Dems want Iraqis to spend oil surplus

[Breukelen advocaat]

We've done enough for Iraq. Either they start paying for things themselves, or we should take their oil. If it were up to me, I'd take the oil as compensation for what we've given in terms of lives and expenses. We've spent 500 billion dollars over there, and they've got 30 billion sitting in U.S. banks. Some of our expenses are ridiculous, such as the military paying the full open market prices of 3.23 a gallon, 153 million a month, for fuel in Iraq. Plus, they're having a record year in oil sales with profits over 100 billion. This is absolutely fucking crazy. P.S., not only democrats want them to start footing some of the bill, at least for their own country's reconstruction. It would be incredibly, unbelievably stupid of us to continue dealing with them in the fashion that they have become accustomed to.

Many people say that the war was "for the Oil". Well, were still waiting.

Dems want Iraqis to spend oil surplus

By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer 12 minutes ago


Democrats plan to push legislation this spring that would force the Iraqi government to spend its own surplus in oil revenues to rebuild the country, sparing U.S. dollars.

The legislation follows a recommendation by Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, that the Bush administration halt troop withdrawals in July. Petraeus on Wednesday was wrapping up two days of congressional testimony in which he has said security gains in the war zone are too fragile to promise further drawdowns.

Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said pausing troop reductions would signal to the Iraqis that the United States was committed to the war indefinitely.

"Rather, we need to put continuous and increasing pressure on the Iraqis to settle their political differences, to pay for their own reconstruction with their oil windfalls, and to take the lead in conducting military operations," said Levin, D-Mich.
Iraq has about $30 billion in surplus funds stored in U.S. banks, according to Levin.

Iraq is looking at a potential boon in oil revenue this year, possibly as much as $100 billion in 2007 and 2008. Meanwhile, the U.S. military is having to buy its fuel on the open market, paying on average $3.23 a gallon and spending some $153 million a month in Iraq on fuel alone.

While Iraq pays for fuel for its own troops, it has relied heavily on U.S. dollars to provide people with basic services, including more than $45 billion for reconstruction.

Lacking the votes to order troops home by a certain date, Democrats see fencing off reconstruction money as an alternative to challenging the Bush administration's Iraq policies. And several Republicans have signaled their concerns about burgeoning Iraqi oil revenues at a time when the war is growing increasingly costly.

"Isn't it time for the Iraqis to start bearing more of those expenses, particularly in light of the windfall in revenues due to the high price of oil?" said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, agreed but said it would take time.

"I think what we've got to focus on in the period ahead is this kind of transitioning," Crocker said. "And it'll be, like everything else in Iraq, a complex process."

Levin said he expects the legislation to be proposed as part of this year's war spending bill or the 2009 defense authorization bill.In his testimony on Tuesday, Petraeus said he recommended to President Bush that the U.S. complete, by the end of July, the withdrawal of the 20,000 extra troops.

Beyond that, the general proposed a 45-day period of "consolidation and evaluation," to be followed by an indefinite period of assessment before he would recommend any further pullouts.

Bush is expected to embrace Petraeus' plan, which reflects a conservative approach that leaves open the possibility that roughly 140,000 U.S. troops could remain in Iraq when the president leaves office next year.

On Wednesday, Bush planned a breakfast meeting with Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Later in the day, he was to meet with Republican and Democratic leaders from the House and Senate.

On Thursday, Bush will make a speech about the war and his decision about troop levels.

Dems want Iraqis to spend oil surplus - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080409/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq)

[psychocat]

If someone came to my country without being asked and started blowing up shit and wrecking the infrastructure I would be reluctant to give them anything but a bullet.
America created the mess so why shouldn't they fix it?

[Psycho4Bud]

First off, the Shi-ites and Kurds hold the majority in their government.....the same two groups that wanted us to invade and liberate.

Next, I also think we should stay till they're stable.:D

Have a good one!:s4:

[Dream of the iris]

Pyscho's right. The majority of the people in Iraq praised us for comming in because essentially it was a genocide of the shi'it's and Kurds. Though they never asked us to come in and liberate them we did anyway. Unfortunately, however, though comming in destoryed a terrible man in power and saved millions of lives it made the country worse because now theres these stupid terrorists that hate the westernized culture and despise our arrival. For this reason now most everyone wants us out. Not because Iraq was fine and dandy until we showed up. It was a fucked up country prior to the war and is an even more fucked up country now. I just can't stand these stupid people who sit here and say everyone in Iraq or Afganistan hate us being there. No! The majority loves us but they just want us out because the terrorist organizations running the joint are giving them hell for liking the Americans.

[thcbongman]

What a dumb move.

We spend American dollar = American jobs. We don't get shit if we allow Iraqis to reconstruct their own country. Then the Iraqi war would be the equilvelent of throwing down a trillion or two down the toilet.

[fishman3811]

Weve done enough for Iraq .....that has to be the most vile disgusting understatement of the year....you kill hundreds of thousands of people....displace 2.5 mllion people...destroy the economy,the roads,the buildings and you have the balls to say weve done enough for iraq lol.I hope you people pay for this for the rest of your lives and maybe next time youll think twice about attacking a country that never attacked you....

[Psycho4Bud]

So how are the Canadian oil contracts doing these days my friend? Considering that these contracts were held by French and Russian companies I guess it's a "your welcome".

Have a good one!:s4:

[Dream of the iris]

Fishman you're such a leftist I wouldn't be surprised if you wanted to bear Robspierre child (Jk lol I had to say that). Anyway I agree that we INADVERTANTLY did more harm to Iraq but your literally making America out to look like the 3rd Reich. Yes we went in there for our own intentions but we most certainly did not enter Iraq intending to fuck up a country and take it over....and btw it wasn't us physically fucking up the country it was our presence which pissed off a minority who decided to fuck up the country just to create a power vacuum so they could ultimately take it over. How dare you bash American's for being evil. Ok we're idiots who made a mistake and clearly we're trying to fix that mistake but it's not as if we're over there literally shooting the people down and raping their women. We're just helping out a situation which we inadvertently created. I can't stand ignorant people when they sit here and listen to douchbags who give their two cents on whats going on over there only to skew the truth in favor of a good story.

[psychocat]

Fishman you're such a leftist I wouldn't be surprised if you wanted to bear Robspierre child (Jk lol I had to say that). Anyway I agree that we INADVERTANTLY did more harm to Iraq but your literally making America out to look like the 3rd Reich. Yes we went in there for our own intentions but we most certainly did not enter Iraq intending to fuck up a country and take it over....and btw it wasn't us physically fucking up the country it was our presence which pissed off a minority who decided to fuck up the country just to create a power vacuum so they could ultimately take it over. How dare you bash American's for being evil. Ok we're idiots who made a mistake and clearly we're trying to fix that mistake but it's not as if we're over there literally shooting the people down and raping their women. We're just helping out a situation which we inadvertently created. I can't stand ignorant people when they sit here and listen to douchbags who give their two cents on whats going on over there only to skew the truth in favor of a good story.

Were you under your bed with the blankets over your head when the US was bombing the hell out of Bagdad ?
Did you miss the reports of US soldiers raping and killing a whole family ? U.S. Military Rape in Iraq (http://rwor.org/a/053/iraqrape-en.html)
I hate ignorance too and it is obvious from your post you are doing your best to ignore the truth.

The poor girl Abeer was neither the first to be raped by American troops, nor will she be the last. The only reason this rape was brought to light and publicized is that her whole immediate family were killed along with her. Rape is a taboo subject in Iraq. Families don't report rapes there, they avenge them. We've been hearing whisperings about rapes in American-controlled prisons and during sieges of towns like Haditha and Samarra for the last three years. The naiveté of Americans who can't believe their 'heroes' are committing such atrocities is ridiculous. Who ever heard of an occupying army committing rape??? You raped the country, why not the people?

[Psycho4Bud]

Were you under your bed with the blankets over your head when the US was bombing the hell out of Bagdad ?

Kind of a stretch here.....seems to me, if I recall correctly, we were using laser guided precision missiles. NOT bombing civilian areas like your statement implied.


Did you miss the reports of US soldiers raping and killing a whole family?

This is true and unfortunate. So what kind of prison time did they get again?
"On July 3, Steven Green was charged with rape and murder, and could get the death penalty if convicted. "
From your article.....



The poor girl Abeer was neither the first to be raped by American troops, nor will she be the last.

Quite the assumption! Someday you people in Britain will HAVE to get over us kicking your asses in days gone by....or saving your asses depending on the time period.

Ah yes...brings an old favorite to mind.:D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyXrxfjEOhs

Have a good one!:s4:

[Dream of the iris]

pyschocat sorry I wasn't being clear I meant we didn't cause any physical damages intending to hurt innocent people such as going by with a tank and saying "hey that house looks like it would be great to bomb". I mean for god's sake our enemy is unfortunately hiding in these poor peoples cities. And on top of that you're right there are some bad apples in the military, especially since they're becomming desperate at this point and are looking to criminals but just like everyone else in the world you hear a few dudes doing something bad you take the assumption that they're ALL like that or at least in this case that most of them are like that. Believe it or not there are people on my campus who get raped but is it safe to assume that all college males commit rape?

[psychocat]

pyschocat sorry I wasn't being clear I meant we didn't cause any physical damages intending to hurt innocent people such as going by with a tank and saying "hey that house looks like it would be great to bomb". I mean for god's sake our enemy is unfortunately hiding in these poor peoples cities. And on top of that you're right there are some bad apples in the military, especially since they're becomming desperate at this point and are looking to criminals but just like everyone else in the world you hear a few dudes doing something bad you take the assumption that they're ALL like that or at least in this case that most of them are like that. Believe it or not there are people on my campus who get raped but is it safe to assume that all college males commit rape?

Your enemy ?? Who in Iraq was your enemy ?
Do you mean the SAUDI terrorists that flew the planes ?

I never ever assume , I was simply pointing out that such incidents do not make Iraqis feel safe and they also turn people against what a lot of them see as an invading force. Have you ever heard the saying about one bad apple spoiling the rest ?
Things such as the rape and slaughter of this family taint all the forces in Iraq because it destroys any trust and belief that the people wearing allied uniforms want to help.


Kind of a stretch here.....seems to me, if I recall correctly, we were using laser guided precision missiles. NOT bombing civilian areas like your statement implied.

So are you trying to tell me that the only casualties were "the enemy" and no civilians or innocents were harmed by allied forces ?

That is bordering on delusional if you believe it to be the case.


This is true and unfortunate. So what kind of prison time did they get again?
"On July 3, Steven Green was charged with rape and murder, and could get the death penalty if convicted. "
From your article.....

I believe rapists and murderers should fry


Quite the assumption! Someday you people in Britain will HAVE to get over us kicking your asses in days gone by....or saving your asses depending on the time period.

Ah yes...brings an old favorite to mind.:D

Talking of old favourites

I will answer that by reminding you that
A America has never "kicked our arses" they needed the help of the French ,Spanish and Dutch to beat us.
B America did not win the first or second WW , Hitler lost it due to stupid decisions like attacking Russia in the winter time when the Russians were using the same tactics they used against Napoleon.
The first real turning point in the European theater of war (1939 - 1945 (when did the US get involved?)) was the Battle of Britain , there were Brit pilots , Polish pilots , lots of other nationalities and only 1 American. I won't mention it was the dollar signs that led to the rip off Lend /Lease Agreement. :D


Have a good one!:s4:

You too !

[BathingApes]

Not to mention, if he had ever been to Britain he would realise that here, noone gives a flying fuck that "you beat us" for independence. Hell, we're happy for you.

The way I view the war is that the people of our countries had good intentions, but the governments didnt. I mean, it doesn't take a fool to realise how blind and corrupt governments are. For example, marijuana - the fact that it is still illegal tells you a whole lot about the way the system works.

I'm considerably liberal but I'm actually against immediate withdrawal of troops. We, the public, simply do not know enough about the situation to make any call as to whether or not it would be beneficial for us to stay/leave. In my honest opinion, we will never be able to make that decision with full confidence if the government doesn't start releasing more accurate/less questionable information. Then again, I wouldn't be surprised at all if this war WAS for other reasons than to "liberate the Iraqis" (such as territory in much bigger plan etc) but.. I have no evidence so I'm not going to claim so. It is a tricky situation and I feel that the government is simply dividing the population by keeping it shrouded in such an air of mystique and wonder.

[Breukelen advocaat]

I will answer that by reminding you that A America has never "kicked our arses" they needed the help of the French ,Spanish and Dutch to beat us.

Do you think that Britain fought the war their own? They hired trained armies from six principalities of Germany, totalling 29,875 men. These soldiers and officers were commonly known as "Hessians". Great Britain also hired Native Americans to fight for them, totally 13,000. Between the Germans and the Indians, there were over 40,000 troops fighting for England that were non-British.

We beat England, along with their "Hessians", at the battle of Saratoga before France declared war on Great Britain and allied itself with the new nation. Spain and the Dutch later declared war on England.

[the image reaper]

QUOTE:

" We've done enough for Iraq. Either they start paying for things themselves, or we should take their oil. If it were up to me, I'd take the oil as compensation for what we've given in terms of lives and expenses. We've spent 500 billion dollars over there, and they've got 30 billion sitting in U.S. banks. Some of our expenses are ridiculous, such as the military paying the full open market prices of 3.23 a gallon, 153 million a month, for fuel in Iraq. Plus, they're having a record year in oil sales with profits over 100 billion. This is absolutely fucking crazy. P.S., not only democrats want them to start footing some of the bill, at least for their own country's reconstruction. It would be incredibly, unbelievably stupid of us to continue dealing with them in the fashion that they have become accustomed to.

Many people say that the war was "for the Oil". Well, were still waiting. "

UNQUOTE:

EXCELLENT Observation, I couldn't agree more ! :thumbsup:

[Breukelen advocaat]

Do you think that Britain fought the war their own? They hired trained armies from six principalities of Germany, totalling 29,875 men. These soldiers and officers were commonly known as "Hessians". Great Britain also hired Native Americans to fight for them, totalling 13,000. Between the Germans and the Indians, there were over 40,000 troops fighting for England that were non-British.

We beat England, along with their "Hessians", at the battle of Saratoga before France declared war on Great Britain and allied itself with the new nation. Spain and the Dutch later declared war on England.

Forgot to mention: The British also hired 20,000 African-Americans to fight for them in America during the Revolution. This brings the number of non-English troops fighting for the Crown to well over 60,000.

If I think of any more, I'll update.

[fishman3811]

Well you guys (americans) should look up the time u invaded canada and we beat your asses.Just thought id mention it since people are bringing up past conflicts.

[Dream of the iris]

well what we really should be doing is looking at whats going on now not what went on during the past. I mean Germany used to be a terrible place along with Japan but now they're pretty tight. So what we really should be doing is not argue against each other but rather argue as to how to stop these terrorist bastards from taking over Iraq. Yes American's were idiots for invading Iraq dispite the fact that we Hanged a terrible dicator but thats all in the past. The fact of the matter is we are there and if we leave the terrorist will completely overrun the country....so any thoughts on fixing the problem or should we just continue on with the rant about how Americans or Canadians are better?

[fishman3811]

Dream i dont know who rob spierra is but if he is a lefty then thanks...anyway your right about your last statement but i really dont think anything can be done with iraq.the people should decide their fate not any foreign government.

[psychocat]

well what we really should be doing is looking at whats going on now not what went on during the past. I mean Germany used to be a terrible place along with Japan but now they're pretty tight. So what we really should be doing is not argue against each other but rather argue as to how to stop these terrorist bastards from taking over Iraq. Yes American's were idiots for invading Iraq dispite the fact that we Hanged a terrible dicator but thats all in the past. The fact of the matter is we are there and if we leave the terrorist will completely overrun the country....so any thoughts on fixing the problem or should we just continue on with the rant about how Americans or Canadians are better?

Do you still believe this is a war on terror ?
The bigger picture isn't that hard to see , corporate interests must be expanded .
The so called war on terror is as unwinnable as the war on drugs.
And of course we have the question of why not start with the country where (the US goverment tells us) :( the terrorists who attacked America came from ?

[apocolips31]

Your enemy ?? Who in Iraq was your enemy ?
Do you mean the SAUDI terrorists that flew the planes ?

I never ever assume , I was simply pointing out that such incidents do not make Iraqis feel safe and they also turn people against what a lot of them see as an invading force. Have you ever heard the saying about one bad apple spoiling the rest ?
Things such as the rape and slaughter of this family taint all the forces in Iraq because it destroys any trust and belief that the people wearing allied uniforms want to help.



So are you trying to tell me that the only casualties were "the enemy" and no civilians or innocents were harmed by allied forces ?

That is bordering on delusional if you believe it to be the case.



I believe rapists and murderers should fry



Talking of old favourites

I will answer that by reminding you that
A America has never "kicked our arses" they needed the help of the French ,Spanish and Dutch to beat us.
B America did not win the first or second WW , Hitler lost it due to stupid decisions like attacking Russia in the winter time when the Russians were using the same tactics they used against Napoleon.
The first real turning point in the European theater of war (1939 - 1945 (when did the US get involved?)) was the Battle of Britain , there were Brit pilots , Polish pilots , lots of other nationalities and only 1 American. I won't mention it was the dollar signs that led to the rip off Lend /Lease Agreement. :D



You too !

There wouldn't have been a Battle of Britain if we didn't rush supply's and oil to Great Britain. So while we didn't officially enter the war before then their were already many Americans that had died getting vital supply's to Great Britain so you wouldn't have been invaded and knocked out of the war. Please do research before trying to criticize someone.....