Posted on 12/13/2003 4:21:30 PM PST by ejdrapes
BRUSSELS (AFP) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair sided with the Bush administration in the row over Iraqi reconstruction contracts, saying the United States gets the last word on how it spends its own billions. Speaking at the EU summit in Brussels, Blair said a stable, prosperous Iraq was in Europe's own interests -- but that didn't automatically mean that European nations which opposed to the US-led war should share in the spoils. "It's very important to emphasise that this is American money (being spent on Iraqi reconstruction)," he told reporters. "It's for the Americans to decide how they spend their money." The US Congress has earmarked 18.6 billioon (15.26 billion euros) for Iraq's reconstruction. But US deputy defense secretary Paul Wolfowitz, in a decision dated December 5 but made public only on Tuesday, restricted prime Iraq reconstruction contracts to firms in countries -- including Britain -- that backed the war. Wolfowitz cited US security interests and the need to encourage countries to provide troops for Iraq as the reason for limiting tenders. President George W. Bush on Thursday defended the decision, which drew fire from France, Germany, Russia, Canada and the European Commission, even as Washington ramped up its effort to get those countries to forgive Iraqi debt. Blair was Bush's staunchest ally in the run-up to the March invasion by US, British and other coalition forces of Iraq that led to the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime. Blair said Friday: "Whatever the different views on the wisdom of the conflict, there's a clear sense that Iraqi reconstruction is in the interests of all the members of the European Union." Blair's defence of the US position on Iraqi contracts echoed the line set out the day before by his foreign secretary Jack Straw. "The US Congress is fully entitled to say that tax dollars there should be spent in one way, and in this particular case on contracts limited to those active allies in Iraq, rather than in another way," said Straw in London. Blair sides with Bush in Iraqi contracts row
Has this gotten much play in the media? Gee, I wonder what John Kerry, CNN and all the other RATS think about this? Of course Blair won't criticize Bush in public, but he could have refused to comment or said something more wishy-washy. Me thinks Blair probably agrees with Bush.
Somebody buy that man a beer pint!
He has put himself into the "rock and a hard spot" situation over this Iraq issue.
Several times.
Good friends are hard to come by.
Got Bless the UK.
And to you, Mr. Blair - "thank you."
LVM
It's VERY sad that Tony Blair recognizes this but none of the 9 weasels running for President do. They're all worried about offending the UN, French, Germans and Russians while Bush and Blair are concerned about the future of Iraq. And these losers think they're better suited to be President? Sheesh!
I've heard this "problem" mentioned in almost every news piece about the restrictions. Gee, poor Jim Baker, having to go to all those countries asking for their forgiveness of Iraqi debt and get grief about this contracting policy.
WAKE UP! This just gave Jimbo a pretty big stick and if anything, facilitates his trip. What leverage did he have before? Well, he sure has some now. There is a new sheriff in town and the Barney Cam shows him wearing a white hat.
Louie said it best, "poor froggies."
Cheerio, Mr. Prime Minister
Clearly Blair is paying no further attention to clinton or his emissaries. Recently Syd Blumenthal suggested to Blair that he NOT host President Bush. Clearly, that advice was ignored big time.
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