Do not make the mistake of thinking that because my conclusion is the same as another person's that my reasoning is the same
Bush Seeks Help of Allies Barred From Iraq Deals
By DAVID E. SANGER and DOUGLAS JEHL
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 … President Bush found himself in the awkward position on Wednesday of calling the leaders of France, Germany and Russia to ask them to forgive Iraq's debts, just a day after the Pentagon excluded those countries and others from $18 billion in American-financed Iraqi reconstruction projects.
White House officials were fuming about the timing and the tone of the Pentagon's directive, even while conceding that they had approved the Pentagon policy of limiting contracts to 63 countries that have given the United States political or military aid in Iraq.
Many countries excluded from the list, including close allies like Canada, reacted angrily on Wednesday to the Pentagon action. They were incensed, in part, by the Pentagon's explanation in a memorandum that the restrictions were required "for the protection of the essential security interests of the United States."
Posted by P6 at December 11, 2003 08:21 AM | Trackback URL: http://www.prometheus6.org/mt/mt-tb.cgi/2483At least they asked them. They could have just given them the finger and told them "find Saddam and send him a bill."