Bush sends debt-relief message to Europe

As always the RATS will find themselves on the wrong side of this issue but they don't care. Where are the polls?

President Bush yesterday said forgiving Iraqi debt would be "a significant contribution" to postwar reconstruction efforts and suggested that such a move by France, Germany and Russia might be enough to permit those countries' companies to compete for prime contracts to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure.

Rush speculated yesterday that this whole thing might be an orchestrated effort to get Iraq's debtors to forgive the debt. The timing in relation to Bakers trip is just too coincidental.

Sen. John Kerry, Massachusetts Democrat and presidential aspirant, said awarding prime contracts to war supporters "is an enormous mistake" that "borders on the stupid." "It is counterproductive and is the exact opposite of what we should be doing in order to bring other countries to the table," Mr. Kerry said.

Is it any wonder why he has slipped so badly in his presidential bid? The guy is completely out of sync.

I would like to see an accounting for this so-called debt. While most of us know the French, Germans and Russians were engaged in trade with Iraq...in violation of UN embragoes, this would just be one more way to prove that they violated the resolutions. In fact, what ever debt was accumulated between 1991 and 2003 should automatically be claimed null and void considering this violation.

Exactly. I didn't hear Rush yesterday, but that has been my theory from the beginning. It just makes great sense, and is brilliant, despite the CNN/liberal spin that this is yet another "bungle' by the wild-eyed neo-cons in the White House.

Let's say, for instance, that Bush implemented John Kerry's foreign policy on this issue. We'd have rewarded countries that not only thought the war was ill-advised, but who actively campaigned to turn the world against us -- and against the U.N.'s own resolutions -- but we would have rendered worthless the unflagging support of Britain, Australia, Spain, Italy, etc. Would you rather slap your diplomatic enemies in the face, or your friends? Apparently, Kerry feels more comfortable slapping Tony Blair.

Second, the Kerry Doctrine can be summed up thus: Give away lucrative contracts to recalcitrant France, Germany and Russia and hope they return the favor by forgiving the long-oppressed Iraqi people of the debts run up by the tyrant who kept them terrorized. That's not diplomacy. That's naivete. What action by those countries, either in the run-up to the war or afterward, suggests that if we only do what they say, they will help us? Nothing.

Instead, Bush is sending probably the toughest, most competent international negotiator on an important mission -- and putting him in a position of power. "Hey, France. You want to get in on the fun and riches? Then how about forgiving the debt?" We've been asking the selfish European powers to forgive this debt for almost a year, and they've refused. So, it's time to play hardball. And Jim Baker is a pro at that game.

Prediction: The press says Jim Baker "failed" because he returns from Europe "empty handed." But by Groundhog Day at the latest -- because that's when the final contracts will be awarded -- France, Germany and Europe agree to forgive substantial amount of Iraq's debt. They get some contracts. Everybody wins, especially the Iraqi people.

Demo foreign policy plank this year is to give US taxpayer money to France and Germany.

"It just makes great sense, and is brilliant...

Ah, come on. Everyone knows Bush is inept with foreign affairs... ;O)

You're joking, right?

Yes, I was being sarcastic-parroting the liberal left.