[jmc813]

A big part of his point is that we are using our money to accomplish these things rather than making the Iraqis pay for it themselves.

[JohnGalt]

Robert 'KKK' Byrd had these comments last week in the Senate:

"Last Wednesday, I along with Representatives David Obey and Martin Sabo offered an amendment to the homeland security appropriations conference report that would have provided $125 million to hire 1,300 customs inspectors on America's borders. That amendment was rejected as too expensive. Yet, on the exact same day, the President sent Congress this emergency request for $150 million for 5,350 border inspections personnel including 2,500 customs inspectors – in Iraq."

http://www.tompaine.com/feature2.cfm/ID/8965

[KayEyeDoubleDee]

Obviously, sooner or later the Iraqis are going to have to be self-sufficient. How much help do we owe them in addition to money and blood already spent? Well, Bush has decided on $87 billion. And most of that is actually going towards our forces, not Iraq infrastructure.