Posted on 12/10/2003 3:53:15 PM PST by SJackson
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 — The United States on Wednesday suggested it could be willing to open up Iraqi reconstruction contracts to countries that did not participate in the U.S.-led war if they assist ''coalition efforts'' in other ways.
''If there are additional countries that want to participate in our efforts ... the circumstances can change,'' White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters.
McClellan also said the United States believed that its new rules denying prime contracts to countries that have not helped its mission in Iraq were consistent with the rules of the World Trade Organization.
(Excerpt) Read more at famulus.msnbc.com ...
Hi Folks,
This past Tuesday I was flying from Columbia SC back to Seattle and had a short lay over in Atlanta. As I walked toward my gate I saw several young folks in Army fatigues and then during a routine stop in the men's room one of the young men (Sgt. John Schwebel from Houston, TX) was grooming himself at the sink. I asked of his presence and he laid down his razor, sat on the counter and proceeded in a lengthy conversation with me. Undoubtedly he was anxious to talk to folks about his experiences. I will attempt to summarize 20 minutes of dialogue:
* He said we (USA and President Bush) were absolutely right in going into Iraq.
* He is concerned that folks here are not getting the full story about all the reasons for going--about how evil & cruel Saddam, his sons and the whole regime were and still are.
* His unit is there to build relationships and help the transition to Iraqi control.
* We talked about the dangers there--he is stationed in Takreit--and he said it is terrible but not unbearable. The Iraqis are untrained, poorly equipped and not capable of tough combat but there are really tuff insurgents from Saudi Arabia, Libya, Jordan, Syria and he also mentioned a couple more which I can not remember.
* He projected that the USA must remain in Iraq for several years if we intend to liberate the folks. We need to have liberation as the goal not a time table for withdrawal.
* When asked about the progress he said it was slow but very certain and that each day he sees signs of folks believing us and losing some of there fear.
* This gentleman is a hero but he does not think so. He was a sailor and left the Navy years ago but right after 9/11 he joined the Army because he thinks so much of the USA and feels it his responsibility to work for world peace.
* When asked if he was alone in his thinking his response was---look around this airport---all these folks agree with me. We are all back for a couple weeks but anxious to return and finish our work.
Now, I am attaching a message that I got from an Everett friend and it certainly supports this man's view. Listen to these messages and ignore that bunch of clowns seeking the presidency that are bashing our country and our President. We can and will make the world a safer place to live.
Subject: Behind the news
Something to think about!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SINCE PRESIDENT BUSH DECLARED AN END TO MAJOR COMBAT ON MAY 1:
... The first battalion of the new Iraqi Army has graduated and is on active duty.
... Over 60,000 Iraqis now provide security to their fellow citizens.
... Nearly all of Iraq's 400 courts are functioning.
... The Iraqi judiciary is fully independent.
... On Monday, October 6 power generation hit 4,518 megawatts -- exceeding the pre-war average.
... All 22 universities and 43 technical institutes and colleges are open,as are nearly all primary and secondary schools.
... By October 1, Coalition forces had rehabbed over 1,500 schools - 500 more than their target.
... Teachers earn from 12 to 25 times their former salaries.
... All 240 hospitals and more than 1200 clinics are open.
... Doctor's salaries are at least eight times what they were under Saddam.
... Pharmaceutical distribution has gone from essentially nothing to 700 tons in May to a current total of 12,000 tons.
... The Coalition has helped administer over 22 million vaccination doses to Iraq's children.
... A Coalition program has cleared over 14,000 kilometers of Iraq's 27,000 kilometers of weed-choked canals. They now irrigate tens of thousands of farms.
This project has created jobs for more than 100,000 Iraqi men and women.
... We have restored over three-quarters of pre-war telephone services and over two-thirds of the potable water production.
... There are 4,900 full-service connections. We expect 50,000 by January first.
... The wheels of commerce are turning. From bicycles to satellite dishes to cars and trucks, businesses are coming to life in all major cities and towns.
... 95 percent of all pre-war bank customers have service and first-time customers are opening accounts daily.
... Iraqi banks are making loans to finance businesses.
... The central bank is fully independent.
... Iraq has one of the world's most growth-oriented investment and banking laws.
... Iraq (has) a single, unified currency for the first time in 15 years.
... Satellite dishes are legal.
... There is no Ministry of Information.
... There are more than 170 newspapers.
... You can buy satellite dishes on what seems like every street corner.
... Foreign journalists and everyone else are free to come and go.
... A nation that had not one single element (legislative, judicial or executive) of a representative government, does.
... In Baghdad alone residents have selected 88 advisory councils. Baghdad's first democratic transfer of power in 35 years happened when the city council elected its new chairman.
... Today in Iraq chambers of commerce, business, school and professional organizations are electing their leaders all over the country.
... 25 ministers, selected by the most representative governing body in Iraq's history, run the day-to-day business of government.
... The Iraqi government regularly participates in international events. Since July the Iraqi government has been represented in over two dozen international meetings, including those of the UN General Assembly, the Arab League, the World Bank and IMF and, today, the Islamic Conference Summit. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today announced that it is reopening over 30 Iraqi embassies around the world.
... Shia religious festivals that were all but banned, aren't.
... For the first time in 35 years, in Karbala thousands of Shiites celebrate the pilgrimage of the 12th Imam.
... The Coalition has completed over 13,000 reconstruction projects, large and small, as part of (a) strategic plan for the reconstruction of Iraq.
... Uday and Qusay are dead - and no longer feeding innocent Iraqis to his zoo lions, raping the young daughters of local leaders to force cooperation, torturing Iraq's soccer players for losing games...murdering critics.
... Children aren't imprisoned or murdered when their parents disagree with the government.
... Political opponents aren't imprisoned, tortured, executed, maimed, or are forced to watch their families die for disagreeing with Saddam.
... Millions of long-suffering Iraqis no longer live in perpetual terror.
... Saudis will hold municipal elections.
... Qatar is reforming education to give more choices to parents.
... Jordan is accelerating market economic reforms.
... The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded for the first time to an Iranian -- a Muslim woman who speaks out with courage for human rights, for democracy and for peace.
... Saddam is gone.
Since ... Iraq is free.
NOT BAD FOR AN ADMINISTRATION:
WITH NO PLAN.
NO DIRECTION
WAS GOING TO BE SLAUGHTERED GOING INTO BAGHDAD
WAS ONLY IN THIS FOR THE OIL.
Should have used that on the Saudis, Egypt, Jordan and a few other nations we're allowing to contract, despite their lack of support.
Of course, the three nations I mentioned did supply troops, to the other side.
Also, a lack of support is something all together different from obstruction. If France had only with held support they wouldn't be in the dog house right now. France could've played the diplomatic game- "Denounce denounce the war" while de facto not obstructing it and secretly assisting where it can. Jordan plays this game very skillfully, France should learn from them
It's made up.
We're telling Germany, France, and Canada to write off those loans to Saddam if they want in.
I think this makes sense had we stuck with the coalition list, the "you're with us or against us" thing. But when you arbitrarily change the list, adding about 15 countries including a number of hostile (IMO) Arab states, you open yourself to criticism. That was foolish. I hope we stand by our initial decision though, because our foreign policy is looking increasingly vulnerable to the daily soundbite.
A reasonable condition. Why didn't we ask the Saudis and Egyptians (and others) for a quid pro quo before adding them to the list My criticism pertains to the lack of consistancy and foresight. We knew this would be a widely criticized move. Why didn't we stick to the coalition list? And why are there stories (sourced, credible) that seem to imply we're reconsidering? If we're taking a stand, stick with it. If France and Germany are out, stick with it. If loan forgiveness is the price, we should have said it upfront.
I guess I don't like the State Dept. I think they've let GWB down.
Exactly my point. Denouncing the war is acceptable behavior. No Arab nation really tried to prevent the war though did they? They denounced but this was to placate their own population- not to actually prevent the war from happening. Jordan and Saudi played the game from both sides in this manner- denouncing it for their public and their local press (which they control anyway) but covertly offering support. France could've done the same but they chose the obstructionist method instead and this is what they get. The French could learn from the Arabs, methinks.
Jordan supported the war, they should rightly get some of the action.
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