Bush Promises to Step Up Iraq Rebuilding Spending

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Yeah and I promise I won't come in your mouth

By Adam Entous

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites), under election-year pressure from Democrats and some fellow Republicans over Iraq (news - web sites), promised on Saturday to step up the pace of spending on reconstruction contracts in that country despite the violence.


Bush, in his weekly radio address, cited what he called "steady progress" in Iraq to counter warnings by his Democratic presidential rival, Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites), that the situation in reality was deteriorating.


The Republican president said more than $9 billion would be spent on contracts in the next several months to rebuild Iraqi schools, refurbish hospitals, repair bridges and upgrade the electrical grid and communication system. But congressional aides and some administration officials said spending would increase more slowly.


Bush said preparations were also under way to conduct "free national elections no later than January." He said an Iraqi electoral commission had already hired personnel, and U.N. electoral advisers are on the ground.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040925/pl_nm/campaign_bush_dc

[Tempest]

1. And in related news (Iraqis getting screwed)

Costs Whittle Funds to Iraqis
Much of the U.S. aid for rebuilding isn’t entering the economy, drained by the insurgency, profits for contractors and salaries for foreigners.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/la-fg-rebuild26sep26,1,1952690,print.story?coll=la-home-headlines

WASHINGTON — Less than half of the aid in the Bush administration's reconstruction package for Iraq is being spent in ways that will benefit Iraqis, U.S. government officials and independent experts said.

Nearly a year after Congress set aside $18.4 billion for the rebuilding, costs related to the insurgency in Iraq -- such as security services, insurance and property losses -- are consuming an increasing share of the money, analysts said. Another large chunk of the aid -- contractors' profits and American and other foreign workers' salaries -- winds up outside Iraq and doesn't help the Iraqi economy, they said.

[lovuian]

2. Well I think Bush better think rebuilding Florida

:bounce:

[Voltaire99]

3. To be paid for by Wal-Mart America

Somebody remember to tell the NASCAR fans they're going to ante up for this in the form of fewer entitlements, less hope for their kids, and an ever less civilized society.