Posted on 09/23/2003 6:00:35 PM PDT by blam
Congressmen say Iraq cash would be better spent at home
By David Rennie in Washington
(Filed: 24/09/2003)
Senior congressmen of both parties have warned the Bush administration that a revolt is brewing over its request for £54 billion to rebuild Iraq.
The warning came as details emerged of such spending as £62.5 million for a witness protection scheme, £181 million for the fire brigade, and nearly £6 million to give the country a system of post codes.
Paul Bremer, the head of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad, flew to Washington this week to urge a "grandeur of vision" in the rebuilding, saying American largesse would "give the lie to those who describe us as enemies of Islam".
But members of Congress raised concerns over the reaction of voters. Senator Sam Brownback, a Kansas Republican, reported "pointed questions" from voters about why the oil-rich country was not paying for its own reconstruction.
In contrast to European voters, most ordinary Americans remain confident that the war in Iraq was justified, despite continuing attacks on their forces and the failure, so far, to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
But President George W Bush faces genuine difficulties with his emergency spending request, details of which were leaked by congressional foes yesterday. With American unemployment at record levels and the federal budget deficit soaring, Democrats and Republicans were quick to contrast administration plans for Iraq with budget cuts and scrapped programmes at home.
Democrats have pointed out that some of the most pressing problems in Iraq - the lack of reliable electricity and water supplies - find parallels in America, even if conditions in Iraq are infinitely worse.
The Bush administration is seeking £3.6 billion for a new Iraqi power system just after widespread power cuts across north-eastern America, caused by a crumbling power grid. And while a severe drought grips the western states, Mr Bremer is asking for £62 million to restore wetlands drained by Saddam Hussein to punish the Marsh Arabs. The White House is trying to freeze spending on US wetland conservation.
Mr Bush wants to spend £547 million on health care in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as £65 million for Afghan road building, and £21 million for security, including protecting President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan. Most of the spending request - £41 billion - is earmarked not for aid, but for US military operations.
The spending request came under some of its heaviest fire from Senator Robert C Byrd, the self-acknowledged "king of pork-barrel politics", by which congressmen direct federal money to their home districts or states.
Mr Byrd, a Democrat, has sent his state, West Virginia, more than 20 federal projects named after himself.
His "America first" rhetoric is capable of landing some nasty blows on the Bush administration. At a Capitol Hill hearing this week, he complained to Mr Bremer: "The administration fought against a $200 million boost for America's police officers, firefighters and paramedics. But Iraqi first responders would get $290 million."
Do we have a crumbling power grid? I don't think so. This piece is so obviously biased as to be laughable.
Well, that statement is accurate to a point. Misleading, but accurate. After all, infinity times infinity is, in fact, a larger number than 20.
So, how many things are named after Mr. Byrd in West Virginia? Let's see, you take the Robert Byrd highway to the Robert Byrd bypass via the Robert Byrd tunnel to the Robert Byrd university where the Robert Byrd center for technology and the Robert Byrd sports arena are, then you can go to the Robert Byrd park to see the Robert Byrd museum of natural history. Afterward, you can drive down Robert Byrd street to Robert Byrd lane where the Robert Byrd medical center is next to the Robert Byrd medical college, then take a drive over the Robert Byrd bridge to the Robert Byrd center for the performing arts to see the Robert Byrd pagent of psychotic egomania on parade!
I have a funny feeling that about ten minutes after Robert Byrd is no longer a senator, there are going to be a whole lot of things being renamed in West Virginia.
Right on, let's help first responders by buying ambulances. fire fighting equipment, radiation and bi-hazzard gear and body bags.
If we don't do it right in Iraq and Afghanistan we'll be needing them.
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