Bush Defends Iraq Contract Decision

Reuters ^ | 12/11/03 | Reuters

[Pikamax]

Bush Defends Iraq Contract Decision Thu December 11, 2003 11:17 AM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush on Thursday rejected European criticism of his decision to bar Iraq war opponents from $18.6 billion in U.S.-funded reconstruction projects in Iraq, saying the contracts would be reserved for those countries that risked lives in Iraq. Bush told reporters that U.S. taxpayers would want it no other way, to allow U.S. supporters of the postwar mission in Iraq to compete for the contracts, rather than let opponents like France, Germany and Russia seek them as well.

"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 U.S. taxpayers expect," Bush said.

The decision to bar war opponents like France, Russia and Germany from the contracts generated outrage in Europe and came as Bush prepared to send envoy James Baker to key capitals to seek debt restructuring for Iraq.

"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," Bush said.

[putupon]

Why is defending what he did right? I want to hear his excuse for trashing the Constitution.

[Broadside Joe]

"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 U.S. taxpayers expect," Bush said.

Say it slower Mr President so the children will catch on. And repeat it if necessary.

[hapy]

France Germany and Russia can kiss my behind!

I would be pissed if we gave them anything accept a kiss in the arse!

[Lance Romance]

Huh? Are you another Patriot Act wacko?

[Alberta's Child]

I don't have a problem with the Bush administration's decision on this matter, but the way they went about with respect to one of the affected countries (Russia) was utterly amateurish.

The fact that this decision was made public just as the Bush Administration has been trying to convince the Russians to forgive Iraq's $8 billion debt points to some serious lack of coherence on the part of the United States.

What the hell were these folks at the State Department and the Pentagon thinking?

[Broadside Joe]

That's just too bad. They were all warned that this would happen before the war began. So who is being childish?

"What the hell were these folks at the State Department and the Pentagon thinking?"

It's called good cop bad cop. Pay attention you may learn something.

[putupon]

Huh? Are you another Patriot Act wacko?

Naw, that's not on my radar screen.

Here's my rant of the day:

Federalist Paper 45, James Madison wrote:"The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the Federal Government, are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State Governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation and foreign commerce; with which last the power of taxation will for the most part be connected. The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects, which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties and properties of the people; and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the State."

I don't want to die at the hands of terrorists, so I'll vote against the DimRATs, but I'm not going to call it a vote for the Constitution trashing, Medicine Socialing, pocket picker for African Dictators, Teddy Kennedy education boondoogle ally, borders wide open, steel tariff imposing, 16% budget increasing, airport deadbeat federalizing, BIG GOVT, Nanny State, low-life enough to use the WOT to hold us hostage, RINO known as Commissar Bush.

Read Walter E. Williams at Jewish World Review.

Bush, the 'RATs, the RINOs, SCOTUS all think they know better than the Founding Fathers, what a bunch of arrogant arseholes!

The Liberal GOP has sold us out list:

Downpayment Aid OK'd for Poor Families(More Income Confiscation, Wealth Redistribution)
Bush aides anger GOP lawmakers on consular Ids(Open Borders for All)
UNESCO Welcomes US, For a Few Dollars More (Undoing Reagan)
$15b Sought to Fight AIDS(Bribes for African Dictators)
Lay off Arafat, Powell tells Israel(Double standard terrorism enablers)
Steel Tariffs Cost Jobs(Free trade party? Ha!)
The Sky’s the Limit: Medicare’s Upwardly Mobile Drug Cost Projections(Socialized Medicine, HillaryCare Lite)
Estrada withdraws name from court consideration(no support from GOP Senators)
'Bush totally against scrapping H1-B visas'
'Open Fields' bill would pay farmers to open lands to public use

[Mr. Lucky]

And just exactly which part of the Constitution requires the President to abdicate American foreign policy to the perfumed princes of Europe?

[Strider]

It's called good cop bad cop. Pay attention you may learn something.

Yes, 'Strategery'.

I've learned to never underestimate President Bush. I hope the demorats never catch on.

[Broadside Joe]

You can tell how well it's working by the pitch of their screams. :)

[Lizavetta]

What do you wanna bet that the same people who whine over Bush's 'dictatorial tactics' in denying contracts to those who wouldn't support the war turn out to be the same people who would gladly deny government contracts to businesses who do not provide health insurance coverage for their gay employees' lovers, or who do not pay their employees a 'living wage'.

Oh, the irony.....

[Alberta's Child]

It's called good cop bad cop. Pay attention you may learn something.

Oh, I know how it works. But get ready for the ultimate anti-Bush rantings from the conservative base once this policy is selectively ignored and Russia is given $8 billion worth of contracts in post-war Iraq.

[cynicom]

That 8 billion was not for food and medicine. It was for war making material. Let the Ruskies eat it.

[Broadside Joe]

And the dems can't complain either because this is exactly what was being debated (and intended) for the 87 billion dollar funding bill. (including the dwarfs that voted for it)

[putupon]

Wrong topic, I said he was right on that issue, I wanted the excuse for trashing free speech, among other leftwing policies on The List.

The point is he is using the WOT to force us to swallow his socialist domestic agenda.

[Broadside Joe]

Not going to happen. They will either have to put boots on the ground or do something else in return. I believe they are tired of the 2 faces of Putin.

[Alberta's Child]

Actually, it was probably for oil exploration/transportation infrastructure more than anything else.

But it doesn't matter what it was for -- it's still a legitimate debt. And the U.S. is going to figure out a way to pay it one way or another even if it is officially "canceled."

[Redleg Duke]

Oh, don't waste your time with this fruitcake. The only thing that makes his kind more angry about the President is when the President does something right.

His kind are pissed off a lot.

[Alberta's Child]

They will either have to put boots on the ground or do something else in return.

Of course they'll do something in return, but it won't involve a Russian military presence in Iraq. Maybe it will involve a lack of a Russian (nuclear) military presence in Iran. They are going to get their $8 billion one way or another, because the price of not paying them is far more than $8 billion.