The Coalition of the Billing

a_unique_person

Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning
a_unique_person
Joined
Jul 19, 2002
Messages
49,667
Location
Waiting for the pod bay door to open.
The US has it's allies in the war gearing up to send troops to provide some relief for it's own ones that need a rest.

Only, the US will be paying hundreds of millions for them to do so.

It appears the many of the 'willing' are only in that group to stay on the good side of the US, and will only provide more than platitudes when they are paid hard cash to do so.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/06/23/1056220539895.html

US picks up tab for its Iraq allies

When the Pentagon proudly announced last week that more countries had agreed to send peacekeeping troops to Iraq, one fact drew little attention: US taxpayers will be paying a fair chunk of the bill.

As it has sought to spread the peacekeeping burden, the Bush Administration has agreed to help underwrite the participation of such countries as Poland, Ukraine, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and the Dominican Republic. India, which the US has asked to provide thousands of troops, has asked for financial help as well.

These deals, which by one estimate could cost $US250 million ($A375 million) over the next year, will enable the US to relieve some of its overworked troops and give a more international face to the American-led undertaking. But they may also draw criticism that the US partners in the reshaping of Iraq are those whose support can be bought; the "coalition of the billing", as some wags have put it.

Pentagon officials say it remains unclear what the total tab will be, because they are still trying to work out arrangements with the nearly 50 countries that they say have expressed interest.

But it is already clear that the bills will substantially add to US troop expenses, which, by one congressional estimate, are running at $3 billion a month.
Click to expand...

My tip is that the 'neo-conservatives' will be not quite so in favour after all this pans out over the coming years.
 
Let me guess...

If the US wasn't paying the bill, you would have posted about how cheap and horrible the US is for forsaking its allies.

Once again NO matter what the US does or will do, you will find fault.

You are so transparent.
 
Mike B. said:
Let me guess...

If the US wasn't paying the bill, you would have posted about how cheap and horrible the US is for forsaking its allies.

Once again NO matter what the US does or will do, you will find fault.

You are so transparent.
Click to expand...

Unique is a self-loathing Marxist. Don't pay any attention to his anti-American rhetoric.

The US is funding the cost because countries like Poland are poor and simply can't afford to do it. Also, dangerous socialist states in Europe aren't contributing. They are only good for using the UN to "shake-down" producer nation-states.

The war economy will propel the United States and Iraq into a better future. After the first Gulf War, look at the awesome economy that George Bush I left for Bill Clinton. The conservatives left America with 10 years of prosperity after that war was over and it will happen again this time.

JK
 
Mike B. said:
Let me guess...

If the US wasn't paying the bill, you would have posted about how cheap and horrible the US is for forsaking its allies.

Once again NO matter what the US does or will do, you will find fault.

You are so transparent.
Click to expand...

Australia went along as one of the very few 'willing' that actually took part in the actual invasion phase. It was sent a bill for munitions that were required for some missions that it did not have on hand that were sourced from the US forces.
 
Jedi Knight said:
Unique is a self-loathing Marxist.[snip]
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I suspect that a_unique_person is a Marxist. If he ever confesses, I will put him on my list of communists.
 
a_unique_person said:
The revolution is coming, the workers will rise up, I can almost feel it in the air.... ooops, I didn't say that.
Click to expand...
I'm not going to put you on my list of communists yet. I need harder evidence.
 
JAR said:

I'm not going to put you on my list of communists yet. I need harder evidence.
Click to expand...

You've got a little list? Why do you need it, short term memory problems?

Lol....a little list.....sounds a bit paranoid spooky wierdo to me..

Lets all sing a song for JAR!!



SONG--KO-KO with CHORUS OF MEN.

As some day it may happen that a victim must be found,
I've got a little list--I've got a little list
Of society offenders who might well be underground,
And who never would be missed--who never would be missed!
There's the pestilential nuisances who write for autographs--
All people who have flabby hands and irritating laughs--
All children who are up in dates, and floor you with 'em flat--
All persons who in shaking hands, shake hands with you like _that_--
And all third persons who on spoiling tete-a-tetes insist--
They'd none of 'em be missed--they'd none of 'em be missed!

CHORUS. He's got 'em on the list--he's got 'em on the list;
And they'll none of 'em be missed--they'll none of
'em be missed.

There's the banjo serenader, and the others of his race,
And the piano-organist--I've got him on the list!
And the people who eat peppermint and puff it in your face,
They never would be missed--they never would be missed!
Then the idiot who praises, with enthusiastic tone,
All centuries but this, and every country but his own;
And the lady from the provinces, who dresses like a guy,
And who "doesn't think she waltzes, but would rather like to
try";
And that singular anomaly, the lady novelist--
I don't think she'd be missed--I'm sure she'd not he missed!

CHORUS. He's got her on the list--he's got her on the list;
And I don't think she'll be missed--I'm sure
she'll not be missed!

And that Nisi Prius nuisance, who just now is rather rife,
The Judicial humorist--I've got him on the list!
All funny fellows, comic men, and clowns of private life--
They'd none of 'em be missed--they'd none of 'em be missed.
And apologetic statesmen of a compromising kind,
Such as--What d'ye call him--Thing'em-bob, and
likewise--Never-mind,
And 'St--'st--'st--and What's-his-name, and also You-know-who--
The task of filling up the blanks I'd rather leave to you.
But it really doesn't matter whom you put upon the list,
For they'd none of 'em be missed--they'd none of 'em be
missed!

CHORUS. You may put 'em on the list--you may put 'em on the list;
And they'll none of 'em be missed--they'll none of
'em be missed!

-- W. S. Gilbert
 
Jedi Knight said:
After the first Gulf War, look at the awesome economy that George Bush I left for Bill Clinton. The conservatives left America with 10 years of prosperity after that war was over and it will happen again this time.
Click to expand...
*snort*
 
Once again NO matter what the US does or will do, you will find fault.

What a surprise.
 
a_unique_person said:


Australia went along as one of the very few 'willing' that actually took part in the actual invasion phase. It was sent a bill for munitions that were required for some missions that it did not have on hand that were sourced from the US forces.
Click to expand...

Don't worry about it - the 6500 US troops here for R&R have probably spent more money in Sydney over the last few days than the US government has billed us for. :D
 
There is a related item circulating in the new right now concerning a meeting Sec. Rumsfeld had with a group of Senators who were asking him for better cost estimate data regarding the recent war.

It looks like Rumsfeld did not provide any substantive data.
 
Jedi Knight said:


Unique is a self-loathing Marxist. Don't pay any attention to his anti-American rhetoric.

The US is funding the cost because countries like Poland are poor and simply can't afford to do it. Also, dangerous socialist states in Europe aren't contributing. They are only good for using the UN to "shake-down" producer nation-states.

The war economy will propel the United States and Iraq into a better future. After the first Gulf War, look at the awesome economy that George Bush I left for Bill Clinton. The conservatives left America with 10 years of prosperity after that war was over and it will happen again this time.

JK
Click to expand...

No.

The economy went into a Recession as a result of the First Gulf War.

Whereas the economic boom you speak of was largerly due to production improvements that were made possible by improved control and communication technology.
 
Crossbow said:

The economy went into a Recession as a result of the First Gulf War.

Whereas the economic boom you speak of was largerly due to production improvements that were made possible by improved control and communication technology.
Click to expand...

I think the economy went into recession more or less because, well, it was time. Economies are cyclical; there will always be periods of time where things stagnate for a while. The best a government can do is minimize the impact. (Even if the gulf war did contribute to a recession, the effects must be compared to the alternatives. Letting Saddam keep Kuwait may have caused problems with the global oil supply and thus cause even more economic hardship.)

The boom that we had was due to a combination of:
- The cyclical nature of the economy
- The technology improvements you suggested
- Overhype and just plain fraud (from Worldcom, etc.)
 
Kind of puts a crimp in the idea that the US was engaged in the Iraq war for profit, doesn't it?

Here's another article from that Aussie rag on the subject of the Iraq war.
 
Segnosaur said:


I think the economy went into recession more or less because, well, it was time. Economies are cyclical; there will always be periods of time where things stagnate for a while. The best a government can do is minimize the impact. (Even if the gulf war did contribute to a recession, the effects must be compared to the alternatives. Letting Saddam keep Kuwait may have caused problems with the global oil supply and thus cause even more economic hardship.)

The boom that we had was due to a combination of:
- The cyclical nature of the economy
- The technology improvements you suggested
- Overhype and just plain fraud (from Worldcom, etc.)
Click to expand...

Segnosaur :

I agree with the first part of your posting when you discuss how enconomies are cyclical, and as I recall, prior to the war there was a great deal of discussion concerning how a war could take a weakened situtation and turn it into a recession. Which is exactly what did happen.

For even succesful wars tend to draw a good bit of money and resources away from the building and planning that is needed to maintain a strong economy. Also, consumer confidence and spending (a very important segment of the USA economy) tends to go down a good bit since people are so worried and unsure about the success of the war.

And just to let you know, I do agree with the second part of your post as well.
 
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