We Had To Destroy The Village In Order To Rebuild It

Wondering why the Bush Administration is rushing in to the slaughter, even though Kofi Annan, Hans Blix (who still wonders whether Iraq has any WMD), the now-exited nuclear inspectors, and scads of World heads of state have denounced the invasion and U.S. dirty tricks; though 90% or more of the World's population is opposed; though it had to withdraw its much-touted Security Council Resolution because not one country (save the four that have been on board from the get-go) would have voted for it; though the Pope has warned The Superbrain that he has assumed "a grave responsibility before God"; and though legal scholars are questioning the legality of the war (or even outright warning Western leaders and troops that they will be made to account for their crimes)?

Surely it could have nothing to do with the White House having "restricted the initial bidding process" for $900 Million worth of reconstruction contracts to four American companies -- including Dick Cheney's good old boys at Halliburton?

While the Busheros had originally conceived to make Iraq pay for its own reconstruction through oil sales (there's a nice trick -- conduct an unprovoked attack on another country, and make it pay for its own reconstruction!), it's lamentably just going to be too costly for Iraq's oil revenues to cover. So, it's instead going to be left to the U.S. taxpayers (unlike the first Gulf War, no other countries are willing to pony up and funds this time around). If you're scoring at home, here's what it boils down to: massive tax cuts for the rich, massively increased deficit spending (that is, subsidies to "defense" contractors and bond-holders) to pay for the missiles with which to kill tens of thousands of Iraqis and propagate the "War on Terror" in general, and then the taxpayers line the pockets of Cheney and pals with tens of millions more.

Now, that's some freaking chutzpah for you!

Posted by Eddie Tews at March 19, 2003 12:21 AM