Should the Iraqis Be Compensated?

[justinsb]

Poll question: Should the Iraqis Be Compensated?

I have been pushing a petition that asks the UN to pass a resolution to require the Coalition of the Willing to compensate Iraqis who have suffered as a result of the war ( http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/IraqComp ) but very few have actually signed it including some who did not support the war (although some are having difficulty because they do not confirm their signature via email). So the question is do you believe that Iraqis should be compensated for the invasion

[DireStrike]

1. I don't know. How would they be compensated?

With what money? We're in a terrible mess.

[justinsb]

2. I agree the US is in a terrible mess

but I also think that this time the administration should be forced, quite literally this time, to fix what it broke - I think, although painful - it would send a message to the Hawks as well as other nations around the world about the ramifications of international aggression.

[DireStrike]

4. I kinda agree, but I don't think it's possible

Not just in a political way.

Maybe if aliens/god/superman came down from the sky and made us...

[justinsb]

8. Even if it happens

It would likely happen through the courts and not the UN itself but, it would still send a message, even if not a dime ever changed hands.

[oneold1-4u]

22. Compensation

Every Alaskan Native and thousands of Alaskans receive money from oil. Although there are millions more Iraq natives, they also have millions more barrels of oil every day. Their country could compensate those who need it if the US doesn't grab it all!

[Gyre]

29. 40 acres and a DLC democrat!

We're into giving them worthless shit. This would qualify, plus it would rid us of some political puss that's getting in the way of our progress.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

3. I struggle with the notion of compensation.

The concept is largely what created the underlying conditions responsible for WW2 in Europe. And though most of us, myself included, would argue that this war was not necessary, some of them are (and yeah, i realize some here believe that's not true, but there was a little ceremony in Auschwitz this week that said otherwise).

Yet at the same time, efforts should be made to help rebuild after tensions have ceased. I don't think it should be a forced thing. However, I think that in the truest efforts of peace, a nations should feel compelled to help get a war torn country back on its feet.

[DireStrike]

6. Most definitely we should help rebuild after tensions cease

Unfortunately tensions will not cease until we leave. LONG after we leave. *sigh*

[rzemanfl]

5. Wait a minute. Weren't Iraq's oil revenues supposed to pay

for the reconstruction of the country. And weren't we supposed to get candy and flowers and shit? Now we're supposed to pay them for liberating them from their brutal madman dictator who threatened the World with his weapons of mass destruction?

This is screwed up, I'm going to vote for Kerry. When is that election again?

[justinsb]

9. That is, in a beautifully sarcastic way

one of the underlying messages :D

[rzemanfl]

I have been sarcastic my whole life and this is the first time

anyone has called my sarcasm "beautiful." I'm moved...

[justinsb]

15. Some of us just appreciate good sarcasm!

:toast: Cheers!

[TahitiNut]

7. We've already spent $1,000 per Iraqi

But only a very few have benefited. That money enriched the global corporatists and impoverished both Americans and Iraqis.

[justinsb]

10. Perhaps

But even if it had gone directly to the Iraqis, $1000 each would hardly pay for all the injuries, the deaths, the orphans and widows, the propery damage, the destruction of ancient antiquities, the lost wages, etc., etc.,

[TahitiNut]

23. Indeed. I figure we've dug a $250 billion hole and only put about ...

... $50 billion back in. It'll take another $200 billion to get back to even. And that doesn't count the lives lost.

The piper will be paid.

[katinmn]

12. US families get $12,000 for their dead bodies

[katinmn]

11. Yes, of course!

It's hard to see an end to the hostilities. It's also hard picturing us having a warm partnership with them again, considering we've killed so many, but perhaps we SHOULD help them rebuild everything we destroyed and help them rebuild their economy.

And I really want the Bush Family to be sentenced to community service.

And I want Babs to have to go clean up the dead, rotting bodies.

[justinsb]

16. well I'd like to see them

stand trial at the ICC but that's an entirely different issue :shrug:

[AntiCoup2K4]

13. Only if it comes out of the pockets of those who wanted the war.

I shouldn't have to pay one dime for this bullshit. I did everything I could to stop it (short of measures Agent Mike wouldn't want me to talk about)

[justinsb]

17. Well perhaps they'll have to

roll back Bush's tax cut (retroactively) to pay for it.

[katinmn]

19. You and I and every other American will be the ones cleaning

up and paying for Bush's messes.

We are Americans. We HAVE to. It doesn't matter if we voted against Bush. We didn't prevent it.

[Clarkie1]

27. Excellent point n/t

[Clarkie1]

14. I think we already to that.

Don't know the details, and I'm sure it's not enough but I heard or read somewhere that U.S. compensates victims of families who were mistakely targeted, etc.

I don't think the U.N. is the proper vehicle for this.

[justinsb]

Well the International Criminal Court

is probably a better vehicle, but the UN works faster and doesn't need to actually capture the administration for it to go forward

[USA_1]

18. Reparations

Since it is the Republican party that wanted this war, they should be the ones who foot the bill. They have a great many "compassionate conservatives" who have been enriched by Bush's corporate welfare so they now have plenty of money to compensate Iraqis.

Problem solved.

[katinmn]

20. The CEOs of those who profited are the ones that SHOULD

pay. But typically it's the individual taxpayer who foots the bill.

[justinsb]

21. I guess the analogy for me is

If a bunch of guys (just random guys) drive into your house in a bulldozer, kill members of your family and destroy everything you have of value, should they be held (at the very least) financially responsible, or is it enough that they just leave?

[rumpel]

24. Bush & Co and those who continue to support him and the illegal war should

[Lydia Leftcoast]

25. A Marshall Plan for Iraq would be the best solution

but to avoid corruption, emphasize grants for individuals to rebuild their homes and businesses, sort of like Federal disaster aid.

I bet it would cost a lot less than continuing the war.

[Clarkie1]

26. We've spent a lot in Iraq already to rebuild, etc.

More may be needed, but at some point, the Iraqis become responsible for their own actions, security, and state of their nation.

[justinsb]

28. But the US (and the Coalition of the Willing) is responsible

for there being a war in the first place and so, in my mind, responsible for damages - all of the damages

[Zhade]

30. Who the hell voted for #2 and especially #4???

That's pretty fucking COLD.

[justinsb]

32. I dunno about #2

but #4 would be your freeper lurkers

[Tinoire]

33. #2 is for the war enablers & apologists n/t

[IndianaGreen]

31. Compensate the Iraqis and prosecute the American war criminals

From George Bush and Tommy Franks, to the neocons in the Pentagon.

[justinsb]

34. A whopping 36 signatures on this one

so far. Make sure you confirm your signature via the confirmation email or it won't count.