Bush seeks help from allies barred from Iraq deals (truly Dimson)

[Nancy Waterman]

President Bush found himself in the awkward position on Wednesday of calling the leaders of France, Germany and Russia to ask them to forgive Iraq's debts, just a day after the Pentagon excluded those countries and others from $18 billion in American-financed Iraqi reconstruction projects.

White House officials were fuming about the timing and the tone of the Pentagon's directive, even while conceding that they had approved the Pentagon policy of limiting contracts to 63 countries that have given the United States political or military aid in Iraq.

Many countries excluded from the list, including close allies like Canada, reacted angrily on Wednesday to the Pentagon action. They were incensed, in part, by the Pentagon's explanation in a memorandum that the restrictions were required "for the protection of the essential security interests of the United States."

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/11/international/middleeast/11PREX.html?hp

[pinto]

1. Wolfowitz strikes again. Somebody tell B*sh. n/t

[Don Claybrook]

2. Can these idiots do anything without screwing it up?

First, they told France, Germany, and Russia that they couldn't get any Iraqi contracts, i.e., you can't play with any of my toys.

Then, McClellan changed the offer and said if these countries would start to "help" in Iraq, maybe they could get some contracts.

And today, the Idiot Boy Himself calls the leaders of these countries to beg them to forgive debt.

I sometimes wonder why they made partial birth abortions illegal, when they seem to be products of said procedure.

[Just Me]

30. I still believe they are doing it all "on purpose",...

,...after all, we are talking about extremely intelligent albeit depraved people here,...I am certain they intentionally orchestrate such actions in order to keep conflict/crises/emotions in high gear,...I've seen this type of wedging power play at work,...

[UpInArms]

3. ROFLMAO!!!

The absolute lack of diplomacy of this mal-administration just boggles one's mind!

The utter stupidity is so apparent only those that refuse to live in reality (and that must mean there is a true mental problem in America) deny it.

Thanks for the post - needed the laugh!

[rooboy]

4. Government by Ego doesn't work. n/t

[leesa]

5. Bunch of greedy bloody vultures. Tried to screw over the sane part of

the world and ended up screwing themselves.

[UpInArms]

6. related article: U.S. Softens Decision on Tying Contracts in Iraq to War

Support

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/la-fg-contracts11dec11,1,2410183.story?coll=la-home-headlines

WASHINGTON -- Facing outrage from Europe and Canada, the Bush administration Wednesday appeared to soften its decision to ban countries that did not support the war in Iraq from seeking $18.6 billion in prime contracts to rebuild the country.

President Bush phoned the leaders of France, Germany and Russia and promised to "keep lines of communication open" to discuss which countries would be allowed to bid, a White House official said. Bush had placed the calls to urge them to help restructure Iraq's massive debt, but that seemed less likely given the anger over the policy.

White House officials insisted that their policy of excluding anti-war nations from choice business deals in Iraq was unchanged. But they said they would be flexible in deciding which countries had done enough to qualify.

At a briefing, a senior defense official said the roster of 63 eligible countries "is not a fixed closed list. ... This is an open list. We're always going to re-evaluate."

...more...

these idiots just don't understand the old adage:

When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

[kskiska]

10. "deciding which countries had done enough to qualify"

They're playing with countries like game pieces on a Monopoly board.

[this_side_up]

19. Everything is going as planned.

Bushco Cabal is not making mistakes.


Look back, how many times has someone said Arrgh
they sooooo stupid, need to go to school and get
a degree in diplomacy, etc etc

They keep repeating their behavior. Why? Because
it pays off for them and their companies, families,
friends, fellow Rep and Dem politicians.

[kayell]

23. Yep, their behavior is only stupid if you assume that they

are trying to function as a President and other govt. officials for the benefit of the US. Since they never had any intention of doing that with their hijacked pResidency, their behavior makes perfect sense.

[54anickel]

38. Staging another delay in awarding contracts so Hellaburnin can

continue making buko-bucks?

[ninkasi]

20. What makes him think he has any credibility left?

With his track record of broken promises, he talks to leaders of other countries "President Bush phoned the leaders of France, Germany and Russia and promised to "keep lines of communication open" to discuss which countries would be allowed to bid, a White House official said. Bush had placed the calls to urge them to help restructure Iraq's massive debt, but that seemed less likely given the anger over the policy."

He has broken all the promises he ever made, what makes him think they'll believe him now? To believe Bush, is to be Charlie Brown, hoping Lucy won't take the football away this time.

[young_at_heart]

7. I remember people saying "The adults are in charge now"

I read this several times in letters to the editor of our paper. I wonder if those people still have that same opinion?

[Galley_Queen]

36. I Re-Wrote to "Journalists"

who I had corresponded with early on when they were gushing over the Squatter and asked a few of them if they stood by what they had written then. Didn't hear a peep from any of them (3).

:evilgrin:

[BrotherBuzz]

8. LOL, Reminds me of the 'safe to fly' thingy?

I seem to remember that in late 200l Bush* began a campaign to convince people that it's safe to fly again. Right after the announcer talked about Bush's new message that it is safe to fly, the next news report indicated that the military now has clearance to shoot down planes commandeered by hijackers. Somehow, I'm not surprised at anything this misadmistration says or does...

[hatrack]

9. What a bunch of clueless pantsloads!

God, the arrogance of this crew is matched only by their boundless ineptitude!

It's like watching Courtney Love picking her nose and knocking over furniture while projectile vomiting on Julia Child at a state dinner.

[Zech Marquis]

11. i have no words to describe my shame of these fools

why is the PENTAGON even taking part in this reconstruction in the first place? Oh course, Unca Dick is calling the shots, along with Darth Rummy and the Wolfman crew :eyes: Why even bother using the words diplomacy anymore with this bunch? Just come ut and say you're a global crime syndicate already!

[opihimoimoi]

14. I am almost speechless at the insanity of this Bush Team.

How in the world did they get diplomas?

Who were their teachers/professors?

Were they kidnapped and suffered brain damage? Was it a Fall? From the couch? After choking on a Pretzel?

Where did we go wrong?

How did these guys end up leading US. There is no friggen way we going to the Super Bowl with these coaches/

Damn, you would think they got their act together after 3 years. And, they want another 4? Why?

These guys are clueless, got no idea as to what their job is supposed to be. They are guessing.

[Ilsa]

41. Too much tuna, swordfish, etc,

They've ingested too much mercury and their brains have gone toxic.

[qanda]

12. Are they really this stupid

or aI dreaming?

[burrowowl]

13. And Murikans

wonder why the U$ would be the laughing stock of the world if it weren't so damn dangerous.

[maxr4clark]

15. sooner or later...

little George will have alienated everyone not related to him.
Gingrich is already ditching him.
B*ll Frist has started working to the rule as a warning.
Be afraid, little George. Be very afraid.
After the election, you'll just be a private citizen again.

[Robb]

24. Citizen Dubya

"...Would you like to super-size that?" :evilgrin:

[farmboxer]

16. Bush Is A Stupid Hitler!

Bush makes me puke!

[koopie57]

17. I wonder what

they said when he asked them for help? Can you imagine what was going through their minds at *'s arrogance?

[aquart]

18. They called Canada a security risk?

Idiots. Really, will someone lock them up before they nuke the planet as an election ploy?

[truthspeaker]

27. they believe their own propaganda

I suspect the neocons sincerely do not understand the objections to the Iraq war. They really believe that anyone opposed to it is sympathetic to anti-American terrorists. That's why they consider Canada, France, Germany, etc. security risks.

[maddogesq]

29. Only security risk I see from other nations...

is the risk to the financial security of Halliburton, Carlyle, and the whole HEE HAW gang if said HEE HAW gang can't have complete control of the big sand box called Iraq. :)

[dusty64]

21. These guys NEVER

cease to amaze. I hope they are told where to go.

[Patriot_Spear]

22. As Baker's plane turns around somewhere over the Atlantic...

Shrub is bent over Uncle Dicks' knee getting a spanking.

[ze_dscherman]

25. Iraqi debt

Funny, how it's always France, Germany and Russia that get named when it comes to forgiving Iraqi debt. But the biggest debtors are Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, as well as oil companies that have been awarded reparations in the first Gulf War .

Iraqi debt:http://www.jubileeiraq.org/debt_today.htm

Irakqi reparations: http://www.jubileeiraq.org/reperations.htm#breakdown

[moondust]

26. Okay Mr. pResidente. Hier you go:

[Dhalgren]

28. What a bunch of thug-wanabe amateurs!

These creeps are so lame it hurts! These neo-con, semi-facist, Keystone mobsters are so far out of their league, it is pitiful! Someone in the Bush gang should put Wolfowitz and Rumsfeld on a small plane, going anywhere - if you know what I mean.

[Sideways]

39. Ouch My Teeth Are Aching

I grind because I am upset. My nightly grinding is beyond the beyond.

I want to fucking punch this ass cow in the face. How much more of my enamel should I waste on this fuck? God I FUCKING hate this little retarded asshole. Even my fucking teeth are suffering.

[Buns_of_Fire]

31. Let's see, how would those calls go?

France's response: Mangez-le cru, duvet-écrous!
Germany's response: Essen Sie es roh, Fäserchen-Nüsse!
Russia's response (from their English translator): Eat it raw, fuzz-nuts!
Canada's response: Take off, Hoser!

[0007]

32. James 'Asshole' Baker is da man again, 'eh?

I hope Russia, France and Germany flip him off. Canada is also pissed. Go to NewsInternational and ck. it out.

[NoKingGeorge]

37. The only serious player in the game.

asshole baker is one serious dude with big time connections. He will put his finger in the chests of those countries and tell them they get no weapons, they may have an outbreak of mad-cow , whatever it takes this grim reaper will deliver. wollfy and the others should be very afraid as well.

[muriel_volestrangler]

33. at least mercenaries get the money themselves

In this case, it looks like the Pentagon position is: you give us your troops, we'll pay your firms. What a bargain for the soldiers.

[Oilwellian]

34. France, Germany & Russia are a security risk?

Didn't all three of these countries share their intelligence information with Bush before 911, and warned us of an imminent attack? If anything, they're a threat to the security of the Bush Crime Family.

[ignatius]

35. What IS the weather like in GaGa Land?

N/T

[Ganja Ninja]

40. And they say calling them "idiots" is hate speach.