first?

Instead of sending the product of their citizens' labor to someone who did not earn it?

Just wondering...........

[FreeReign]

Is it possible that these "donor countries" simply have more respect for their taxpayers, and wish to put their countymen first? Instead of sending the product of their citizens' labor to someone who did not earn it? Just wondering...........

France, Germany and Russia wish to put the product of ther countrymen's labor first?

I don't think so.

[WhiteGuy]

France, Germany and Russia wish to put the product of ther countrymen's labor first?

I don't think so.

---

I guess our elected are in some poor company.............