$500 Billion fire sale (U.S. taxpayers to insure Iraq reconstruction!)

The Guardian U.K. ^ | January 17, 2004 | Naomi Klein

[Melinator]

Amazing read! Looks like Uncle Sam is really putting Americans heads in the noose this time. This article should be front page news.

The worlds largest Private insurers will not insure the "rebuilding" of Iraq, so guess who's on the hook? U.S. Taxpayers essentially get to insure worldwide corporate rebuilding efforts in Iraq in exchange for... nothing in return!!! Perhaps Freepers should buy equities in any corporation known to have rebuilding contracts in Iraq: it sounds like the're going in risk free. Don't you believe it...

GWB admin and the Fortune 500 just loves its little taxpayers.

[Dog Gone]

What's your alternative suggestion?

[Melinator]

http://www.opic.gov/opickids/

OPIC is for kids!! IT helps protect their overseas investments!

[MEG33]

Your brave Chretien was so much help.We appreciate the superior beings that live North and remind us of how civilised they are as opposed to we warmongers.

[Ohioan]

What's your alternative suggestion?

I don't know what the poster's alternative suggestion is, but the only reasonable suggestion in my opinion, is to let the Iraqis rebuild their own country with their oil revenues. It is pure looney tunes to spend American tax revenues for that purpose. Worse, it is almost tantamount to embezzlement.

I know we subsidized a lot of countries during the Cold War. But the Cold War is over. It makes no sense to continue this sort of madness, but on a grander scale.

William Flax

[Melinator]

Duh! How about letting private investors take the risk? You know, good old capitalism whereby corporations and private individuals risk their own $$? Why should US taxpayers and their children's grandchildren be stuck paying for corporate adventurism in post war Iraq? How about you float an insurance company to cover Microsoft's potential "business losses" over a 10 year rebuilding effort and see how many of your friends and neighbours support it?

Insure my business adventures and I promise to only lose you half as much.

[Melinator]

Sucker!

[Melinator]

"It is pure looney tunes to spend American tax revenues for that purpose. Worse, it is almost tantamount to embezzlement."

BUMP!

[templar]

U.S. Taxpayers essentially get to insure worldwide corporate rebuilding efforts in Iraq in exchange for... nothing in return!!!

It's only a half billion. What's the big deal?

[templar]

Or more correctly a half a trillion. Still, what's the big deal? Only difference is a bunch of zeros, and a zero is nothing.

[MEG33]

Oh,my goodness.You are a jealous little one,I see.

[Melinator]

A half Billion?

Even public school kids know that 500 Billion is a HALF-TRILLION.

[Dog Gone]

You seem a little hostile tonight. Maybe it's because you're reading too much garbage from leftist sources like the Guardian.

Your alternative is not realistic. You might as well have suggested waving a golden wand to fix all the problems.

[MEG33]

I see you can't control your government so you have helpful hints for ours.The Guardian is a socialist rag and Klein hates capitalism.

[Melinator]

Are you guys the damage control spin team or just so ignorant that you think forcing U.S. taxpayers to insure corporate adventurism in Iraq is a good thing?

[MEG33]

We are thankful for your concern.Send money.

[Melinator]

Do you get paid to attempt to sidetrack site readers like this? It would make sense at a site that gets as many intelligent readers as this one. Do you define "capitalism" as "the U.S. taxpayer gets to underwrite this one Comrade"? or are you just desperately attempting to confuse the reader?

[MEG33]

I am not interested in a Canadian coming on this site telling we Americans how to run our country.

I am familiar with Klein's writing and everyone on this site knows how slanted the Guardian is.

You have no dog in this fight.You chose to stay on the side of France.The proud tradition of the Canadian fighting man has been trampled for lack of funding.

Take care of your problems.We'll have to take care of ours.

[Melinator]

"Your alternative is not realistic. You might as well have suggested waving a golden wand to fix all the problems."

Actually no. I made perfectly reasonable and obvious suggestions. This is a fraud on American taxpayers. You are part of it.