[Shermy]

Ping.

[Dog Gone]

While the United States could just let the oil-for-food program lapse on June 3 by vetoing any resolution to renew it, such an action could raise legal problems and possibly deter multinational companies from doing business there.

Our leverage will increase as that date approaches, and business always goes where the money is. That last phrase is baloney.

[adam_az]

"If I were an adviser to George Bush, I would say: 'Listen to Colin Powell, not Donald Rumsfeld,"' he said when asked how he would advise Bush on managing post-war Iraq.

Now we know why this guy isn't an advisor to George Bush. :)

[pgyanke]

In a move to win allies, the United States is considering honoring contracts made by Saddam Hussein's government under the U.N. oil-for-food program if the Security Council lifts sanctions against Iraq, diplomats said on Friday.

NOOOOOOO!!!!

[kritikos]

"The proposal was made by U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte during a meeting of council members and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday and reported by several participants in the session. It would reimburse firms whose contracts had been approved and funded under the multibillion dollar program."

As long as they simply reimburse the firms and not seek fulfillment of contracts...what the heck would Iraq need with more weapons and munitions?

[My2Cents]

Sure, why not honor agreements that allowed graft and corruption, and allowed nations such as France to sacrifice the welfare of the people of Iraq for the promise of cheap oil. Sure, we should protect these corrupt bargains.

[cake_crumb]

" 'If I were an adviser to George Bush, I would say: 'Listen to Colin Powell, not Donald Rumsfeld,' he said when asked how he would advise Bush on managing post-war Iraq."

Who is this idiot Greenstock? Is he advising Blair in the same way??

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Mr. Negroponte is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the American Academy of Diplomacy. He is former chairman of the French-American Foundation.

[swheats]

While the United States could just let the oil-for-food program lapse on June 3 by vetoing any resolution to renew it, such an action could raise legal problems and possibly deter multinational companies from doing business there.

The U.S. should allow the lapse. And the UN needs to show us the money. Open their books.

[DannyTN]

"While the United States could just let the oil-for-food program lapse on June 3 by vetoing any resolution to renew it, such an action could raise legal problems and possibly deter multinational companies from doing business there."

We should let it lapse. Who are we to honor past contracts. It's not our resources. It's not our country. Let the new Iraqi's decide if they are going to burden all that debt.

[joesnuffy]

Dont listen to the globalists ...they made this mess in the first place ..as per usual...

[LurkedLongEnough]

Reuters. We'll see how the story gets spun elsewhere.

I had some lovely UK relatives visiting me this week, and they told me that "most" Brits "assume" that Pres Bush is a liar and Tony Blair is toast. Umm, yeah. These particular UKers (university-affiliated), anyway, have a totally different way of looking at the world than we. It's very confusing to me how they can make such pronouncements and believe them.

Seriously, I'm much more worried about the World Bank involvement than the Reuters speculation right now.

[bart99]

Well heck..... I'm confused. I don't know if this is a good or bad idea. I like the lifting of sanctions.... I like the release of $12 Billion dollars...... but not to Russia and France.

I think I'd like the USA to just VETO anything France, Germany, or Russia support - just on general principles..... and also to basically screw them. And the UN can bite. I could care less about making friends there. 150 countries will STILL hate us, no matter what we do. Let's take care of Iraq with the help of the 30 - 40 countries that want to help, and screw the UN.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

This program has been a fraud and boondoggle that benefited primarily the UN bureaucracy, France, and Germany. IMO, the USA should declare it null and void, but I expected something like this. Too bad.

[Grampa Dave]

The whacked out writers for Reuters have to be on iv drugs.

This story just broke my BS meter!