Iraqi government expected to have $79 billion surplus., page 1

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Topic started on 5-8-2008 @ 04:51 PM by Animal

Iraqi government expected to have $79 billion surplus.

thinkprogress.org

A new report by the Government Accountability Office estimates that the “soaring price of oil will leave the Iraqi government with a cumulative budget surplus of as much as $79 billion by year’s end.” Federal lawmakers have responded angrily to the news, noting that the U.S. government has spent $42 billion for the stabilization and reconstruction in Iraq since 2003.

(visit the link for the full news article)

reply posted on 5-8-2008 @ 04:51 PM by Animal

This is a very interesting story. Perhaps the time truly has come for the USA to leave Iraq to Iraq. They seem to be making enough money to pay the bill for their reconstruction and the billions we have spent should be enough 'reparations' to at least make an honest attempt at paying our debt to their society.

Still, seeing as how they can make such large sums of money off oil it is highly unlikely that an oil addicted nation such as the USA could simply walk away from such huge reserves an profits.

To me this just looks like a glimpse of the 'prize' the Bush administration was after all along. I will look forward to seeing how this plays out in the US and global media and political worlds.

thinkprogress.org
(visit the link for the full news article)

reply posted on 5-8-2008 @ 05:13 PM by isa75

I hope this also means that we (americans) will leave Iraq to the Iraqi's and let them clear up their issues between themselves in a non-violent matter. (not holding my breath) Bring our troops home and lets give them a huge welcoming back party they deserve. I just hope Iraq will get it together and be fair to everyone and the fighting stops.

reply posted on 5-8-2008 @ 05:21 PM by burdman30ott6

Looks like the time has come for the United States to send out their first collection of debt notice to Iraq, then. At a rate of $70 Bil per year, that means Iraq will have their debt paid to us before the end of 2021... assuming we don't also tack on some form of usury.

If Iraq refuses to pay up, then sic those bastards from the Student Loan department on them, including giving the dept. their nighttime home phone numbers. The Iraqi government will be begging us to accept their payments within a matter of weeks.

reply posted on 5-8-2008 @ 05:32 PM by Scramjet76

79 billion huh? Well say there's 180 million people age 18+....... that means if we take about half (36 mill) we should all be getting a $200 check in the mail. Where's my money?

reply posted on 5-8-2008 @ 05:59 PM by Animal

Originally posted by burdman30ott6

If Iraq refuses to pay up, then sic those bastards from the Student Loan department on them, including giving the dept. their nighttime home phone numbers. The Iraqi government will be begging us to accept their payments within a matter of weeks.

As a graduate student I almost cried reading this, too true!

Still I can't say that I would expect Iraq to pay us back for damages done. Like Powell told Bush before the invasion, "you break it - you own it".

reply posted on 5-8-2008 @ 06:36 PM by Maxmars

Originally posted by burdman30ott6
Looks like the time has come for the United States to send out their first collection of debt notice to Iraq, then. At a rate of $70 Bil per year, that means Iraq will have their debt paid to us before the end of 2021... assuming we don't also tack on some form of usury.

If Iraq refuses to pay up, then sic those bastards from the Student Loan department on them, including giving the dept. their nighttime home phone numbers. The Iraqi government will be begging us to accept their payments within a matter of weeks.

Star for you dude! Make it happen - PLEASE.

reply posted on 5-8-2008 @ 08:01 PM by Double Eights

Iraq doesn't owe us a dime.

Last I checked, the Iraqi people didn't ask us to invade their country. They didn't ask for the Coalition to bomb their infrastructure.

reply posted on 5-8-2008 @ 08:16 PM by Dubyakadubla

Originally posted by Double Eights
Iraq doesn't owe us a dime.

Last I checked, the Iraqi people didn't ask us to invade their country. They didn't ask for the Coalition to bomb their infrastructure.

and the Iraqi Government is an extension of the Neocon Government. Iraqi's are pushed out of Iraq and are living as refugees at the Jordan Border, their houses have been purchased by the Zionists who are also funding Al Sadr.

This is the real Picture of Iraq :

www.uruknet.de...

This is where the Iraqi Oil ends up ....!!!

reply posted on 5-8-2008 @ 08:58 PM by Quazga

Animal,
The CNN Link has the Congress outraged about it...

So what's our cut of this? The American Taxpayer.

Some of this should be recouped I would imagine.

reply posted on 5-8-2008 @ 09:00 PM by Breifne

Originally posted by burdman30ott6
Looks like the time has come for the United States to send out their first collection of debt notice to Iraq, then. At a rate of $70 Bil per year, that means Iraq will have their debt paid to us before the end of 2021... assuming we don't also tack on some form of usury.

If Iraq refuses to pay up, then sic those bastards from the Student Loan department on them, including giving the dept. their nighttime home phone numbers. The Iraqi government will be begging us to accept their payments within a matter of weeks.

How sad.

So what value does your government place on the hundreds of thousands of lives lost as part of the illegal war?

What value on the already weak infrastructure destroyed under the shock and awe terror charge?

What value on 4000 american soldiers' lives?

What value on allied troop deaths since the start of the war?

Believe me, Iraq owes you nothing! Given this false dichotomy, a lot of the people would probably want to live under fear of their own dictator rather than the fear of a foreign one!

Sure, while you're in the process of demanding reimbursement, ask Vietnam, Korea, the illegal warfare in Cambodia, Iran, Panama and a host of other countries around the World. Actually, ask Israel to reimburse the States with the blood money, weapons and nuclear technology that it seeks fit to militaries it as the number one Middle Eastern power.

A March 12, 2007 Time magazine article[155] reports on a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. About one third of the 103,788 veterans returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars seen at Veterans Affairs facilities between September 30, 2001 and September 30, 2005 were diagnosed with mental illness or a psycho-social disorder, such as homelessness and marital problems, including domestic violence. More than half of those diagnosed, 56%, were suffering from more than one disorder. The most common combination was post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

Source

In fact, the next time your Government talks up war abroad, remember that the colour of money can never replace those you appear to think so little of.

$79 billion surplus - that would just about cover the grave diggers fees and stress counsellors let alone any one else's.

Breifne

reply posted on 5-8-2008 @ 10:00 PM by Animal

reply to post by Quazga

I assume you are saying we should be payed back by the Iraqi government, and please forgive me if I am wrong.

If this is the case I would say our cut is a big fat ZERO.

This is one of the key issues many have had with the Iraq war from the beginning, the looting of the USA's wealth by the Bush administration and it's corporate "base".

It is MHO that at this point in time the USA can not expect anything in return from Iraq. We were had not by them but by Bush Co.

This is the cost of waging a preemptive war, a war of aggression. Germany and Japan had to pay to rebuild a good portion of the nations they destroyed, if I am not mistaken Germany is still paying off their debt from WW2 today.

As unfair as that seems to you and me, the average joe and jane, this is what we get for allowing Bush to control this nation for 8 years.

Hindsight is 20/20 and that my friends is a bitch.

reply posted on 5-8-2008 @ 10:28 PM by saturnine_sweet

reparations? no. But I do think this shows that Iraq should be footing part of the bill if they WANT us to remain there while they continue to stabilize the country. If they aren't willing to, we should give them a deadline for leaving, and tell them they can use those billions to hire say...blackwater..for themselves. We've given them a chance for freedom, and the means to secure it. Iraq should not be rolling in profits while the US drains itself dry for them.

As for the legality of the war and all that...honestly, that doesn't much matter now. It matters in regards to the future, but when it comes to Iraq, the deed is done, and we've paid to put them back on their feet. We don't need to pay to be their crutch, not when they have the means to support themselves.

reply posted on 5-8-2008 @ 11:31 PM by Animal

reply to post by saturnine_sweet

Excellent point. We should not expect to be 'paid back' but we should defiantly draw the line.

The main reasons I hear for us remaining, at least the main talking point, is that they are unable to take care of themselves. Well there should be some ultimatum for a time line for our with drawl and its up to them afterwards.

They should also be at LEAST matching our investment in reconstruction dollar for dollar from this point on. Or something that all parties can agree on.

reply posted on 5-8-2008 @ 11:37 PM by saturnine_sweet

reply to post by Animal

This makes me wonder why our politicians find it so hard to come to an agreement, seeing as how I rarely agree with your perspective.

Well, not really, since most of them are in it for the sake of their wallets, after all.

But this does give me some hope that perhaps the divided opinions of the people can begin to find enough common ground to have a common voice that will put pressure on the profiteers. After all, that was the idea of the US, in it's inception. Not two warring parties, but free people finding a common ground in which all can prosper.

reply posted on 6-8-2008 @ 12:31 AM by zorgon

Originally posted by Animal
Still, seeing as how they can make such large sums of money off oil it is highly unlikely that an oil addicted nation such as the USA could simply walk away from such huge reserves an profits.

So how much oil was America getting from Iraq before the War?
And how much are we getting now?

reply posted on 6-8-2008 @ 02:25 AM by Animal

reply to post by zorgon

Not much, but not for a lack of trying. And we will have to wait and see who is given control of th reserves in the end.

reply posted on 6-8-2008 @ 06:02 PM by saturnine_sweet

reply to post by Animal

I was thinking that had already been declared? Though, to be honest, I don't pay that much attention to that aspect of things. Oil is, at best, a small piece of a bigger picture in the ME.

On a different note, nice choice for an avatar. Those are some good books

reply posted on 6-8-2008 @ 06:17 PM by marg6043

reply to post by burdman30ott6

I doubt it but I guess now Iraq can start buying US debt like China, UK, Japan and others.

So they can also own a piece of the almost gone American pie.

reply posted on 12-8-2008 @ 02:03 PM by zorgon

U.S. Has Spent $100 Billion On Private Contractors Since Iraq Invasion

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Halliburton, and Dick Cheney, are killing our troops

www.abovetopsecret.com...

I know I know No one cares since its been going on since 2003