A Soldier Reports to God.

[Skunk]

France and Russia won't allow it in any case, even if the US does. They have too much at stake in the matter, last I heard France alone has over 1.6 Billion invested in Iraq, and Russia is thought to have more.

Makes no difference what government is in power in Iraq - any debts owed to France and Russia will still have to be paid back by a new government - that's international law.

Russia, for example, still owes the 'Paris Club' some $37 billion dollars of debt for Soviet Era debts (some of it dating back to loans issued in the 1920's).

So it makes no financial difference to France and Russia whether Saddam or another regime is in power - they'll still get paid.

[Ronn_Bman]

But your opposition to the idea makes the point in a different way....

Being legally owed money and collecting in a timely matter(if at all), are completely different things.

[ 01-26-2003, 05:16 PM: Message edited by: Ronn_Bman ]

[Ar-Cunin]

Originally posted by Skunk: Steady. I am NOT against military action provided that: 1. We have *HARD* evidence that Iraq is developing or stockpiling WMD's. 2. We are CAREFULL about the methodolgy employed (NO high altitude bombing, cluster bombs, air fuel bombs etc) 3. The action is UN authorised 4. That the new government does not consist of the 'Opposition groups' (many of whom are as guilty of just as nasty acts as Hussein) 5. We don't abandon the Iraqi civilians to 'fate' as we have done in Afghanistan.

I wholehearted agree - except on nr.5 as I don't think the Afghanies have been abandoned.

[Skunk]

Everywhere outside of Kabul...

Originally posted by Skunk: quote: France and Russia won't allow it in any case, even if the US does. They have too much at stake in the matter, last I heard France alone has over 1.6 Billion invested in Iraq, and Russia is thought to have more.

Makes no difference what government is in power in Iraq - any debts owed to France and Russia will still have to be paid back by a new government - that's international law.

You show quite an ignorance of the history of that part of the world. Once upon a time a bunch of Americans paid the Arabs of several countries quite a lot of money to build refineries and drilling equipment for oil, only to have had all the equipment, and all the facilities "Nationalized".

What that means is the governments of those countries did was said piss off this is all our stuff now, thanks for building it. You can pay us for it all over again by purchasing the oil....neat little scam...international law....(snicker) you really think that means diddly to Iraq or really any government that has no problem gassing millions of iranians or kurds?

Russia, for example, still owes the 'Paris Club' some $37 billion dollars of debt for Soviet Era debts (some of it dating back to loans issued in the 1920's).

How many payments have been made? Come to think of it, most of europe should owe the US quite a lot of money....

So it makes no financial difference to France and Russia whether Saddam or another regime is in power - they'll still get paid.

Will not. [/QUOTE]

[Skunk]

Russia has been forgiven some debt - but is still making scheduled payments.
Britain also had middle-eastern oil facilities nationalised (notably Iran/Iraq) - but was compensated for its losses.

I had no idea that US companies did not get an equally fair settlement. Thanks for letting me know (you learn something new every day).

But I am curious to know what you think about Iraq's war reparations debts to Kuwait? There is *still* a LOT of money owed to Kuwait - do you think that this debt be 'forgiven' too? It's a rather sensitive issue...