They could always be the first ME country to join the EU!


>>SNIP
>>>
>>>The Iraqi people are free to do with the oil what they wish. If they choose to award contracts to multi-national companies, that is their perogative. If they choose to try and extract the oil on their own, they can do that too. If they want to let the oil sit in the ground for 50 years until we really, really need it, they can do that.
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>>Really??? So when General Franks takes over he will be asking the Iraqi people what to do with the oil wells?...And they are free to just say 'leave them alone and we will deal with them after you are gone'?
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>>After Iraq has been obliterated, the costs of reconstruction will be massive. Everyone who comments on that issues states unequivocally that Iraqi oil revenue will be used to pay for all this. No question about it.
>>How does this square with the reality you suggest? Why is it that the people of IRAQ are responsible for paying the reconstruction bill, and no doubt "reparations" to the U.S. and U.K. for their own war costs?????
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>>You make it all sound so simple, but it really isn't so simple, is it?
>>
>>>
>>SNIP
>
>Jim;
>
>Look at it as if you were an accountant. What accounting method do you wish to use? It is really straightforward. Accountants and attorneys know how to solve problems as they have a ready and available bag of tricks.
>
>To pay the United States and Britain for the cost of the war, we should simply get the infrastructure of Iraq functional immediately after we level the country. Then sell oil and its by products to Iraq for an amount that will quickly pay back what they owe us. That way everyone benefits.
>
>Now what to do about the local currency, which will have no value? That is a problem. Perhaps we can loan them a few billion dollars with a fair interest amount to get them started on the road to democracy and capitalism?
>
>Tom