White House threatens veto of Iraq aid bill over loans (AP)

[truthisfreedom]

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/294/wash/White_House_threatens_veto_of_P.shtml

White House threatens veto of Iraq aid bill over loans

By Alan Fram, Associated Press, 10/21/2003 12:37

WASHINGTON (AP) The Bush administration threatened for the first time Tuesday to veto an $87 billion package for Iraq and Afghanistan if Congress converts any Iraqi rebuilding money into loans.

White House officials issued the warning even though many lawmakers agree that the bill's final version is likely to bow to President Bush and omit any loans. By underscoring Bush's opposition to loans, the administration threat could make it easier for congressional Republican leaders to nail down enough votes to help the president prevail.
<snip>
The Senate included $18.4 billion but would require Iraq to repay about half unless Saudi Arabia, Russia and other countries forgave 90 percent of the debt Baghdad ran up under Saddam Hussein's regime.
<snip>

Loan supporters say that with some of the world's richest oil reserves, Iraq should be required to eventually repay some U.S. aid. That is especially true with the United States facing record federal deficits, and many members of Congress hearing requests from their home districts for more funds for local roads and other projects.
<snip>
-------------
seems to me we need to do a bit of rebuilding around here. what happened to bush's promise that Iraqi oil would pay for the war? what about our roads? what about our power lines? what about our children? what about our "homeland security?" why is bush so anxious to take our tax dollars and spend them on a new infrastructure in Iraq when that same amount would wipe out all of our states' deficits in a single stroke? since when are we such a weak country that "Yankee Ingenuity" couldn't eliminate the need for oil? WHY WON'T BUSH SPEND THAT MONEY DEVELOPING NEW ENERGY? can you imagine how many wind farms 87 billion dollars would fund?

HE DOESN'T WANT TO FIX ANYTHING. HE WANTS TO LINE THE POCKETS OF HIS CRONIES. AND THAT'S ALL HE WANTS. EMPTYING THE TREASURY INTO THE POCKETS OF HIS CRONIES WAS HIS PLAN ALL ALONG.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Crony Capitalism

Yep you got it right, and he is using the troops to get his way...
what a petulant kid.

If you think this will go well with the troops and their families,
not at all. They have been the tools from the word go.

:puke: :puke: :puke:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Some Repubs voted for the loans

There was also a provision to take the money that was to be a grant and use it for veterans. Bush was against that. Shows what he thinks of the military.

[teryang]

3. Deja vu

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=176919

[phillybri]

4. Who's not supporting the troops now????

:wtf:

[snippy]

5. Amusing if the first veto by Bush is because of too little spending.

It will piss off some of the Reich wing.