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| Lawmakers Reach Iraq-Afghan Aid Deal |
| 2003-10-30 |
| Congressional negotiators agreed Wednesday on an $87.5 billion aid package for Iraq and Afghanistan that meets a White House demand that none of the money be provided as loans. Despite rising criticism in Congress over the handling of the war, the package worked out by House-Senate negotiators largely resembles the proposal submitted by President Bush. The House and Senate are expected to act quickly to give the bill final approval before it goes to Bush for his signature. But both Republicans and Democrats expressed frustration over what they described as the White House’s disdainful treatment of Congress on Iraq. "You bump up to a degree of arrogance over and over," said Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va. Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said "it is an act of considerable statesmanship for a lot of people in this place to continue to support what the president is trying to do in Iraq given the smidgen of information we’re getting in return." But Republicans, including Wolf, rejected a Democratic proposal that would have required Senate confirmation for Bush’s civilian administrator in Iraq, the position held by L. Paul Bremer. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., rejected Democratic claims that this would make the administration more accountable. "I’m not at all sure that the American people equate accountability with confirmation by the United States Senate," he said. The way some confirmation hearings have gone, he’s probably right. The bill includes $64.7 billion for military expenses, $18.4 billion for Iraqi reconstruction and security forces and $1.2 billion for Afghan reconstruction, according to figures released by the House Appropriations Committee. Bush had requested $65.1 billion for military expenses, $20.3 billion for Iraq reconstruction and security forces, and $800 million for Afghan reconstruction. Given the padding in the original numbers, the Prez did pretty well. The loan issue was the most divisive item as the House and Senate tried to resolve differences between their versions of the bill. Loan supporters said U.S. taxpayers are already spending plenty on Iraq and that the country’s vast oil reserves should enable it to pay back some of the money eventually. Under the Senate bill, Iraq would not have had to repay the loan if other countries forgave 90 percent of the debt Iraq ran up under toppled leader Saddam Hussein. On Wednesday, World Bank President James Wolfensohn called on the United States and other rich nations to forgive at least two-thirds of Iraq’s foreign debt. Okay by me but we didn’t loan Saddam any money. I doubt Jacques, Gerhardt and Vlad will go along ... Bush threatened to veto the bill if the loan provisions were included. He and congressional Republican leaders argued that Iraq was already too deeply in debt to borrow more money and that there was no Iraqi government with the authority to take on new loans. Domenici said the grants are needed to quickly improve conditions in Iraq and get U.S. troops home. "America will be recompensed 50 times over if this thing gets ended and they have a strong country," he said. "This money we’re arguing about will be a pittance when they become our friends in the international markets of oil." Sorta like Europe, which means that in 50 years the Iraqis will be smoking Galouches and be insufferably arrogant. But Obey noted that much of the new aid pledged by other nations at an international donor’s conference last week was made as loans. "It seems to me that we’re asking the U.S. taxpayers to be Uncle Sucker instead of Uncle Sam," he said. No, it’s just the Europeans playing the role of Cousin Cheap. Senate conferees voted 16-13 not to insist on their loan amendment with their House counterparts. All Republicans voted no. One Democrat, Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, also opposed the loans. They also agreed to create a temporary position of Iraq inspector general to oversee the spending of the money. Not a bad idea. The House could vote as soon as Thursday; the Senate would act sometime after the House does. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #8 Senator Byrd (D) Wamsutta? Are you talking about one of those textile companies that closed down their mills and put thousands outta work in the Carolinas? Don't worry Liddy |
| Posted by: NotMikeMoore 2003-10-30 11:00:48 PM |
| #7 Naw, Jimmuh gonna be the inspector general... he's a damn cold ringer for D. Kaye. Senator Byrd (D) Wamsutta approves. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-10-30 8:37:45 PM |
| #6 I knew Bush would find a job for "Kenny Boy" a/k/a Kenneth Lay ... C'mon, NMM, you gotta read Rantburg better: this job will go to Zell Miller. He just set himself up for it. He'll resign early from the Senate and that will really starch some shorts. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2003-10-30 4:02:08 PM |
| #5 Oh Darn! Another Bush victory! I guess I will go get a pedicure/massage, take a long soak, and think about this election. Anyone seen my toenail polish? |
| Posted by: Howard Dean, Metroman 2003-10-30 1:45:08 PM |
| #4 Uh, Mikey, where does it mention the name of the person who will be IG, or was that pulled from the nether regions of someone's buttocks? That's some imagination you have there... |
| Posted by: Raj 2003-10-30 1:00:42 PM |
| #3 "They also agreed to create a temporary position of Iraq inspector general to oversee the spending of the money" I knew Bush would find a job for "Kenny Boy" a/k/a Kenneth Lay -- I mean now that he's unemployed and did give Bush all that money.... |
| Posted by: Not Mike Moore 2003-10-30 12:34:04 PM |
| #2 B - LOL! The US Senate is, indeed, the fount from which flows all wisdon, goodness, light, 20/20 hindsight and political shenanigans. Regards Rep Obey, just picture his political campaign signs stuck in every yard along a street... Makes me think of that killer Roddy Piper flick, "They Live"... "I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubblegum." |
| Posted by: .com 2003-10-30 10:46:34 AM |
| #1 I’m not at all sure that the American people equate accountability with confirmation by the United States Senate," ooooh. Ouch. The truth in that one had to hurt. |
| Posted by: B 2003-10-30 7:58:52 AM |