Bush plea for cash to rebuild Iraq raises $600

[busaunit 0]

Bush plea for cash to rebuild Iraq raises $600

Mark Townsend in Houston
Sunday September 25, 2005
The Observer

An extraordinary appeal to Americans from the Bush administration for money to help pay for the reconstruction of Iraq has raised only $600 (£337), The Observer has learnt. Yet since the appeal was launched earlier this month, donations to rebuild New Orleans have attracted hundreds of millions of dollars.

The public's reluctance to contribute much more than the cost of two iPods to the administration's attempt to offer citizens 'a further stake in building a free and prosperous Iraq' has been seized on by critics as evidence of growing ambivalence over that country.

This coincides with concern over the increasing cost of the war. More than $30 billion has been appropriated for the reconstruction. Initially, America's overseas aid agency, USaid, expected it to cost taxpayers no more than $1.7bn, but it is now asking the public if they want to contribute even more.

It is understood to be the first time that a US government has made an appeal to taxpayers for foreign aid money. Contributors have no way of knowing who will receive their donations or even where they may go, after officials said details had be kept secret for security reasons.

USaid's Heather Layman denied it was disappointed with the meagre sum raised after a fortnight. 'Every little helps,' she said.

In the past 12 months, Americans raised some $250bn for charity, including other foreign causes such as the Asian tsunami victims. Layman said: 'There is no financial goal. People are looking for a way to help rebuild Iraq and this is a way to facilitate that.'

The fundraising comes amid concern that some US projects in Iraq will be scrapped or only partly completed because of rising costs. Some officials fear that money may run out before key projects are completed.

Last week, the number of US troops killed in Iraq rose above 1,900.

[skydiverek 63]

http://costofwar.com

[dropoutdave 0]

Bwaahahahaha, what a tosser. Should have thought about that before, perhap.

------------------------------------------------------
May Contain Nut traces......

[billvon 2,990]

We wanted to go it alone. We got our wish.

[Gawain 0]

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We wanted to go it alone. We got our wish.

Yeah, that's why there are armed forces from 30+ countries in Iraq right now, along with NATO forces in Afghanistan. We're alone alright.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[skydiverek 63]

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Yeah, that's why there are armed forces from 30+ countries in Iraq right now, along with NATO forces in Afghanistan. We're alone alright.

There might be 30+ countries helping tha US, but WHAT PERCENTAGE of total troop involvment do they make? 30+ countried sound like a lot, but perentage-wise the US is there almost by itself. Anyone has the exact numbers ( % ) ???

[kallend 2,026]

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We wanted to go it alone. We got our wish.

Yeah, that's why there are armed forces from 30+ countries in Iraq right now, along with NATO forces in Afghanistan. We're alone alright.

Once again, the right tries to comingle Iraq with Afghanistan. Different wars.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Gawain 0]

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Yeah, that's why there are armed forces from 30+ countries in Iraq right now, along with NATO forces in Afghanistan. We're alone alright.

There might be 30+ countries helping tha US, but WHAT PERCENTAGE of total troop involvment do they make? 30+ countried sound like a lot, but perentage-wise the US is there almost by itself. Anyone has the exact numbers ( % ) ???

It doesn't diminish the fact that there are countries there that do not normally send any kind of expeditionary force: Japan, Korea, Poland to name a few.

Yes, our percentage is huge, it doesn't disprove my point.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[kallend 2,026]

Quote

Quote

Yeah, that's why there are armed forces from 30+ countries in Iraq right now, along with NATO forces in Afghanistan. We're alone alright.

There might be 30+ countries helping tha US, but WHAT PERCENTAGE of total troop involvment do they make? 30+ countried sound like a lot, but perentage-wise the US is there almost by itself. Anyone has the exact numbers ( % ) ???

Four allied countries have more than 1,000 troops there, UK, Poland, Italy and S.Korea. Italy is pulling out, as have 12 other nations so far. The majority of the coalition have just token numbers of troops in Iraq, like 10 from Norway and 4 from the Netherlands.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[shropshire 0]

I guess the question, from my perspective, is why is the coalition breaking down (as it certainly seems to be)?

Possible answers could be ..

(1) General disillusionment with the way that the operation is going (leadership problem?)

(2) Pressure from electorate (do as we ask, if you ever want to be elected again!)

(3) Realisation that the whole premise was a bag of shit in the first place

(4) Disproportionate allocation of contracts..

(5) All of the above!!!!
.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[skydiverek 63]

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It doesn't diminish the fact that there are countries there that do not normally send any kind of expeditionary force: Japan, Korea, Poland to name a few.

Quote

Four allied countries have more than 1,000 troops there, UK, Poland, Italy and S.Korea. Italy is pulling out, as have 12 other nations so far. The majority of the coalition have just token numbers of troops in Iraq, like 10 from Norway and 4 from the Netherlands.

Yeah, it's always looked to me like the troop contributions were more SYMBOLIC than practical. To presereve good relations with the U.S., kiss a**, gain something in he future (from the U.S), rather than actually and efficiently fight terrorism...

It alaways annyoyed me when Bush was saying stuff like "over 30 nations help is with their troops in Iraq", but neglected to give % ratios... It's like saying "my 30 friends helped me paid for the hotel I rented for the party", and not saying that they only contributed 5 %, and me 95 %...

Both sound great when you only hear the FISRT PART of the whole message.

[shropshire 0]

I think that the mothers of those that have died in george's glorious cluster fuck would love to spit in your eye for suggesting that their loss is merely symbolic - but you've probably got it closer to the truth than most.

.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[kallend 2,026]

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It doesn't diminish the fact that there are countries there that do not normally send any kind of expeditionary force: Japan, Korea, Poland to name a few.

Quote

Four allied countries have more than 1,000 troops there, UK, Poland, Italy and S.Korea. Italy is pulling out, as have 12 other nations so far. The majority of the coalition have just token numbers of troops in Iraq, like 10 from Norway and 4 from the Netherlands.

Yeah, it's always looked to me like the troop contributions were more SYMBOLIC than practical. To presereve good relations with the U.S., kiss a**, gain something in he future (from the U.S), rather than actually and efficiently fight terrorism...

It alaways annyoyed me when Bush was saying stuff like "over 30 nations help is with their troops in Iraq", but neglected to give % ratios... It's like saying "my 30 friends helped me paid for the hotel I rented for the party", and not saying that they only contributed 5 %, and me 95 %...

Both sound great when you only hear the FISRT PART of the whole message.

Why would you expect the whole truth from someone who lied to get the war started in the first place?

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[JohnRich 4]

Gee, do you think this excerpt could have anything to do with it?

Contributors have no way of knowing who will receive their donations or even where they may go, after officials said details had be kept secret for security reasons.

USaid's Heather Layman denied it was disappointed with the meagre sum raised after a fortnight...

So, it's not advertised how these donations are to be used, and the appeal was only made two weeks ago. Hence it's not surprising that there hasn't been much response yet. Especially with the hurricane events closer to home since then. Thus, I think it's a bit premature to announce to the world that this charity appeal is a failure.

To see what USAID has done and is doing for Iraq, see this web site: USAID Iraq. It's impossible to belittle those accomplishments.

[kallend 2,026]

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Gee, do you think this excerpt could have anything to do with it?

Contributors have no way of knowing who will receive their donations or even where they may go, after officials said details had be kept secret for security reasons.

USaid's Heather Layman denied it was disappointed with the meagre sum raised after a fortnight...

So, it's not advertised how these donations are to be used, and the appeal was only made two weeks ago. Hence it's not surprising that there hasn't been much response yet. Especially with the hurricane events closer to home since then. Thus, I think it's a bit premature to announce to the world that this charity appeal is a failure.

To see what USAID has done and is doing for Iraq, see this web site: USAID Iraq. It's impossible to belittle those accomplishments.

Oh, I don't know. Look at its mission:

The USAID Mission in Iraq implements programs in four strategic areas:

Restoring Essential Infrastructure
after we destroyed it

Supporting Essential Health and Education
after we destroyed them

Expanding Economic Opportunity
Looks like a 3rd world country to me.

Improving Efficiency and Accountability of Government
Sure. From today's news:www.sltrib.com/nationworld/ci_3060789

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[freethefly 6]

What a waste of time and money. Much like rebuilding your house while in the path of the next hurricane. I don't know, yet, I imagine that their salaries are far greater than what they give.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[JohnRich 4]

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The USAID Mission in Iraq implements programs in four strategic areas:
Restoring Essential Infrastructure
Supporting Essential Health and Education
Expanding Economic Opportunity
Improving Efficiency and Accountability of Government

So you (and freethefly) would prefer that the U.S. not do any of those things for Iraq?

[kallend 2,026]

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The USAID Mission in Iraq implements programs in four strategic areas:
Restoring Essential Infrastructure
Supporting Essential Health and Education
Expanding Economic Opportunity
Improving Efficiency and Accountability of Government

So you (and freethefly) would prefer that the U.S. not do any of those things for Iraq?

You seem to think it's somehow praiseworthy to rebuild someone's house after you destroyed it. I think it's an obligation and it would have been far better not to have destroyed it in the first place.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Zenister 0]

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Yeah, that's why there are armed forces from 30+ countries in Iraq right now, along with NATO forces in Afghanistan. We're alone alright.

There might be 30+ countries helping tha US, but WHAT PERCENTAGE of total troop involvment do they make? 30+ countried sound like a lot, but perentage-wise the US is there almost by itself. Anyone has the exact numbers ( % ) ???

It doesn't diminish the fact that there are countries there that do not normally send any kind of expeditionary force: Japan, Korea, Poland to name a few.

Yes, our percentage is huge, it doesn't disprove my point.

it absolutely disproves your point.. such 'token' support is worse than none.. it allows the administration to claim we arent really in it (Iraq) alone when in fact. WE ARE...

____________________________________
Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.

[freethefly 6]

***So you (and freethefly) would prefer that the U.S. not do any of those things for Iraq?

I would prefered that they had not invaded a country that poised no threat in the first place. I would prefer that our Government would tell the truth instead of whitewashing with false patriotism. I would prefer that the Government would stop and see what they have done to tarnish, even more, the country that I live in. Blowing up someones home and then saying it's o.k., we'll build you another one is much like blowing someones legs off and then giving them false legs and saying all is good let's pat ourselves on the back. It has all spun so far out past the event horizon that there is now no return. They broke it and will not be able to fix it. How sad for the Iraqi people, the American people and the world in general.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[kallend 2,026]

Quote

Quote

Quote

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Yeah, that's why there are armed forces from 30+ countries in Iraq right now, along with NATO forces in Afghanistan. We're alone alright.

There might be 30+ countries helping tha US, but WHAT PERCENTAGE of total troop involvment do they make? 30+ countried sound like a lot, but perentage-wise the US is there almost by itself. Anyone has the exact numbers ( % ) ???

It doesn't diminish the fact that there are countries there that do not normally send any kind of expeditionary force: Japan, Korea, Poland to name a few.

Yes, our percentage is huge, it doesn't disprove my point.

it absolutely disproves your point.. such 'token' support is worse than none.. it allows the administration to claim we arent really in it (Iraq) alone when in fact. WE ARE...

It's interesting to compare the coalitions built by Bush the Father in 1991 and Bush the Son in 2003.

And Bush the Father didn't have to build his coalition on lies, either.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[freethefly 6]

It's interesting to compare the coalitions built by Bush the Father in 1991 and Bush the Son in 2003.

And Bush the Father didn't have to build his coalition on lies, either.

[skydiverek 63]

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He also knew that to continue into Iraq would be a horriable mistake. I recall hearing him say something along the line...

George Bush Sr. said that it would be a great mistake to go into Iraq since there is "no exit strategy"... So he did not. Looks like he was right ...

[skydiverek 63]

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it absolutely disproves your point.. such 'token' support is worse than none.. it allows the administration to claim we arent really in it (Iraq) alone when in fact. WE ARE...

True. Bush used that "30-nation support" argument MANY times during his presidential debates one year ago. Of course he did that without giving the percentage of troop involvment (U.S. 90%, 30 countries 10%, or worse)...

[freethefly 6]

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The USAID Mission in Iraq implements programs in four strategic areas:
Restoring Essential Infrastructure
Supporting Essential Health and Education
Expanding Economic Opportunity
Improving Efficiency and Accountability of Government

So you (and freethefly) would prefer that the U.S. not do any of those things for Iraq?

By the way, John, how much did you give and, also, how much of the $600.00 they have collected so far came from the deep, deep pockets of GWB, Dick Cheney and Rumsfeld. The taxpayers who wholeheartedly support this war, maybe they should dip into their personal funds and pay. I never, not once gave any support to this war and feel no obligation to pay to fix something that Bush broke. By the way, I am using my money to do repairs on my own home.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young