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Old 04-09-2003, 06:16 PM   #17
Skunk
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Join Date: September 3, 2001
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Age: 63
Posts: 1,463
Quote:
I'm sure we'll have to give some kind of bone to the UN, but I don't think it will be much.
Oh a bit more than you think. Without the UN recognising the transition government, the World Bank, IMF etc can't get involved. The oil for food accounts can't be assigned to anything other than food and medicine and other non-sanctioned goods.

In other words, either the US underwrites multi-billion dollar loans to Iraq - or no-one is will lend the reconstruction money. Remember, Iraq can't just 'turn on the oil taps to full' to pay for reconstruction - there are many factors that prevent this (not least the adverse effects to the US economy and US oil companies if it did).

Someone will have to cosy up to France and Russia in the SC - guess that will be Blair's job, eh?
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