Political Quotes

“on a day when we are posed to debate the Emergency Supplemental for Iraq and Afghanistan, it is critical that we call on France, Germany, Russia and other nations, to contribute to Iraq's reconstruction, including by making generous pledges at the Madrid Donors' Conference. It is a matter of fairness and equity. Many of these nations are starting to benefit from a free, liberated Iraq. Their companies will reap financial windfalls from reconstruction efforts. Yet, they expect the U.S. and a small group of nations, to bear the financial burden. France, Germany, and Russia, in particular, should be called upon to match the generous commitment from countries such as Japan which, despite suffering from a severe fiscal situation, has pledged more than $1.5 billion for the immediate reconstruction needs of Iraq. These countries and all of the creditor nations to Iraq should provide debt relief, that will enable the Iraqi people and a future freely-elected government, to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure and industries which deteriorated so severely during the brutal regime of Saddam Hussein. Were it not for the ongoing commercial relations and close links between the governments and companies of France, Germany, and Russia and the Hussein regime, the Iraqi people would not be confronted with $21 billion in debt to 19 creditor nations. The Iraqi people and their new leaders should not be held responsible for the corruption and mismanagement of the Hussein regime.”