U.S. Fights Verdict Backing Ex-POWs

[kskiska]

When 21 freed American P.O.W.'s returned home from the Persian Gulf war in March 1991, Dick Cheney, then secretary of defense, welcomed them at Andrews Air Force Base, Md.

"Every man and woman who cares for freedom," Mr. Cheney said, "owes you a very special measure of gratitude."

Of those 21 former prisoners of war, 17, who had been tortured by their Iraqi captors, would like something more tangible. This month they won a court award of almost $1 billion against Iraq, and a federal law says they may be paid from frozen Iraqi funds.

The Bush administration has expressed sympathy for the plaintiffs over what they endured but is fighting them about the money, saying it is urgently needed to rebuild Iraq.

But Richard W. Roberts, a federal district judge in Washington, has ordered the government to keep enough Iraqi money in the United States to satisfy $653 million of the award, the amount of the compensatory but not the punitive damages he ordered paid to the former prisoners.

more…
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/29/politics/29POW.html

[TahitiNut]

1. "I surrender!"

$38,411,764.71 is more than they'd earn in a couple of lifetimes.

For that amount of money, "make love, not war" may actually catch on with opportunistic capitalist soldiers.

How do we suppose Iraq was able to mount a defense in this suit?

[DagmarK]

2. Amounts are irrelevant.........

Our own govt is fighting its own soldiers for legal recovery from a verdict in a USA court of law.

Not to mention.....the USA doesn't own Iraq -- or its liabilities or its assets. Is it our 51st state?

And I bet dollars to donuts that when this suit was filed...the govt of the USA encouraged and supported it.

It's just insane........

[short bus president]

3. the money is urgently needed to help rebuild Iraq?

How 'bout that $30 million set aside for the guy who ratted out the Hussein boys? This administration has some f*cked up ideas about who deserves compensation and who doesn't.

[burrowowl]

4. It would set a precedent

Then the U$ would be liable for mistreating Iraqi POWs.

[goforit]

5. OMG!!! SATAN at his best!!..W,....Build it with your own stinking cash!!

The WH has stolen Billions from the American people !!!!

They want Iraq???.....Then pay for it!!!
Call up all your Damn Oil buddies and make them pay for
your F*cking Disaster!!!!

RISE UP MILITARY!!!!!!!!!

FIGHT FOR YOURSELVES!!!....LEAVE SATAN!!!!!