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TechnoratiCharging the Victim: Who Should Pay to Rebuild Iraq?
Our Congressional Representative James Walsh (R-NY) recently "lashed out at Iraq." Walsh, now in his tenth term, said Iraq should use its oil windfall sales to repay some of the $48 billion the United States has spent "rebuilding" there.
"We have delivered democracy for them....The least they could do is step up to the plate and help out," Walsh opined.
Let's not look too closely at that "democracy" we've "delivered." Let's not ask to what extent bombed-out medical facilities have been restored. Nor to what extent Iraqis, after five years of beneficent occupation, now have electricity and potable water. Nor how many Iraqi jobs any U.S. reconstruction has generated. Nor how much of that $48 billion lined the capacious pockets of Halliburton et al. Nor how much of the "re-building" fund goes to building permanent U.S. military bases.
Nor need we ask who's going to pay to clean up Iraq's soil, air and water after their protracted exposure to depleted uranium -- the toxic and radioactive substance used in the U.S. shells rained down on that liberated land. And let's not open that other can of worms: How will we compensate Iraqi families for the unnumbered kin we have killed?
Instead let's take a more legalistic approach. Let's look at precedent. In 1990 when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, no one thought to hold that victim responsible for the damage. Nor did anyone claim that, because it had oil assets, Kuwait owed Iraq money.
No one - especially the UN Security Council -- questioned that it was Iraq that had to reimburse losses and finance the rebuilding. Indeed, since its Gulf War defeat, Iraq keeps paying billions in reparations. But those billions are only a fraction of what Kuwait and the corporations doing business there still keep demanding.
Fast forward to the new century. Now it's Iraq that's been (illegally) invaded; it's Iraq that's been laid low. In a classic case of "charging the victim," Mr. Walsh and some of his Congressional colleagues,* both Democrat and Republican, argue that Iraq must help pay for its own rebuilding. Both common sense and common decency wince.
It is the invader, not the invaded, who is both morally and legally obligated to pay to restore a war-torn land. And note: those billions Iraq has been paying Kuwait go to Kuwaitis and not to any Iraqi war profiteer. Given adequate reparations, Iraq -- a land of builders and engineers -- is quite capable of repairing itself. It needs no assist from the invader's avid corporations.
Those who perpetrated the U.S. invasion, besides being tried in a Nurnberg-like tribunal, should make financial amends. Their shills -- much of the U.S. mainstream media -- also share responsibility. But sorting out who should pay what would take the wisdom of Solomon.
In the case of Kuwait, a UN commission plays Solomon. The case seemed simple enough: only Iraq invaded; it was then vanquished. Ergo, the Iraqi people -- via their oil reserves -- must be perpetually taxed to repair Saddam Hussein's folly. Never mind that it was his western allies who helped militarize Saddam's regime.
Yes, some Iraqis also collaborated with Saddam. But most were Saddam's victims. Saddam frowned on dissent. Many of his soldiers were conscripts. Thousands of these -- slaughtered from the air as they fled homeward -- remain interred in desert sands.
Now, the U.S./Iraq case isn't quite parallel. All too many U.S. people and our Congressional representatives enthusiastically supported "Shock and Awe" and the ensuing occupation.
Does it let us off the hook -- at least a little -- that Cheney/Bush and their shills persistently lied to us? Many U.S. Americans believed that our "pre-emptive" war had nothing to do with certain corporations cornering the world's oil supply. Nor did it even occur to us that Saddam's move to switch from dollars to euros for oil payments helped trigger the wrath. Wasn't the war about WMD and about somehow -- never mind how -- defending our borders against "terror"?
Should U.S. wage earners be forced to pay for a war many might not have supported had they known the truth? Should they then also pay for what that war wrought? Maybe yes, maybe no. One thing is certain: it was the Pentagon that maniacally demolished Iraq.
No, Mr. Walsh, it isn't the Iraqi people who should devote their national wealth to rebuilding their desolated country. Nor should the U.S. people, also variously victims and dupes of this war, be further taxed. By all rights, the rebuilding fund should come out of our own oiligarchy's windfall profits and out of the Pentagon's obscenely bloated budget.
* "Iraq Told to Pick Up the Tab: Congress Wants to Cut Reconstruction Aid," by Anne Flaherty, Associated Press in the Syracuse Post-Standard, 15 Apr. 2008.
The author spent five months in Iraq in 2003 with the human rights group, Voices in the Wilderness. Reach him at edkinane@verizon.net.
35 Comments so far
Show AllClassAct -- "Let those who benefitted pay: Exxon-Mobil, Chevron, Texaco, Gulf, Halliburton, Blackwater, BP, etc."
Those people (the executives of the companies listed) should have no chance to repay. They should be locked up and maybe their brains in a jar when their hearts stop beating. The companies should be dissolved. Plus we should transact in calories to get away from financial dominance.
Having served time in Iraq helping with reconstruction (I am not a contractor but a US govt civil servant), I think we should pay for what we destroyed, but it seems Iraq should foot the bill for any new reconstruction. Much of the infrastructure being built is new. They definitely need what is being built, but I'm not sure they always want it. And as well-intentioned as the rebuilding might be, it is often substandard even with American oversight as security concerns often prevent adequate QA in the building process. In years to come when things start crumbling, I'm sure the USA will be blamed. It's a difficult situation to help rebuild and look over your shoulder at the same time for those who don't want us there. This whole mess really should have been thought through.
America is 10x worse from the perspective of anyone living outside the two countries.
Same thing for America versus Cuba.
America is only good for Americans. It's becoming less so, and that's a good thing. Maybe the Americans themselves will finally realize what it's like to live under the kind of conditions they've been actively creating in the rest of the world for decades (at least).
citizenblog;
You are either ignorant or emotionally manipulative. To say that China and the US are 'equally' as bad is just silly.
It's far too early to tell what the Iraq's will end up with as a form of government in my opinion.
In any case the rersponsibility for restoring the country rests with us. Using some of their oil money certasnly and more of ours of course. (someone suggested that some of the contractors dshould kick in...great plan.
It doesn't matter who voted for who, when our country does something bad we are all responsible just as when we do something good. Anyone that doesn't feel responsible isn't an American as far as I am concerned.
Yeah, we delivered democracy from the barrel of a gun and shoved it down their throats, I know that`s how our founding fathers did it, down the barrel of a musket.Halliburton, KBR and others have raped America and Iraq and still want more.Well as far as i`m concerned let`s bring our soldiers home and give them the treatment that they deserve and start rebuilding America Obama`s way.We put these morons in office so we should pay for all that the Bushco crime family did to this country and Iraq.........
http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m46386&hd=&size=1&l=e
People are dying of starvation in Gaza. Why is nobody on Common Dreams talking about it?
That money Earl Simmins is in US banks, by law. Remember, in Iraq the US is the law. Immune from prosecution, free to do as it pleases.
l wonder what would happen to that bank if lraq took out all it's money and spent it in lraq?
Great article. But how do we make the oligarchy pay?
Well the NeoCons were right about strangling government (that poor metaphorical baby in the bath water it was thrown out with). And make sure you vote for EITHER O-bomb-a or McSame and watch the Pentagon run amok till it finally runs out of funds and soldiers.....as commented, it's just another oil war and a credit card meltdown away. I see no other way.....the lazy-person's route to revolution! The USSR has showed us all how easy it really will be. Cabbage anyone?
I will flip a coin and vote Cynthia or Ralph, two stellar individuals.
I recommend the film BRAZIL to place this in perspective. It starts out where a citizen (wrong one due to a computer glitch) is arrested, and the officer reads to the man's terrified wife the "name & number of the alleged law he's violated," then has her sign a form that means she is consenting to the COSTS of his arrest & interrogation.
I saw this film many years ago and recently purchased it from Amazon. It's amazing how prophetic it was at the time of its making, and now... it made me cry.
it matters little if or how much reconstruction money is handed over - as far as the "repairing the damage done" part of the equasion. it is unrepairable by money or apologies or military "assistance" - unamerica's rep is simply too far gone into the realm of eternally damned.
our moral bankruptcy will not soon enough be joined by it's financial counterpart, and we will get a first class look at scope of our karmic debt.
1. How did our oil get under their sand?
2. How dare they allow us to wreck their country?
3. ???
By 2004 it was obvious to anyone with the slightest shred of awareness that bush was a liar and a crook. It was also blatantly obvious that there were no WMD in Iraq and the "war" was a sham. War Profiteers had already moved in and were making money hand over fist. Bin Laden was all but forgotten. Still, so many Americans went out and cast a vote to keep bush in office. They VOTED for him. Either these people were so gullible that they believe everything they see as they drool in front of FOX News, so stupid that they can't tell right from wrong, so greedy that they only care about getting their "tax cut", or a combination of them. They are the ones responsible for continuing the occupation and the destruction of Iraq. They have the blood of 2000 soldiers on their hands as well as countless more Iraqis.
Stick them with the bill. They wanted it and voted for it. Fitting that they should have to pay for it too. (It comes out to a rough $9000 per person) I'm all about garnishing their wages too. All these idiot's votes are public record.
massud August 12th, 2008 6:16 pm
"Proof that progressives are nothing but a joke. A progressive board arguing that Red China is superior to the US. Such a comment would make Noam Chomsky wince."
You tarring and feathering us all because of one commentator? They are both as bad as each other.
Proof that progressives are nothing but a joke. A progressive board arguing that Red China is superior to the US. Such a comment would make Noam Chomsky wince.
Yep, this is going to help win hearts and minds in Iraq and help turn Iraq into a local model of American democracy that will create a wave a freedom and democracy across the region.
Bush's America is sure starting to have the look and feel of the old USSR when it was collapsing. After paying for repairs and reparations America won't have a pot to pee just in like Germany after WWI.
This is like a doctor going around and kicking people in the shins (or shooting them in the back) and then having them pay for treatment saying that they are providing a service.
This country was founded by pirates, and the pirates are continuing their rule.
How many people out there would consider making a million dollars knowing it would result in a few people being injured or killed. The answer includes Bush, Cheney, and many of our elected officials.
And Congressional Representative James Walsh (R-NY) was elected 10 times.
Don't support the status quo, vote third party.
Pascal: One can certainly hope.
Talk about moral bankruptcy! Bush's America is a prime exhibit. The bully who destroyed your house pays, according to common law. He also needs to be jailed.
"But sorting out who should pay what would take the wisdom of Solomon."
Actually it doesnt. Its pretty simple. We, should pay the Iraqis whatever it takes, to rebuild their society that we broke. No great wisdom needed ... just plain common sense and a conscience is all thats needed.
What Does Our Congressional Representative James Walsh (R-NY) Charge Tortured Victims?
Ignorance is no defense. Majority of us supported the invasion of Iraq and executed it through our representative government. Reparations? Who has the guts to enforce it on us?
Ed Kinane, great article.
-"We have delivered democracy for them….The least they could do is step up to the plate and help out," Walsh opined.
This Mr. Walsh missed his calling. He should have been a comedian.
Good letter Hector. I know my two Republican Senators are peddling the same thing. Iraq should pay in oil for the reconstruction. The ships sinking fast because the budget is totally shot and they don't know what to do. The reconstruction is going to be costly whether the Iraqi or American people pay for it. What is the saying "You made the mess so now you clean it up?"
Sent to, but unpublished by, the NYTimes (it was very heartening that the overwhelming majority of the (in fact, all but unanimous) Comments posted on the Times on line website agreed with what I post below):
To the Editor:
The Times reports that a GAO analysis commissioned by Senators Carl Levin and John W. Warner shows that "The soaring price of oil will leave the Iraqi government with a cumulative budget surplus of as much as $79 billion by year's end".
The Times also reports that Senators Levin and Warner "were quick to express strong dissatisfaction over the contrast between American spending on reconstruction and the weak record of spending by Iraq itself, in spite of the colossal surpluses".
I find this "strong dissatisfaction" morally reprehensible. It was the "American" destruction of Iraq that has made the "reconstruction" necessary. On what possible moral theory can one justify dissatisfaction that the country that destroyed another for what were understood at the time to be false pretenses has carried more of the burden of "reconstruction" than the country needlessly destroyed?
Talk about blaming the victim!
/s/
The sooner China assumes its rightful place as the leading nation in the world, the sooner the USA will fade into irrelevance. Soon you will about as powerful a world force as Spain or Great Britain.
Let those who benefitted pay: Exxon-Mobil, Chevron, Texaco, Gulf, Halliburton, Blackwater, BP, etc.
Of course it is up to us, the destroyers, the aggressors, to rebuild the country. There's just the little matter of our not having the money to do it. We're in big fucking debt to China, Japan, South Korea, just to name a few. So if we pay for the rebuilding, it will really be China et al who will be footing the bill. We'll sell some more of America to the rest of the world and use that money to rebuild the country we destroyed so wantonly and spitefully. But don't look for it to happen. Iraq has oil wealth and we will force them to pay for their own rehabilitation, because that's what the U.S. government is like: totally without ethics, without a shred of decency, like a pack of hyenas yapping over a kill. We killed Iraq, and now to bring it back to life we expect it to use its own relatively meager wealth. We didn't "give them" democracy. We gave them a country poisoned, polluted, bombed, shredded, destroyed. What usually happens when the U.S. comes calling. Shame on Congress for even thinking of expecting Iraq to pay a dime for its reconstruction. Just when I think this government can go no lower, it surprises me once again.
whatfools: Perhaps Mr. Walsh doesn't consider it torture or even "enhanced interrogation"? Maybe he thinks of it as dominatrix sadomasochistic sex worker services, which I'm told can be quite expensive, and so the "beneficiaries" of these services should be required to reimburse the U.S. at market rates.
But we don't call it "tortured logic". We call it "time and materials cost recovery accounting".
Another example of Bush`s Christian, Compassionate, Conservatism in action. It is about as impressive as Reagan`s Trickle-Down philosophy.
Right on! Let the trials begin. George Bush, Dick Cheney, Condi Rice, Don Rumsfeld, Halliburton, KBR, and the other corporate interests that got us into the war in Iraq should have all their assets stripped and used to compensate both Iraq and the American people who've also suffered plenty from this fascist regime in Washington.