Well, isn't this an exciting new development? Over here, we have Holden reproducing an eye-opening snippet from a recent White House press gaggle, in which WH Spokesweasel Scott McClellan makes it clear that Iraqi oil revenues will not be used to finance Iraqi reconstruction:
Q Scott, in the Iraq's reconstruction costs, how much of that should be paid for by Iraq with its oil revenues?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, Iraq's oil revenues are for the Iraqi people.
[snip]
Q But the reconstruction is for the Iraqi people, too, so how much of that reconstruction cost --
MR. McCLELLAN: And it's not just -- and I'll point out, it's not just Americans helping, it's the international community that is stepping forward and helping. And the President touched on that in his remarks, as well.
Q So are oil revenues excluded from reconstruction?
MR. McCLELLAN: No. I mean, it's for the Iraqi people.
Q Right. So how much of the reconstruction costs --
... blah blah blah, no Iraqi oil revenue going toward the reconstruction. Which would seem to thoroughly contradict what one would have heard a couple of years ago:
The United States plans to retain control over the occupation and reconstruction of Iraq, allowing the administration to decide how it will spend the money needed to repair the country. These contracts will be financed by the taxpayer, although senior administration officials have hinted broadly that Iraqi oil revenue will also be used to rebuild the country. "We're going to use the assets of the people of Iraq, especially their oil assets, to benefit their people," said Secretary of State Colin L. Powell on Friday.
Ah, what's another broken promise? It's not like anyone's even keeping track anymore.
UPDATE: Rather than just a "broad hint" that Iraqi oil revenue would be used for reconstruction, we can go right to the transcript:
TED KOPPEL
(Off Camera) All right, this is the first. I mean, when you talk about 1.7, you're not suggesting that the rebuilding of Iraq is gonna be done for $1.7 billion?
ANDREW NATSIOS
Well, in terms of the American taxpayers contribution, I do, this is it for the US. The rest of the rebuilding of Iraq will be done by other countries who have already made pledges, Britain, Germany, Norway, Japan, Canada, and Iraqi oil revenues, eventually in several years, when it's up and running and there's a new government that's been democratically elected, will finish the job with their own revenues. They're going to get in $20 billion a year in oil revenues. But the American part of this will be 1.7 billion. We have no plans for any further-on funding for this.
Any bets that not a single member of the White House Press Corpse will go back to dig out this nugget?
1 comment:
Not just used to help rebuild Iraq, but seemingly the lion's share of funds to help rebuild Iraq:
Transcript, Hearing of the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, March 27, 2003:
“The oil revenues of that country could bring between $50 and $100 billion over the course of the next two or three years. Now, there are a lot of claims on that money, but… We are dealing with a country that can really finance its own reconstruction and relatively soon.”
Courtesy of Paul Wolfowitz
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