Negroponte Wants More Funds for Iraqi Security-WSJ

[Nambe]

NEW YORK (Reuters)

The new U.S. ambassador to Iraq wants to shift $3.37 billion in aid earmarked for water, sewage and electricity projects in the country to efforts to improve Iraq's security and oil output and create more jobs, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

Ambassador John Negroponte, who took his post in June, issued his request in a cable last week to State Department officials, the newspaper said, citing unnamed U.S. officials familiar with the cable's contents. The money is part of $18.4 billion in reconstruction aid approved by Congress approved last November.

The proposal represents the State Department's first attempt to put its stamp on American reconstruction in Iraq since the Defense Department ceded authority to Negroponte in July, the newspaper said.

It said the changes might draw opposition from contractors that would lose money from such a reapportionment, as well as Iraqis in many parts of the country who want their water and power restored. Much of the money for rebuilding electric and water facilities has not been spent, so some of the transferred funds will probably come from contractors that have been awarded but remain at an early stage, the newspaper said. ..
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[Swamp Rat]

1. Negroponte wants to build some dungeons that would make Torquemada

drool. Racks, Iron Maidens, you name it he wants it. Time to put that SOA training to use.

[notadmblnd]

13. Nah, he wouldnt do a thing like that...(sarcasim off)

he just wants an opportunity to get his slice of the American taxpayers pie. I think they should tell him if he can locate the money already missing from what was allocated from Iraq, he can have his 10% cut!

[Nambe]

2. This is nearly perfect timing.

As the article says, it is either forcing bush to ask for more money or take money from his bosses, the contractors. The convention is trying to link bush with strong security and therefore tying him to the events in Iraq. Lives and money will get the attention of the voters. Better money than the lives of our soldiers.

[teryang]

3. take money from Iraq - give to defense contractors

Domestic policy - take money from US - give to defense contractors.

[0007]

4. Is this just a disguise to steal more money? Or to keep the

hush hush news of the 14 military installation being build, that needs more security and guards.

I say both!!

[mbperrin]

5. shift $3.37 billion in aid earmarked for water, sewage and electricity

Sure! Who needs water, sewage or electricity?!

We do just fine here in the good ol USA without them!

[JitterbugPerfume]

6. Ever notice how they refer to

BILLIONS of dollars like it was pocket change???? sheesh

ever try to imagine how much money that is?

[Vladimir]

7. Well Iraqis surely don't need them as much

as we need oil! Tut tut, priorities, priorities...

[Jacobin]

8. Can't get that oil out, can they?

Guess they hope to build a 20 foot high stone wall along thousands of miles of pipelines to try to stop insurgents from blowing them up.

Over the weekend, insurgents blew up the pipelines again...NO oil from Iraq for at least a week.

Gee, I can't understand why Iraqis don't want us to steal their oil!!

[daleo]

9. The people can't have water, sewage, and electricity

While there is still oil to be taken out of the ground, and mercenaries to be hired. This is a perfect example of why the occupation has become so despised by the majority of Iraqis.

[bemildred]

10. That's it! Hundreds of miles of Bremer Walls(tm) all along the pipes. nt

[LauraK]

14. Why doesn't shamey bring the SA death squads in.

I guess they aren't used to armed opponents.

[denverbill]

11. No, no, idiot. What Iraq needs is tax cuts for the rich.

THAT'S how you create jobs, not with some big govt spending program.

Everyone knows that govt is the problem, not the solution. And everyone knows that the answer to the security problems is to allow everyone to walk around carrying Uzi's and RPG's.

[struggle4progress]

12. Less interest in reconstruction than oil output. eom