Dana Rohrabacher: “in the next few weeks Congress will be shaping and hopefully passing legislation aimed at jump-starting the Iraqi…”

“in the next few weeks Congress will be shaping and hopefully passing legislation aimed at jump-starting the Iraqi economy, hopefully laying the foundation for prosperity and democracy in that troubled land. The administration is proposing a $23 billion package out of an $87 billion program; and the question now is, what form will our support take in this first $23 billion assistance package to Iraq? Will it be given to Iraq in the form of a loan or will it be given in the form of an investment or will it be given in the form of a grant? We are being told in Congress that it must be given in the form of a grant. We are being told that the people of the United States must give to Iraq $23 billion because if we try to give it in the form of a loan instead of a grant that it will hurt the Iraqi economy and they will not be able to prosper. This is so much nonsense, State Department nonsense which is not taking into consideration the well-being of the people of the United States of America and taking the easy way out. Yes, let us just shovel money over there. That would not be good for the people of Iraq or the people of the United States. The objection the State Department has is based on the idea that if we have any more debt accumulated on the people of Iraq, they will not prosper because they already have so much debt. In fact, their debt is estimated at $120 billion.”