[liberallarry]

Accounting and Accountability

His cited sources are inadequate to support all his assertions and, even if they were, his interpretations must always be questioned, given his bias. But he's first class and can't be dismissed out of hand, or nit-picked away ala Luskin.

So there's a fair chance he's right; the Administration hasn't been spending tax money on Iraq and Krugman will have to explain that to the Hitchens and the Democrats.

Wouldn't that be a laugh?

Of course, the Republicans wouldn't be happy either. They'd have to explain why they weren't spending tax money on rebuilding either at home or abroad but rather giving it back to their rich supporters.

[gitmo]

Apparently Krugman is saying the US used UN Oil-for-food money to supply Iraqis with food and other goods. With UN approval, even. I'm shocked!

[McGavin999]

Two billion of the money earmarked for Iraq has been spent on contracts that have already been let. The remainder is in the process of bid analysis. Prior to reconstruction, engineering, surveying, ordering equipment must take place prior to ground even being broken. In the US, an new electric plant can take a minimum of 6 months before the first shovel full of dirt is moved. In Iraq it would be even more since local engineers etc. are being utilized. The US is attempting to use as many of the Iraqi people as possible in these projects.

The US has spent ZERO Iraqi dollars on any of their earmarked projects. The Interim Government has had access to those funds since they were turned over on 6/28. The UN refused to release the funds until the audit was complete. All this could be found on the CPA website during the occupation phase. It ended on 6/28 and the CPA left Iraq.