[pritchke]

Originally posted by Cerek the Barbaric: The "real reason" these countries are being excluded is because the bulk of the reconstruction costs will be provided by the American taxpayers....so I believe it is only right that the contracts go to those who supported America. Since France, Germany, Russia, and the other countries were strongly opposed to the war, there is no reason to seek their help in reversing the results of the war. I respect their right to oppose the U.S. actions in Iraq, but they shouldn't expect to be rewarded for this stance by the U.S. nor to reap the benefits offered by a war they were against.

You do realize that it is not so black and white as this. Countries like Russia and France now can say that Iraq must pay all of their debt. Since Iraq is not a poor country (oil) it will get its money who do you think will have to foot any bill that means less oil money for the US. What is several billion more correct? What about countries who are offering aid money. They can now say "no more aid money, let the US and allied countries foot all the bill." The only people benefiting will be the Iraqi people, who have nothing else to lose either way, and people at the top of companies in allied countries including the US. The real tax payers in the US like you will now end up paying more of the bill, while the filthy rich fill their already fat pockets. At least that is the way I see it.

[ 12-11-2003, 12:54 PM: Message edited by: pritchke ]