Saudis Alter Promise to Help Afghans (change $50M grant to $30M loan)

The Washington Post ^ | 22 December 2002 | Marc Kaufman

[Stultis]

Afghan President Hamid Karzai was at his side at the United Nations when Bush declared in September that the United States would donate $80 million and the two other countries would each give $50 million to build the road, which Karzai had called his top reconstruction priority.

Three months later, that promising beginning has turned acrimonious, as one of the announced partners apparently has changed its mind about its contribution.

According to U.S. and Afghan officials, the Saudi offer to give $50 million for the road repair has been changed to the offer of a low-interest loan of $30 million. But because Afghan officials are unwilling to take on national debt, they have rejected the Saudi offer, and the road-building project has slowed as a result.

[Stultis]

The other country donating to the project is Japan.

[Bogey78O]

Saudi Arabia must have realized Karzei wan't going to be donating to the Jihad effort.

[montag813]

As with their Palestinian "brothers", whom they permit to live in squalor, and donate only to suicide killers, the rich Arabs reveal their true colors as always: their is no charity in Islam, only cash for works of evil and death.

[Stultis]

You'll want to include this one in your compilation, backhoe.

[Excuse_Me]

According to U.S. and Afghan officials, the Saudi offer to give $50 million for the road repair has been changed to the offer of a low-interest loan of $30 million.

Hmmm. Low-interest loan. So much for Sharia law. The Saudis prove once again that they do not practice what they preach.

[Stultis]

Saudi Arabia must have realized Karzei wan't going to be donating to the Jihad effort.

Yep. The Saudis spent a great deal of money in Afghanistan under the Taliban. But where we are building roads, schools and medical clinics; they were building hatred.

[TheOtherOne]

Yeah, what up with the "interest is against Islam" BS?

[Stultis]

Low-interest loan. So much for Sharia law.

[slapping forehead]

Thanks, Excuse_me. That hadn't even occured to me!

[McGavin999]

Low interest loan? I thought it was against Islamic law to loan money and charge interest?

[Ben Bolt]

On the other hand why would a counnry with little or no law want to go into debt ? Maybe that Murray babe on the west coast has the wrong ben longing report .

[The Obstinate Insomniac]

bump

[Professional]

I thought it was against Islamic law to loan money and charge interest?

I guess, just like in the Western World, ya gotta read the fine print.

[Uncle Miltie]

"But where we are building roads, schools and medical clinics; they were building hatred."

Not that Senator Murray would mind.

[marron]

Saudi Arabia is trying to work their way to the top of our "to do" list.

[Stultis]

Why was this pulled from breaking news?

Granted the basic story apparently began to come out last month, but I can't find that earlier articles were posted here, and the present article contains new information in the form of adminstration acknowledgements and commentary.

No big deal, but I thought this was an article many freepers would be interested in seeing.