COMMENTS: 21
PayPal-ing the War
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In cooperation with a company called GlobalGiving, USAID recently launched IraqPartnership.org. The web site was introduced to the public during a recent speech by USAID's Andrew Natsios at a meeting of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce.
In early September, the Los Angeles Times reported that the deteriorating situation on the ground in Iraq has forced the U.S. to divert money, originally earmarked for construction of some water and power plants in Iraq, to security projects: "Security costs have cut into the money available to complete some major infrastructure projects. ... As a result, the United States is funding only those projects deemed essential by the Iraqi government."
The heavy price paid to secure the country is not the only financial issue in Iraq that is raising eyebrows these days: According to recent reports, $1 billion was stolen from Iraq's defense ministry, money that was intended to train and equip Iraqi troops for the fight against the insurgency. In addition, another $500 to $600 million disappeared from the electricity, transport, interior and other ministries, Iraq's Finance Minister Ali Allawi told London paper The Independent.
The missing "Benjamins" and misspent treasure have apparently forced the admninistration to come up with an alternative fundraising scheme for rebuilding Iraq. "IraqPartnership.org demonstrates the proud American tradition of private citizens working in partnership with government," said Natsios. "At the President's direction USAID will work even harder to engage the private sector to help Iraqis create an environment where democracy and economic opportunity can take root and grow."
IraqPartnership.org is a cooperative endeavor between USAID and GlobalGiving, a leader in online philanthropy; USAID provides the content for the web site, and GlobalGiving supplies "their internet-based donation technology," a September 9 USAID press release pointed out.
Visitors to IraqPartnership.org can check out a selection of current USAID Iraq projects, including providing water pumps to Iraqi farmers, supplying desks, blackboards and school supplies to schools, buying computers and other teaching aids for regional business improvement centers, and contributing to a work program that builds ramps and improves access for handicapped individuals at priority government locations.
With a click of the mouse, contributors choose the projects they are interested in supporting. According to the USAID press release, "All projects have been carefully selected from USAID/Iraq's current mission portfolio allowing donors to confidently and securely donate to projects in Iraq. This transparent, direct connection between 'citizen donors' and project leaders, democratizes the practice of development and gives Americans a further stake in building a free and prosperous Iraq." USAID assures donors that "additional projects and resources will be added in the coming months."
"We are pleased to include Iraq as one of the 63 countries represented on GlobalGiving," said Mari Kuraishi, President of the GlobalGiving Foundation. "Without our relationship with USAID, we would not have been able to connect private American donors and effective development projects 'on the ground' in Iraq."
U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Dr. Zalmay Khalilzad thinks the project is a great idea: "Active citizen participation is the hallmark of democracy. Iraq's success will assist in democratizing a vital region of the world and increase prospects for global security and prosperity for future generations. IraqPartnership.org engages American citizens and multiplies the impact of official U.S. development assistance for Iraq."
Americans already have a huge stake in Iraq. After all, over 1,900 American soldiers have been killed, and more than 14,000 have been wounded since the Bush's March 2003 invasion.
Peter Lems, of the American Friends service Committee (AFSC), believes this new USAID initiative soliciting private contributions to fund the reconstruction of Iraq "is wrongheaded on at least two fronts." According to Lems, the project serves to "further militarize relief since the U.S. military will be the primary agents, and it allows the U.S. government to spend $1 billion dollars a week on the occupation without a similar commitment to the critical needs of the Iraqi people."
"U.S. contributions toward Iraq's reconstruction are an obligation, not an act of charity, and should be appropriate to the damage incurred," an AFSC position paper entitled "Building Hope for Iraq" states.
According to the paper:
The obligation to pay for war damages has a long history in international law and was further clarified after the first Gulf War when the United Nations Security Council established Iraq's legal responsibility for damages from its invasion of Kuwait. Security Council Resolution 687 states that "Iraq ... is liable under international law for any direct loss, damage, including environmental damage and the depletion of natural resources, or injury to foreign governments, nationals and corporations, as a result of Iraq's unlawful invasion and occupation of Kuwait." The same principles should apply to damage caused by the U.S.'s unsanctioned invasion of Iraq. U.S. contributions toward Iraq's reconstruction are an obligation, not an act of charity, and should be appropriate to the damage incurred.In 2004, according to the Chicago Tribune, the American public donated more than $250 billion to charities, including support for the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami. Given the overwhelming financial needs of the people still suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, it is difficult to envision USAID's fundraising scheme garnering much additional support. HalifaxLive.com recently reported that as of Friday, September 16, IraqPartnership.org had "generated contributions of only $39."
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Comments are closed-
Posted by: Tom Degan on Sep 22, 2005 3:47 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
He has got to be impeached, there's no way around it. The evidence is there. It's overwhelming. For the love of Mitch Miller, what the hell is congress waiting for???
Pray for peace.
Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
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» RE: Insane
Posted by: bettsoff
» RE: Insane
Posted by: Erin
» Insightful
Posted by: gpm
» RE: Insightful
Posted by: Brucewxx
» RE: Insane "in the membrane--got no brain, goin insane"
Posted by: fedupamerican
Comments are closed-
Posted by: Sparks56 on Sep 22, 2005 4:00 AM
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Have they solicited any funds from the Carlyle Group?
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» The Nerve, indeed!
Posted by: Tom Degan
» RE: The Nerve!
Posted by: Ely Whitney
Comments are closed-
Posted by: kww355 on Sep 22, 2005 5:15 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Now his messes are a hell of a lot bigger and Daddy can't afford to bail him out so he expects the American people to do it for him(both through our taxes AND private donations).
Funny how the poor were written off during Hurricane Katrina because they didn't assume the *personal responsibility* of getting away but King George can get off the hook once again with nothing more than a tardy, insincere apology.
Bush's presence in the White House proves the stupidity of the American public, but surely the public won't be so stupid as to donate to this charity!
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Posted by: gpm on Sep 22, 2005 6:43 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Cool, we're one step closer to a great day. I would've preferred Team Bush work on the first part of that bumper sticker, but hey, you have to take good news where you can get it with these bozos.
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» No.
Posted by: nickptar
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Posted by: Brucewxx on Sep 22, 2005 7:14 AM
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Posted by: demidesigrrl on Sep 22, 2005 7:55 AM
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Posted by: Basenjis on Sep 22, 2005 9:03 AM
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Posted by: canuckistani on Sep 22, 2005 10:11 AM
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It will be interesting to track this donation fund - I sure hope the emperor is - as it will show just how out of touch the administration's priorities are compared to the US public's.
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» RE: maybe its a good idea?
Posted by: Kattrav
Comments are closed-
Posted by: monkeywrench on Sep 22, 2005 10:19 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Why don't people get this? Repuglicans harp on those "evil tax-and spend Democrats" – but "borrow-and-spend" is FAR WORSE!
The only $200 billion (plus) in taxes are those that won't be available for Katrina rebuilding, because the already-rich have gobbled 'em up in useless tax breaks. For that you can blame the opponents of "tax-and spend."
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Posted by: debmcd on Sep 22, 2005 11:41 AM
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Posted by: fedupamerican on Sep 22, 2005 5:16 PM
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Posted by: sgtmartin1 on Sep 22, 2005 9:45 PM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This is a project that was going to pay for itself, before it cost $80, no 100, no 400 billion dollars.
And now as we scramble to find a way to pay for hurricane devestation in the US, we learn that we have not paid the bill for George Bush's damn war--just the down payment.
The outrages do not cease.
In that spirit This House of Card’s was not built for a perfect storm. and a vicious and ribald caricature of Pat Robertson
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Comments are closed-
Posted by: Tom Degan on Sep 22, 2005 3:47 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
He has got to be impeached, there's no way around it. The evidence is there. It's overwhelming. For the love of Mitch Miller, what the hell is congress waiting for???
Pray for peace.
Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
» RE: Insane
Posted by: bettsoff
» RE: Insane
Posted by: Erin
» Insightful
Posted by: gpm
» RE: Insightful
Posted by: Brucewxx
» RE: Insane "in the membrane--got no brain, goin insane"
Posted by: fedupamerican
Comments are closed-
Posted by: Sparks56 on Sep 22, 2005 4:00 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Have they solicited any funds from the Carlyle Group?
[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
» The Nerve, indeed!
Posted by: Tom Degan
» RE: The Nerve!
Posted by: Ely Whitney
Comments are closed-
Posted by: kww355 on Sep 22, 2005 5:15 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Now his messes are a hell of a lot bigger and Daddy can't afford to bail him out so he expects the American people to do it for him(both through our taxes AND private donations).
Funny how the poor were written off during Hurricane Katrina because they didn't assume the *personal responsibility* of getting away but King George can get off the hook once again with nothing more than a tardy, insincere apology.
Bush's presence in the White House proves the stupidity of the American public, but surely the public won't be so stupid as to donate to this charity!
[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
Comments are closed-
Posted by: gpm on Sep 22, 2005 6:43 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Cool, we're one step closer to a great day. I would've preferred Team Bush work on the first part of that bumper sticker, but hey, you have to take good news where you can get it with these bozos.
[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
» No.
Posted by: nickptar
Comments are closed-
Posted by: Brucewxx on Sep 22, 2005 7:14 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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Comments are closed-
Posted by: demidesigrrl on Sep 22, 2005 7:55 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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Comments are closed-
Posted by: Basenjis on Sep 22, 2005 9:03 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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Comments are closed-
Posted by: canuckistani on Sep 22, 2005 10:11 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
It will be interesting to track this donation fund - I sure hope the emperor is - as it will show just how out of touch the administration's priorities are compared to the US public's.
[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
» RE: maybe its a good idea?
Posted by: Kattrav
Comments are closed-
Posted by: monkeywrench on Sep 22, 2005 10:19 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Why don't people get this? Repuglicans harp on those "evil tax-and spend Democrats" – but "borrow-and-spend" is FAR WORSE!
The only $200 billion (plus) in taxes are those that won't be available for Katrina rebuilding, because the already-rich have gobbled 'em up in useless tax breaks. For that you can blame the opponents of "tax-and spend."
[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
Comments are closed-
Posted by: debmcd on Sep 22, 2005 11:41 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
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Comments are closed-
Posted by: fedupamerican on Sep 22, 2005 5:16 PM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
Comments are closed-
Posted by: sgtmartin1 on Sep 22, 2005 9:45 PM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This is a project that was going to pay for itself, before it cost $80, no 100, no 400 billion dollars.
And now as we scramble to find a way to pay for hurricane devestation in the US, we learn that we have not paid the bill for George Bush's damn war--just the down payment.
The outrages do not cease.
In that spirit This House of Card’s was not built for a perfect storm. and a vicious and ribald caricature of Pat Robertson
[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
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