CNN

Every day they wake up, these people are worried about their wives and husbands disappearing, their sons and daughters being killed and mutilated, and you are saying they owe us? What is wrong with you people?

Why should the Iraqi people pay for what the American government did? Our government kick down the door uninvited, trashed the place and now we want the Iraqis to pay us? We are not owed a darn thing! We started a freaking War over there!

This article plays us for suckers. "Iraqis playing U.S. taxpayers for 'suckers'?" is a leading question that makes us believe that we're being tricked by the Iraqis and they owe us something. Bush tricked us into a war that should have never happened. Now Iraq is in a state of war that has no end in sight, yet some of you believe we are owed something? Don't complain about the Iraqis, complain about your own government!

When there might be a bomb or two waiting for you just around the corner, I'm sure the last thing in your mind is "playing the U.S. taxpayers for suckers"

cnn rocks
You are right! In Mexico I have been asked many times why are you Americans always invading and killing people? My answer is, what can we Americans do? we have no voice in what our government does. The
vast majority of us are against the war. We are against the continuing of the war, and the government ignores us completely

There should be riots in the streets. Americans needs to storm the white house and drag Bush out in the streets. But hopefully we will restrain ourselves,and remember to vote democratic this Nov,and hope never to see another republican president ever!

Obama 08/ Dems for the white house!

We keep hearing of the barrels of Iraqi oil being pumped. So, where is the money? Yes, not only the Iraqi Government, but those involved in the oil contracts and deals are screwing the US and the American people. President Bush has been chasing the Congress to send bills and bills of US tax dollars to Iraq. He must surely know where the Iraqi Oil money is, and is helping his oil buddies scam this nation.

That is why we need Mrs. Clinton in the White house. She will start bringing back our troups.!!!!!

Clinton -08!!!!

Uh... before everybody gets too mad, one should know that US also bombs Iraq here and there for Islamic extremists. So, part of the responsibility lies on US. But, again a line should be drawn too, enough is enough...

omg!!! You blow up the country then blame the Iraqis? YOU destroyed their country!!! Americans SHOULD pay for the recvontruction. Not one dime should come from the Iraqi people. I find it totally sickening you would blame the Iraqis when it was Americans that destroyed it.

Iraq needs to pay a considerable amount of their reconstruction costs, more than half atleast, but we as Americans need to face the facts. We invaded them! We gave power to the Bush Administration, which made the decision to invade. Yes, the Republican Bush Administration is the biggest mistake in the history of this country, but we gave them the power to make those decisions. It's our mistake, and should be responsible for our actions. Hopefully Conservative Americans can put aside their ignorance in November to put someone in office that can keep this country from making quick, blindless decisions.

WOLF PLEASE DIG DEEPER IN THIS STORY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW

For those of you that seem to think Iraq promised to pay for the cost of the war, what planet do you come from?

It was the US government that suggested it would get Iraq to pay for the war.... but as others have said, "if you break it, you have bought it".

The simple fact is that attacking Iraq was the biggest blunder the USA has made in foreign policy in decades. You gave a gift to your enemies and made your friends question your sanity. What is sad is that most Americans supported the war. What is even sadder is that there are many Americans that understand how to fight terrorism and they were warning that attacking Iraq would be a major boost to the radical islamic elements.

The only real change that happened after 911 is that America faced up to what most of the world has had to deal with, terrorism! Its a fight that calls for police work and smarts, not just brute force.

The US basically destroyed the Iraqi infrastructure and in my opinion, we have a moral obligation to get this country back on track. I don't possibly see how they can even begin to rebuild on their own until the day comes when Iraqi workers don't have to worry about being blown to bits or abducted, tortured and murdered on their way to work. The Iraqi's aren't playing Americans for suckers. The American's who put our bone head President in office in the first played us for suckers.

WOW! I wondered where all the uneducated liberals went. Guess I found them. Shortsighted, isolationist policies??? How many of you want to vote for Ron Paul, cause your demo nominees are not going to do any better. If you will remember it is the failed policies of the first (and hopefully only) Clinton in the White House that lead to this problem in the first place.

The Iraqi government playing the U.S. for suckers? They'd never do anything so crude. Ask Chalabi.

Can we put the US military war accountants and the Iraqi oil accountants in the same room?

the attitudes expressed here are exactly why no candidate can rescue americas reputation. To criticise the iraqi's for not paying for the reconstruction is ludicrous. The coalition of the willing intervened in another nations affairs without the consent of the international community. It wasn't solely the bush administration but your democratically elected congress. your representatives, your senators, your media and the military you paid for. Why should iraqi's pay to rebuild a bridge destroyed by american taxpayers.
The freedom you boast of to choose your leaders makes you the envy of most of the world so don't put this all on bush.it was YOU that elected him.take some responsibility or your credibility will sink lower and lower.
obama can't fix this. all candidates are more of the same and american foreign policy will continue to try to impose its will on the world with military force

If the Iraq "government" repaid the American taxpayer, we could all get a $130,000 simulus check. It would solve the economic crises and get more dollars back in the US where they belong. We don't owe them a 21st century Marshall plan when we can't rebuild our own nation.

It is amazing how this story seems so strangely close to the documentary "Loose Change". It seems support the theory that Bush started this war for oil, more money, and power. If Iraq has billions in revenue then Americans should in no way be paying over $3 a gallon at the pump. I wonder why we can't seem to get a clear answer from the GOP on this issue. It seems that all reasonable actions get clouded with rhetoric like, "It's hard and complicated". So are the budgets of Americans families but we make decisions the best that we can even with our hands and feet tied by this administration and its ridiculous war! Here's a suggestion: Every billion of Iraqi revenue = a bilion returned to American taxpayers, every trained iraqi batallion = a batallion returned home to America. We attempt this until all our troops are home and we are paid back for our investment and if a problem develops and we have to take military action we do so along side or iraqis soldiers. This way our troops can begin to come home and be replenished in the event of uncertainties in our future. The Bush administration is saying we can't bring our troops home because of violence that may erupt. Violence has not stopped erupting but according to the Bush administration we are making progress. Well how come we can't continue that so called progress with iraqi troops on the front line soldier for soldier until they are defending their own country for themselves. We need to take a back seat and no one has given a good enough reason why we shouldn't begin to bring our troops home.

For all the people who are saying we should be paying since we broke it. Listen to what the report is saying. The Bush administration stated, that Iraqi oil exports would be funding some of the reconstruction. The Iraqi's are stockpiling (even has 30 billion in US banks drawing interest) the oil money, while we foot the bill. Hmmm, sounds like "welfare" to me. Do nothing, but expect the Government to do it for me.

To Adam in Indy – What does this have to do with Senator Obama? He's (nor any candidate) not mentioned in this article. Please comment on what was stated in the Article.

Mr. Blitzer....we would not be there if the media didn't follow lockstep with the administration with the runnup to the war.......This surge logic is totally warped .......Republicans were voted out of Congress in November 2006 for the handling of the Iraq War.....so what does President Bush and the Pentagon do.....a troop surge to squelch the violence!! Now the General is recommending a delay in troop reductions with the increased violence....WHY DOESN"T HE RECOMMEND ANOTHER TROOP SURGE?!!........Bring back Admiral Mullin!

"Well put!!! The questions is Wolf, are you going to take responsibility for supporting the need for this war? Probaly not! You and your comrades and colleauges mis informed the American public when they counted on you for balanaced reporting instead of the parroting you did before the invasion and occupation."

^^^^

Someone gets it. And that person is Terry from VA!

My thoughts exactly Terry.

At $9,000,000,000,000 (Trillion) in debt, Americal literally faces collapse if this war continues. Consider that Osama Bin Laden once said that he would bring down America, not by military force but by.....economic ruin.... and George Bush, Sen. McCain and 50% of America are falling right into Bin Laden's trap!!

Why not? We got rid of the bully in the room (Saddam), but we also desicrated their cultures and religions and set civil society and infrastructure back 50 years. Why not take advantage of the even bigger bully who failed to find common cause to fight this fight in the first place?

Does anyone know how we (theamericantaxpayer) are actually paying for this war? Its all LOANS, Call your congressman and let your voice be heard. How can we afford "tax cuts" and still pay for dumya's..(sorry dubya's) war. ASK QUESTIONS PEOPLE.... CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES, LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!!!!!

wolf,i can't believe that the american people can be so stupid,we are being taken for fools by the iraq goverment and we continue to spend million of dollars who will continue to play us for "suckers"as long as we allow them to.why kill the goose that laid the "golden egg"

Wolf
I had to sit down when I heard you stating that the Iraqis have a large savings account while we are taking out our checkbooks every day. I AM SPEECHLESS! SHAME ON OUR GOVERNMENT!

I want a REFUND NOW!! I want every penny taken out of my paycheck BACK.

It's no wonder what we are viewed as idiots around the world. It's these stupid Bush/Cheney policies in Iraq. They keep putting their billions of oil dollars in the bank and YET our stupid President keeps paying them for doing absolutely NOTHING.

Americans are working hard and trying to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table and gas in their cars and WE are paying the Iraqi people to clean up their own country!! Get outta here!!

WAKE UP AMERICANS, WE NEED TO RAISE HELL WITH OUR VOICES TO CONGRESS AND GET THEM TO GET OFF THEIR LAZY ARSES AND STOP THE FUNDING TO IRAQ.

IRAQ HAS MORE THAN ENOUGH MONEY, IF THEY WANT CHANGE, LET THEM STEP UP AND PAY FOR IT!!!

Those awful Iraqis, where is the gratitude? First we bomb their country, gut their infrastructure, disembowel the military and civilian governments thus leading to rule by strongmen and militia leaders. Over 2 million Iraqis have fled their country, hundreds of thousands have been killed, and they expect US to pay the bill for a war of choice that we have inflicted upon them? Go figure. I'm sure if the situation were reversed, Wolf, you would be the first in line to start paying for reconstruction fees. I wish you could spend a week in the shoes of an Iraqi before wailing about the high price of gas.

That's not all they're playing us for and the rest of the world.

Could you please have someone explain how the Iraq war can be "won"The concept is so niave in these circumstances to be laughable.
The other issue being raised today is why the US shouls pay to rebuild schools etc. How about because we destroyed them.Du.

Its utterly unacceptable for the American taxpayer to foot the bill for reconstruction of Iraq. Come on America WAKE UP!

No one is playing the US Taxpayer for suckers. George Bush destroyed the Iraqi infrastructure, their security, their commerce, their family life and has put them in worse misery than before his 'pre-emptive strike'. The US broke it all; the US should pay to fix it all.

Let's remind our ourselves that our Government is there for their own interests, not for the good of the Iraqi people.

As Deepthroat advised Woodward and Bernstein: "Follow the money." Who controls it, who benefits from it, who is keeping the accounts?

If Americans, Iraqis, a few Frenchmen, and a few Russians aren't skimming billions from those funds I will eat my Stetson.

And if some of that loot isn't finding its way into American political campaign treasuries I will eat my boots.

And if a good team of American auditors went through the books, they wouldn't find any books or I'll eat my spurs for dessert.

PREACH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Iraqis seem to be better businessmen than politicians....they won't even invest in their own country!!!!

only people that have nooooo money problems, at all, vote Republican....

Wolf –

Can we dig deeper into this? It seems we should at least know how much we're being taken a ride for....

Pottery barn rule..........You broke it, you buy (fix) it

I don't mind us paying for the things we've destroyed–but c'mon. Most of the destruction these days is initiated by Iraq's own people or their fueding "guests".

Pretty good Blitzer, we invade a country, destroy their infrastructure, kill their people destroy our military, we look bad to the world and while Cheny's old company Haliburton (on an uncontested illegal contract) reaps the profits of war. Now we want Iraq to pay to rebuild their country. A country that we invaded on false pretenses. How would we feel if our country was invaded by a foreign military force under false pretenses and was told it's your problem now because we spent our money to break your infrastructure, you spend your money to put it back together again.

Thank you Wolf, its about time someone called it like it is.

Why does it seem that our news reporters and personalities make much more sense than our politicians?

We're being taken for a ride by the Iraqis....any other country that wants free money should just have terrorists come in and do their work from there....

You break it, you buy it!

US should have never invaded Iraq. Now that US is in there, US better clean up their own mess.

We are suckers for having elected Bush in the first place. Then to re-elect him? What a Joke.

We bought into his lies and half truths and we got ourselves into this mess...now we're doing the same with Hillary. These individuals do have experience in playing the game, but does that mean it benefits the country or their own agendas? It's about time US opened up it's eyes.

Wolf who?

Trekkie: Karl Rove would say "Pull a Capt. Kirk and change the rules. " We'll just say we've won and leave. Sooner or later you know it's going to happen.

We were right to go in and now it's time to get out. The Iraqis will never stand up as long as we refuse to stand down - why should they? As for the prospect of civil war after we withdraw, that's on them, not us. If they can't resolve their differences in any other fashion, let them resolve them in the only way they know how - primitive, atavistic violence. If the Iranians and Saudis get dragged in, neither is any friend of ours and if oil supplies get disrupted, Venezuela is a whole lot closer and the supply lines a whole lot shorter.

Hey Wolf – how about all the money VP-Cheney has made since the war ----- 22-billion dollars!

You break it you bought it?

I didn't break it. I didn't vote for Bush. Let the people who voted for Bush volunteer to pay for the war if they are so for it!

IRAQIS TAKING US FOR WHAT SUCKERS? WHO SAID WE ARE USING $10 BILLION A MONTH TO "REBUILD" IRAQ? WHICH IRAQ? IRAQ HAS NO RUNNING WATER, NO ELECTRICITY, NO ROADS, NO HOSPITALS, NO SCHOOLS, NO POLICE, NO TELECOMMUNICATION, NO SECURITY – SO WHERE DOES $10 BILLION- A- MONTH GO TO?

THINK MY FRIENDS!, THINK!! – CONGRESS MUST HAVE TO PROBE WHERE THE MONEY GOES. IF $10 BILLION A MONTH IS SPENT FOR RECONSTRUCTING IRAQ, THAT COUNTRY WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE DISNEY LAND, BY NOW. NO, MOST OF THE MONEY IS GOING INTO PRIVATE POCKETS. REMEMBER THAT OUR SOLDIERS HAD TO FIGHT WITH INADEQUATE WEAPONS, WHILE HALLIBURTON OVER-INVOICED OUR SOLDIERS MEALS IN TUNE OF OVER HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, A MONTH. THAT GIVES YOU THE IDEA WHERE ALL THE MONEY GOES.

WHY DID OUR GOVT HAVE TO DECIMATE THE ENTIRE IRAQI INFRASTRUCTURE – JUST TO CATCH SADDAM HUSSIEN (OR TO FIND WMD)? DESTROYED ALL ROADS, SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, OFFICES – EVERYTHING. IT IS TO CREATE THE SITUATION THAT WILL ALLOW WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW – IT IS A WELL THOUGHTOUT, PLANED, BUSINESS ENDEAVOR.

IF WE TRY TO TOUCH IRAQI MONEY FOR THESE REPAIRS, IRAQI LEADRES WILL SCREAM MURDER, AND EXPOSE THE ON-GOING DIRTY DEALS TO THE WORLD. IT IS ONLY AMERICANS THAT WILL TOLERATE IT. OUR GOVERNMENT KNOWS THAT, AND THATS WHY THEY USE OUR MONEY.

INSTEAD OF ASKING HARD QUESTIONS, WE ARE CONTENTED BY SIMPLY CALLING BUSH DUMBYA. BY THE TIME THE FULL STORY IS OUT, IT WILL BE CLEAR THAT WE ARE THE DUMBYA WHILE THE BUSHES, CHEYNEYS AND THEIR MINIONS LAUGH TO FAT OFFSHORE ACCOUNTS. THEY ARE NOT AS STUPID AS WE THINK. THEY ARE ON SERIOUS BUSINESS, AND WE ARE STILL BLIND TO THE REAL PLOT. WE ARE THE STUPID ONES, FOR LETTING THEM PLAY US THIS MUCH, THIS LONG.

EXACTLY!! Vote O8ama and bring our troops and MONEY home!

We (Americans) just dont learn from the past, not only from our past mistakes, but from history lessons. The fall of the United States as a super power will come from what we have allowed to occur during the past few years. The vast majority of all Americans just stood by and hoped for the best. A few will take us down the drain if they havent already.

While it is true that we destroyed their country, we should still use oil funds to re-build. The real story is the corruption that is going on in Iraq. I wonder how many of Bush and Cheney's friends are making billions from this war. It is truly outregeous how incompetent ALL the "leaders" of this country have been concerning this war. Both Democrats and Republicans are complete and total IDIOTS look what BOTH parties have done to this country, it has made me an independent. Could we please give washington an enima?

Well we are made into suckers at the hands of our inept and uneducated "president."

Not only the Iraqis, but also people in other middle eastern countries, are laughing at us hysterically.

Half a trillion dollars down the drain in the "hope" of controling the iraqi oil production!

I can't understand what we are doing in Irak after all this years. All that money that we are spending there now can be use for foreclosure, healthcare, education, roads. Look at all those bridges that are falling down while we are repairing there country. Another very important point is that the nation get very upset when we waste money in ilegal inmigrants that even some people want to admit or not they still pay taxes in there pay checks and in Irak they are taking all our tax money for free. At least if the price of oil were to be cheaper.We are wasting all our treasure in there country ,we are paying more for oil and they are saving all of there money in there bank when we owe money everyday to China. Nobody is listening to China but at the end China will be the superpower of the world.

And, this surprises you?

You know what, someday somewhere they will be showing the United States needing funding to take care of our poor and hungry.

You know what they say keep doing the same thing and you keep getting the same results isn't it time for us to do something different when it's not working.

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE WAKE UP BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

I have one thing to say, thats crazy, as far as I am concern they can run there own country now, do or die, your choice.

are you kidding me? we invaded, occupied and now we want to expect them to pay to rebuild the infrastructure that we destroyed? i mean i don't want to pay for it myself, but its the US's fault. so i, we, should. to not recognize that is to ignore simple fact. they don't owe us anything for us being there, if anything we owe the Iraqi people a sincere apology for thousands who died due to our invasion, directly or indirectly. as well as every family of lost soldier, sailor, airman and marine lost in a war that has nothing to due with securing our freedom or national security. ask why our civilian leadership sent our bravest into harms way for nothing to do with 9/11, nothing to do with national security, nothing to due with preserving our freedoms.

please, dont fall to the argument that Saddam was just plain a bad man, cause then there are a lot of other countries we should invade based on that, including a few allies. also, we do know there were no ties to al-qaeda, KNOWN no wmds. to ignore that, after all the facts came out, well is just plain silliness. someone that silly doesnt have any valid arguments anyway.

finally, ask why some of my, your fellow Americans think its their job to rebuild what we destroyed? is that not a sign of the trouble were in if thats a common thought? i mean if someone hits your car, would you exepct that you should pay to fix it? or should the irresponsible driver fix it?

Pakistan did it to us, why not Iraq? 10 billion was wasted in Pakistan, how many trillion should we spend on Iraq? Not like education, healthcare, and infrastructure matters in America, that would be socialism. Instead let's give vigliantes government contracts and pay off terrorists.

Wow, it only took 5 years for someone to realize that America is footing the bill for this war (which was SUPPOSED to be paid for by oil profits). Did someone in the media finally wake up?

Yes Wolf Just as sure as Hillary Clintons supporters are being played for Suckers as they send in their Gas and Grocery money to fund her campaign as she LOANS herself money she will then take back and doesn't bother to SPEND any of that $109,000,000 her and bill have in the bank. She won't fund her own run OR Save her people from being known as " The Deadbeat crew" SAD!

Not putting your own money where your mouth is is a very telling sign.

USA=We are "Us Suckers Again"

Thanks George (Dubya) Bush for officially being the worst president in the history of these United States.

its not just the oil countries that are rising the price of fuel. ask how many elected officials have stock in the oil business. then look at your suppliers in the united states and see how much they raise there price for transportation expense . now the only way to deal with this problem is go to these countries and deal with them one on one. then tell them we will pay this much for your oil and if we can.t deal with you then we will make this place into one big swimming hole. then blow up one oil well the story woluld change in a minute
and you would have all the oil that is needed in this country next would be the oil suppliers but that is another story

Bush and his failed policies are going to bankrupt our country for sure. We need to stop being the police of the world and look in our own back yards to see what is going on right here. Bush is a joke and should have been impeached long ago.

Please send your comments to Obama – and next time he appears on your show, please ask him what he's going to do about getting some of the money iback, if he gets to be elected President????

Kai Jorgensen

Remember what Powell said you break it you own it. Welcome to your tax dollars at work.

I believe the Iraqi government came into existance far too early. We should have had kept the Iraqi state run businesses and factories working. That would have kept some of those that were fightting out of it. But Bremmer was a foolish ideolog and said let the market take over and do it... There was no market there!

What I would like to see is that we get paid back by the Iraqi government in some facet starting now. How you ask? Let us start with the Iraqi refineries that produce gasoline; that goes FREE to the military that requires so much of it to keep some level of violence down. I would also think that the Army Corp of Engineers would do a much better job of planning and executing reconstruction projects than the Iraqis.

The problem in Iraq is mainly coming from Iran. But we can't do anything about Iran, because China and Russia block all sanction efforts. Soon it will be Axis (Russia, China and Iran) vs. Allies (U.S., U.K. and Australia) all over again. Hopefully Dumbya will realize what is happening before Iran has nukes to fire at Israel.

I'd like to say thanks to the Warmongering Republicans and their failed policies for yet another war.

So when do we impeach BUSH & CHANEY?? Maybe we can get our money back from them. Really, I don't understand why impeachment proceedings haven't been started against them. They've lied, they've destroyed evidence, they tell us everything is presidental privilege and scream if we try to bring anyone into a hearing. They've told their people to ignore the orders to appear before congress. and yet we let them keep on going, what kind of cowards did we elect in the congress.

Thank the GOP, thank the idiots who elected GWB twice, thank the congressmen and women on both sides of the aisle who approved the invasion. You know who you are. Sue Halliburton, Blackwater, and all the others who got richer with the blood of thousands.
I will no longer call it a "stupid" war. It is way beyond stupid. It is criminal.
Can we ever dig ourselves out of this hell hole we dug for ourselves with our blind party loyalty?
America first, last and always!
Charity begins at home.

Iraqis shoul not put a penny on reconstruction. Uncle Sam destroyed all the infrastructure, hospitals, jails, everything. Taxpayers will bear the cost of this unfortunate W adventure. He (W) broke the toy. He has to fix it.

I'd like to sue our government for using my money (I understand
it amounts to about $200.00 per month), to pay for the Iraq
war. Why does congress keep supplying the money?

Waaaaaaa, we are taking their oil!!!

Waaaaaaa, we aren't taking their oil!!!

Waaaaaaa!!

It's all the democrats know how to do.

LOL why am I not surprised.
It will not matter who is in Office next year the damage has been done.
America will be paying for this for a long time. Whether we get out now or later this is your TAX dollars are at work.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO THANK ALL YOU BUSH AND GOP SUPPORTERS OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.
LOL what a bunch of misguided idiots.
I really hope you all are a bit smarter this time around!!

As I read this article it seems to me that there are some hypocrisies here. Most of the comments I've read are very partisan, but I think we need to sit back and look at the big picture. Does the Iraqi government and its people want us out? Yes. Are they ready to stand on their own two feet? In my opinion, no. Are they playing us for fools? Maybe, in fact, probably. However, we are the ones who engaged in an unjustified war. I know some people disagree with me on that, but thats my opinion. And now we have a responsibility to fix what we broke. If we don't, we'll pay for it later. Unfortunately thats causing financial problems here in the states. But look back to 2002 and ask yourself who is to blame for that? Only ourselves and the post 9/11 induced hysteria. And if you don't like where this war is putting us financially, take some responsibility and vote to put a stop to it. Personally, I can think of many programs where the money can be better spent.

Well we won't know if they can handle it on their own until we leave. Why would they show that when they can use us to do their dirty work. This is just another example why we should withdrawl and bring our troops home.

If Iraq pays, they control the contracts.

Wolfe, We are paying for the reckless damage instigated by Bush. Wouldn't it be a travesty of justice to cause unimagianble damage to the infrastructures, lives and environment of the Iraqis and expect them to fix it themselves. The only person that is responsible for this is BUSH. He conned us into the war and conned us into believing that the Iraqis will clean up after him. My only concern is for the innocent lives that have been unnecessarily factored into Bush's misadventure. I suggest you do what I intend to do if McCain wins. Follow the money by reocating to Iraq.

This is absurd! We shouldn't have to pay for the reconstruction of Iraq. I know that we do owe the Iraqi people for tearing their courtry apart and destroying it...but I think that they should own up to a lot of the costs considering that they are the main cause of their countries downfall! They want us out, but attack our soldiers so that we are forced to stay.

Maybe we should just leave and let "God" do with it as he will. If the people kill eachother than so be it.

The US Government needs to take enough oil from Iraq to pay the cost of this war or pull out now. Why should the American taxpayers suffer when we are protecting Iraqi people? Really stupid of our government to allow terrorists to bankrupt this nation. Why can't our people figure out that terrorists don't have to come here and bomb us when they can just destroy us financially? I agree with being in Iraq to a point. I just don't agree that we the taxpayers should have to pay a dime of the cost. Somebody in our Government needs to make the country of Iraq pay for us being there. Either will oil or cash! Simple as that!

The USA SHOULD pay for it. We destroyed everything and killed close to a million people. We are responsible for the costs...

I think if you were duped into supporting the war at the beginning the money should come from your taxes. So Wolf...get ready to take responsibility for your own stupidity. And the people (Bush/Cheney) who duped so many Americans should be impeached and tried for war crimes in international courts.

not really the people running this country looks like suckers , the tax payers look dum. what we should do is make them pay with oil . then there country would put the move on taking over there country

It's simple. We need to charge them for us being there- just like they would pay mercenaries. We should get a discount or get the oil free in America as a bonus, they should be paying the families of lost sons and daughters a settlement for the loss of their loved one, and they should be paying settlements to those injured on their behalf. Why are we destroying ourselves to rebuild them?.

No, Wolf you tool! It was you and the rest of the MSM who were playing us for suckers and were complicit in getting us into Iraq in the first place by not doing your jobs. You, along with all your inept colleagues, bear some responsibility in your continued lockstep and fear-mongering mentality. If any of you had spent a fraction of the time and energy questioning "W's" decision to go to war that you are now expending on all the minutiae of the Democratic primary race, one can only guess how much better off we all would be. Nice try at the distraction game though. I'm sure you learned well from your girlfriend, Hillary and Co.

To all of you who say that the Iraqis are playing us for suckers, what in the heck is Bush's responsibility in all of this mess? We started this mess, still stuck in it, still paying for it (as we should), and still raving as loonies blaming everyone under the sun BUT ourselves!!!!

Did the fledgling U.S. play France and other countries for suckers when they were helping us establish our new nation? That lasted for several years, as I recall from history lessons.

What a great (and profitable) experience Iraq will be when it is peaceful and flourishing. There will be a Middle East renaissance which will benefit the entire world. Their history is longer than ours and they have much to offer the world, even Democrats.

hell yes they are

Now we see where the money is going. This is crazy, we should hold accountable everyone that made the decision to start this war. We are so busy taking care of someone us business, and not our own. We allowed one man, the President to get us in a position that will take years to come out of. Now, so many of us yours included would have never paid much attention to what's going on, if it had not been for Obama, campaigning to get us involved. If nothing us we need to thank him for that.This war has cost millions of American's there homes, education, heath care, just being able to provide a basic way of life. This war is the rich get richer the poor gets poorer. Can we afford to put another Republican in office, McCain is out. We can't foot the bill. This whole thing is on credit, and the Iraqis are getting away scot free.

Did someone seriously post on here saying Iraq has more money than we do???

I would like to know where that thought came from?

I think Clinton is right in that we must make it clear to them that we are pulling out and they need to start stepping up. The only other thing is to start expecting them to pay us back for the cost of this war. We will never be able to recoop the loss of lives. I know that she voted for the war but so did a lot of senators. None were ever under the impression it would take this long or be misled as to the need for it. Bush should be impeached and his lVP too. Blame the right people. Clinton seems to be having to take the blame for this war and that is totally unfair. Most people did think it was the right thing to do at the time including me, although I would have wished it differently.

QUESTION FOR EVERYONE:

IF WE "WIN" IN IRAQ, WHAT IS IT THAT WE HAVE WON?

Let's wake up my fellow Americans and get away form the facist corporate rule. After all it's only your grandchildren I'm talking about.... What will they have in the future? How will they live? Think, Do, Vote!

i would rather ask the question, why is this a question or concern being brought up by a reporter and not the people in power, the nominees, senators, etc. why are we reading about this on a message board and not on full stream front cnn web page? or on other news networks?

All the morons who voted for Bush are ultimately the ones to blame. Without Bush and Cheney, this never would have happened. Our children and grandchildren will forever scorn the abhorrent stupidity of this war.

Look at all you Obama haters taking a random article such as this which is about Bush, the war and "republican politics" and completely change it to voice your hatred and bigotry toward Obama.. Nowhere is his name even mentioned in the article...

It's pretty funny and while i'm not an avid supporter or Obama Hillary or McCain, I just think it's funny how some of you haters use a forum such as this to hate on a man, that has faaaar less skeletons in his closet compared to 99% of the politicians on Capitol Hill, and yes, that includes (Hillary misspoke Clinton and Ole' Lain Man – McCain)..

such people are obviously complete biggots and i'm personally sick of it! Atleast have a reason for not liking a person.... and definitely don't make it sooo obvious when it comes to bringing nonsense like that up during a non-related article.. ridiculous

Can we leave Iraq now, please?

That because of President Bush and VP trick Dick Chaney. They do not care about the bill they don't have to pay it.

We need to cut the charity. They are using America to fight there civil war and also to foot the bill.

Just how stupid are we??

Just ask George Bush and Chaney?

Iraq, and the rest of the world, are playing by the rules we set up. We decided to "go it alone", in all of our arrogance. We broke it, now we have to fix it.
I am also bothered by the fact that the surge was intended to allow the Iraq government the breathing room they needed to find the political solution, since it was pretty much agreed that there is no military solution to the Iraq issues. But like everything else from the Bush administration, that is water under the bridge, so the issue is off the table.
What a fine mess we have gotten ourselves into. But let's not change courses, lest we find ourselves labeled as unpatriotic.
Bud Curtis
Miami, OK

In response to an earlier comment, Canada is actually the third largest producer of the worlds oil, some say it could be number 2. They are are the largest supplier to the US and can easily cover off our import needs...I bet no one knows this?! Why are we even caring about the crackpots in the middle east?

it seems ridiculous to me that some people think that we will be in Iraq for a hundred years. It doesn't matter who wins the White House. I think that we will be there only as long as we continue to pour the wealth of our country in to Iraq. As soon as the money flow ends we we be asked to leave and Iraq and Iran will be closer than Cuba and Venezuela. Then the Sunni will have hell to pay at the hands of the Shia. Amazing what can happen when you start a war without a plan and an understanding of the region involved.

The reason most news agencies won't report anything bad about Obama, even the truth, is because lots of them are getting death threats if they do.

It's not just that they are against Hillary, they are afraid to say anything else

Terry from VA: Thank you for your comment. That is exactly how I feel about this issue as well. The press really let the American people down and they need to step up and apologize for how badly they let us down.

Let's step back for bit and forget all the political posturing, and the "you broke it" rheotoric from the idiots. The very plain truth is that this is just another in the long list of lies and deception that the neocons have fed us for the last 6 years. The war has been a farce from the start. Where have all the sixties war protesters gone. Let's
get back in the streets, and show the buffoons in Washington that there is power in the people.

WHY-because we have a less than half wit chimp for president and a congress that should all be fired.

I think it is long overdue for this administration to be made to be held accountable for their disastrous actions over the last eight years. We have all suffered greatly at the hands of this poor leadership. What a waste.

It's a "Kobayashi Maru," a no-win situation. We should have stayed out of the Neutral Zone.

This is RIDICULOUS!!! BUSH NEEDS TO BE IMPEACHED IMMEDIATELY FOR THIS!!!

WE ARE FORCED TO BE SUCKERS, ITS NOT LIKE WE HAVE A CHOICE.

BUSH LIES, THE REPUBLICAN IDIOTS FOLLOW THE LIES, AND THE REST OF RATIONAL AMERICA IS STUCK WITH THE BILL FOR A WAR WE DO NOT WANT!!!

COSTING LIVES, MONEY AND DISTRESS

MCCAIN AND BUSH AND GET OUT OF THE WAY AND LET THE DEMOCRATS PULL US OUTO FO IRAQ!!!!!!!!!!

I would say that it is our responsibility to fix it since we did the original damage except that after we fix it they blow it up again. When that happens we are no longer responisble. Get the US out of Iraq now.

so, republican got us into this war. i don't understand how anyone could trust the republicans to get us out.

does it really take so little to fool you people?

Voting Obama '08!

Thanks Hillary 4 making it possible 4 me to give my depreciating

dollars to such a worthy cause!

Well, we did blow up all their bridges and roads, come to think of it! Lets do the math, Iraq (armpit of the world) has $50B in the bank, and the glorious USA is $2,000,000,000,000.00 in debt...no wonder everyone in the developed world laughs at us.....sure we have alot of everything, but none of it is paid for! As we are painfully becoming aware of now, since our bills are coming due!

I agree Iraq should step up, and if any of you were watching the on hill goings on today, you would know they are trying to take up more of the money slack, and since when did Wolf Blitzer start running for President

John Smith ~ "As a Catholic, I will continue to say the Rosary for anyone who votes for Hillary. Great nations such as the Roman Empire, fell because of lack of "morality, integrity, lies and so on." These types of moral issues are more important than "wealth." With all their wealth, the Clintons cannot fund their campaign?"

As a Catholic, I will pray for you as well that your blinders be taken off so you may see the atrocities committed by this administration and their orgy of greed and excess.

ummm...it should not say Iraqis playing US for suckers. it's the US leaders playing us for suckers.

Of course, the Iraqis are playing the US taypayer for suckers. But the Israelis have been doing so for far longer at far higher cost. Can we all get a refund for our support of military regimes in the Middle East?

Yet we keep holding on to our policy in Iraq so tight and hope that one day they will come around, start waiving American flags while eating a hot dog and drinking a coke slushy.

Most Iraqis never wanted us there, they still don't wan us there...so why would they pay for our "goals". Now, this war may very well bring down America as we know it and you quote me on that!

Good for Mr. Blitzer. Its about time mainstream media puts out a story with a realistic spin. Now lets just get it on tv for the folks who do not like to read their news. I was about to give up on CNN.

After two tours in Iraq I noticed that none of the money is going to the people and any projects were financed by U.S.

dEMABRAT April 8th, 2008 2:50 pm ET wrote ............

Didn't Sen. Clinton say this in a debate over 2 months ago?
-------------------------------
Anything she says about that war is irrelevant now. The damage has already been caused and we dont think we want to know what she thinks at this point. She had an opportunity to make sure this war is not there in the first place so please respect the american people and talk to them like adults.

Yes, we are being played for suckers. Not by the Irakies, but by the oil companies. Who sets the oil prices anyway? Our own oil companies do!
they say we have to raise gasoline prices because the price of crude oil keeps going up.Yet they show the greatest profits ever in history.
Why doesn't congress do anything about this farce? The reaon is simple, they don't do anything that might offend the oil companies, because if they do, the oil giants would make sure the would not get elected the next time they run for office. Politicians do not run our government. Giant coorperations do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And yet politicians keep yapping about democracy!

wolf,its time the american people and the media stand up for what is right,we must join together and end this war.i am currently in europe and any time i say i am american pple either laugh or accuse us of killing innocent iraqis.pls publish ur article on huff post the world must know.

Does this story remind anyone of the play "THE MOUSE THAT ROARED"?
Well, here it is in real life. We should tell the people of America that die because they cannot afford the needed medications [or maybe the homeless that have been foreclosed upon]... that they died for the Iraqi people!
denis

They said our men and women in uniform would be welcome with flowers or some roses in Iraq. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN

They said the war was going to be funded with the oil for food program. IT DID NOT HAPPEN

They said the WMD were in Iraq. WE DID NOT FIND THEM

They said numerous other things that are NOTHING SHORT OF LIES.

Now?

WYH CAN THEY SHUT UP, AND LOOK AT OUR EYES.

This whole war disgusts me.. Its been a fraud since day one. Where is our money going???

If I could tar and feather Bush I would

The Iraqi people aren't that dumb at all. As we continue to go into debt and the value of the dollar drops, that is what Bin Laden wanted anyway is to destroy the US economy, and Iraq continues to stack money. It won't be long before they're in a better position than the US. I wonder how long it will take before the remaining support of Bush and McCain dry up. Are we really that slow as Americans?

Just to think, all this confusion because the issues in last two elections were homosexuals getting married and abortion. We as a people have a long way to go as far as our thinking abilities are concerned. I don't see any improvement in the area of education either, because we have "No Child Left Behind". We actually thought gays and abortion clinics would destroy this country. Nope.... the conservative Right beat them to it.

What can we do about this as American citizens but accept it. I guarantee you that for every dollar that is spent, another dollar is wasted. As an American, do we really care. We complain about paying taxes but we don't scream when our taxes are being wasted and wasted and wasted.

With that kind of money they should be paying us.

Have G W Bush declare war on the US. Arest VP Cheney . March into NY ,LA etc then pay unemployed folks to rebuild the country.

A friend of mine returned from serving in Iraq and told me that the Iraqis are lazy and untrustworthy.

The whole war was based on lies, so why does anyone think that the Iraqis would pay for the war lie would be different? Only foolish Christian fanatics who have accepted that big lie would accept and believe in George Bush's smaller lie that all would go well and that the war would not cost Americans that much in treasure or lives. The way to end the cost to America is for all American forces to leave Iraq and let the Iraqis slaughter each other like the beasts they are.

Looks like time to send the Iraquis a bill for services rendered.

OK, so are we stupid or what? The answer is yes, we are. This is another screw up of George Bush and Condi Rice. The Iraqi government is not going to pay for the milk when they can get the cow for free. Our stupid Congress holds the blame however because they are the ones that OK'ed the bills. It's a US government gone nut's. Bring our fokes home and let the Iraqi people do whatever. That's what I think and I'm a registered Republican.

Actually, I thought the was the Saudis who first played us for suckers, egging us to invade Iraq by saying Saddam was the threat to the region!

Even after "mission accomplished", Bush said we have to stay till the Iraqi's make progress. Now there's progress and we still have to stay?

Hard to tell who's zooming who, eh?

As someone once said, "Those that don't learn from history [the Vietnam War] are condemned to repeat it." Some say Iraq is not Vietnam. Yeh, sure.

Iraq have a budget surplus. The militants we're paying to NOT shoot at us make TWICE as much as the national salary average. They have banks with money and a small business loan program in place–low interest, no less.

Ummmm...in our struggle to make Iraq America...what has America herself become? We have a mind-numbing deficit, our wages are stagnant against inflation for nearly a decade, and our banks are being BAILED OUT by American taxpayers, all while the prospect of getting a loan or credit has disappeared for all except the very well off among us.

Something is WRONG with this picture. If you vote for John McCain, you are as much a threat to our nation's future as any terrorist. Because we are dying a slow death from within, based on these convoluted policies.

And why not? Most of us are suckers...

How else can you explain 2 terms of the moron Bush and the blind

devotion to a presidential candidate who confuses a snipers rifle fire

with the flowers received by an eight year old and her welcoming

committee?

Americans are generally clueless... Washington prefers it that way...

This is pathetic; what a joke we must be!

News Flash America: It is NOT 3am....... so WAKE UP!!!!!

The insurgents are using the money to fund their operations. The political groups are accumulating money to wage civil war. The scumbags and tribal leaders are lining their pockets. Which one of these wants to build roads, schools, electric grids, sewer and water treatment? Puhlease.

America used the 911 terror attack and WMD to invade Iraq. No WMD were found and the terrorists were not operating from there. The war is not justified and therefore, Iraq owes America nothing. Instead, America is responsible for destroying Iraq and should pay for the destruction. Lots of American Lives have been lost due to Mr Bush’s and his supporter’s cavalier action. So blame the recession on Mr Bush.

no wonder we're poor - our government bombs countries and then uses our tax dollars to rebuild it.

why aren't we all on strike?

As a Catholic, I will continue to say the Rosary for anyone who votes for Hillary. Great nations such as the Roman Empire, fell because of lack of "morality, integrity, lies and so on." These types of moral issues are more important than "wealth." With all their wealth, the Clintons cannot fund their campaign?

USA Out Iraq

everybody in this country is playing the taxpayers for suckers because of that the Iraqi government taking advantage of this, the federal government the state government the mayors you name it they all playing us for suckers what else you want, we pay the taxes for schools and hospitals guess what the state of NJ closing HOSPITALS school system is sucks everything in this country is going upside down.

Does any of you notice every time Hillary gave a good answer during a debate, then Obama would answer "I agree with Hillary" after? Also, every time Hillary lays out some plans to fix our economy, Obama would then lay out his which are carbon copies of hers.

Why should the Iraqis pay anything when, under Bush-Cheney, the US taxpayer will pay everything inj this "war."

Exxon-Mobile is probably Paying the Iraqis to steal oil in order to create a shortage.

If we were taking their oil, or money, you ignorant fools would all be on here claiming Bush is stealing!

You are all proof our schools are failing us.

Exxon-Mobile is probably the Iraqis to steal oil in order to create a shortage.

While on the surface this may seem to be a valid point, there must be many behind-the-scene aspects of this that the general public may never find out. Eventually, however, the Iraquis have to learn to stand on their own two feet.

please tell me you're kidding!

So when do we send them the bill? Maybe if we did, they would start stepping up and get control of their country. They have no incentive with us paying for everything. they obviously have more money than we do.

Dear Wolf

I have been watching "Situation Room" And CNN's The best Political team and You and Your Team do a great job of covering Primaries.I love the article you wrote on Iraq.

Keep up with the excellent work.

Ramesh

Our useless congress needs to grow a backbone and STOP THE FUNDING OF THIS WAR NOW!! It is obvious Iraqis will not take care of their own country as long as our government is willing to do it for them.

Too bad we can't fix the leak in this pipe until January. We're going to have a lot of water to bail out of the whitehouse basement by then.

Don't forget we saved the 3rd largest oil producing country in the world and we're paying what for a gallon of gas?

***DARTH***

You hit the nail on the head.

Well, let's be honest about this. Given the security environment in Iraq, reconstruction efforts are almost fruitless to begin with. Far too often, progress is halted or reversed by insurgent attacks or sectarian squabbling. Under those conditions, I'm not sure I blame the Iraqis for not putting their own money into it.

We are all suckers to let this continue to happen. Where is the outrage.? Why are we not demanding an end to this insanity? Meanwhile we are destroying the future for our kids.

Wolf,

You should definitely consider making this a much bigger story rather than just putting it in the blog. I didn't know how much money the Iraqis are making from oil and the fact that they are simply hoarding it rather than helping themselves is ridiculous!

Wolf, To answer your question; no, the Iraqi's aren't playing us for suckers, weve been suckered by our own politicians for years. The Iraqi's would have to get up pretty early in the morning to get a jump on our politicians, but the do appear to be quick learners.
Hiram Rapids, Oh.

The whole region is playing the US for suckers. Iraqis have us as their own personal police force. Saudis finance terrorist cells, and Hamas, while "allowing" the US to protect them with air cover and forward positioning caches of weapons. IIsrael wouldn't exist without our tunnel-vision support of their policies, which in their own way create chaos and continually-increasing US hatred in the region. Iran, dispite dire warnings from President Bush continues to arm and train insurgents in Iraq. The same with Syria. Afghanistan and Pakistan are basically tribal regions that, like Iraq, require the US "cops" to keep things barely under control.

Let's hope the next administration has as better sense of international dynamics. Right now the US is both hated and laughed at for our incredible reputation as the international lout.

and yet some people want to vote for john mccain,it really sad that dems are considering voting for johnmccain,we are willing to risk our childrens future bcos of our pride.i pray we come to our senses

The Iraqi government and the two-bit militia leaders are all playing us for suckers. Why should they do anything for themselves when we're sending hundreds of billions of dollars to them? Why would they want to cut off the money spigot voluntarily? The money we are sending to Iraq is actually a reverse incentive, prompting the militias and the government to NOT make progress.

Our so-called coalition allies must all be laughing at us too, because nobody else in the world is committing their militaries or their taxpayer money for this boondoggle.

Bush and his enabler minions (McCain et. al.) can't punish Osama Bin Laden, can't punish Mullah Omar, can't punish Muqtada Al Sadr, but they sure can punish the American taxpayer!

This is why anyone voting republicn is an idiot. MY GOD.

I kinda ask myself if people are just blind to see or death to here. Why do we have to stay in Iraq and help people who don't need it. Spend billions of dollars and all they do is buy arms and kill US and other Euopeans Soldiers. We need to get our man and women back home. Let Bush and McCain go and finish what they started without hurting people and spending our money.

For the first time in almost 4 months Wolf, you have my respect back!! Well said.

If I were to make a guess where that money is really going it would be the pockets of the filthy bush family and his best buddies. Like dick cheney! By the way, when's dick going to hunting again, maybe the barrels, I mean tables, will change.

-RB

Our long national nightmare will soon be over!!!

Obama 08

IT's not the Iraqis it is Halliburton and Blackwater among others that are raking in our taxpayer money...

..war profitering, illegal and treasonus.

They (top Halliburton and Blackwater guys) should at a minimum get life sentences without the possibility of parole in Levenworth.

We broke it-we fix it. They did not ask us to help.

We played ourselves! That is the problem with our leaders, all education and no smarts, just educated and nieve. Typical GWB style!!!!!

Can anybody justify why we are entangled in this fashion. It makes no business sense and we are going broke fast.

Didn't Sen. Clinton say this in a debate over 2 months ago?

Elect Obama.

Look these people have money, and nothing better to do than stand around on a corner all day. We have seen for ourselves when a welfare state is allowed, it is the downfall of the welfare recipients. They need to be made to build their country back with their own money and thier own hands. That is the only way they will be invested in the outcome.
Democracy can't and won't ever work unless all citizens have a stake in how thier own country turns out. They need something to do, and something to believe in. America seems to have to learn over and over again........a welfare state simply keeps the reciever beholden to the giver, with no real stake in the end results.

Quite apart from the economic cost, each day we continue this war, there are hundreds more extremists being recruited.

I say let them go to hell in a hand basket, it's their country, let them take control. And so what if there's a power vacuum and Al Queda takes over, with our troops out it will be easier to smoke 'em all with one big bomb, without getting any of our guys in the process.

And every single f='in death that has and will occur should be laid at the feet of G.W. Bush and Rove and Wolfowitz, and Cheney and company, they will have to answer for this.

It is the Congres people who voted for the war who are playing the American taxpayer for suckers.
This was poor judgement on their part.
Now they blame the Iraqi government, Iran, Sunni, Shiite. Anyone but their poor knowledge base in international affairs and Islamic countries. In addition they actually believed that this would bring democracy to the Middle East. They believed the Bush Admin.
Democracy is not bought, not forced. Democracy comes from the bottom up, not the top down.

Is America everybody's fool? Thank you Mr. Bush. Iraq has billions
of dollars in banks and our money went to China????????????
Oh, my God, Help us. Help us Lord.

"With God On Our Side"-Bob Dylan, now recognized by the Pulitzer Prize givers as having an influence over society and politics."People get ready there's a change a comin'. Don't need no ticket You just get on board"-Curtis Mayfield

The American people and Lawmakers should have listened to OBAMA in 2002 when he gave that SPEECH!!!

Maybe those people were right; WAR FOR OIL, just didn't tell us we were going to pay for it twice. Easy choice here, pullout now,we leave the oil, our money and thier bank deposits there for Iran. Isn't life easy for the anti war crowd.
Well guess I now will have the Obama people agree with me.
Oh! forgot to say maybe we could leave some flowers and a nice card for them to, I'm sure they will send us a thank you note. Let the change begin. Sorry, I forgot to put in anything about hope.

I have a suggestion for Congress then, if people think we're spending too much tax money in Iraq. Why don't the Senators suspend the federal gasoline tax? That would help the avg. American in a real and immediate way.

It just shows you the lies of this administration. Here we are mortgaging the lives of our children to pay for the reconstruction of another country that has billions saved in several banks all over the world. What ireks me most is that these billions comes form the sales of their oils that we are paying dearly for in the form of $3.30 from the pump. That means the Iraqi's are sucking it to us twice. We paying to rebuild their country and we also paying a lot at the gas pump so that they can store billions of their own money at the bank.

If that does not make us Americans mad to booth this administration from power, then I don't know what would.

Yet we have this old man Mccain asking us to stay in Iraq for ever if we need to. No More, let's send Washington a message that we are no fool.

Ed.

Are we really sure that the money has all gone to the Iraqis or has it wandered back to the States through the likes of Blackwater and Halliburton?

Are the Iraqis making fools of us or are we largely making fools of ourselves?

I would try to take as much money from my invader too. Can't get the 100,000+ iraqi lives back. Why not ask the US to pay for a little reconstruction?

What do you expect? Telling the Iraqis that we are going to stay in Iraq indefinetly regardless of what progress they make is like telling an unemployed person on welfare that they can continue to draw welfare checks forever regardless of whether they find a job or not. They have little incentive to look for work, and even when they do find work they are still going to keep cashing the welfare checks.

The Iraqi government is in a fine position right now. US troops are in Iraq, and the republican government wants to keep them there. But they know that the more the violence gets out of control the more support for the war drops at home. On the other side on the Iraqi people who seem to resort to violence every time it looks like the pace of reconstruction isn't fast enough for them. So to keep the reconstruction going and to keep the country from bursting into flames, the US government decides to foot the bill for the reconstruction. The Iraqi government doesn't care because as long as the Republicans are in power they don't have to pay for their own reconstruction.The republican administration actually has a stronger incentive that the Iraqi government to see the reconstruction continue so they continue to foot the bill to keep up the impression that Iraq is making progress. If some day the US wakes up and decides to ask the Iraqis to pay for their own projects, well they are saving up their oil revenue right now and they will have plenty of funds.

Big surprise big surprise- this story finally made it to the CNN headlines... something we've all known was occuring, especially when serving in Iraq.

Threaten to pull the troops out, as they keep crying they need them, until they start either 1) doing it themselves or 2) reimbursing us for the money we've spent. Why should they get the freeby? We already did the dirty work of fighting their war for them. My tax money pays for too much crap over here that I shouldn't have to pay for their crap over there. They get their gasoline for pennies on the dollar, too. They are playing us for the liberal pansy feel-good suckers we are as a nation.

not another group playing the system

Of course they are taking us for suckers; and at the expense of our infrastructure and economy. We are borrowing money to rebuild Iraq and ordinary Americans are suffering.

How can we get out of this nightmare in which the Bush Administration and the NeoCons got our country into?

The United States is being deceived. Iraq lead the US to believe that they were going to partially fund the war, and that "art of pleasing" is now their the art of deception. Iraq'concealed their own defects, by discovering the weaknesses of the US. We will never see a dime of that money.

Wolf we've gotten played as suckers by our own government over the last 7yrs some would say more, so i do not find this surprising. Yet McCain wants to continue down the same path to nothingness for a meaningless war that we now have the nerve to say we should stay, yea of course we want to stay to fix a mess created. The problem with this strategy is that it will never work, these people don't lay down for anyone. They will decide when it is time to come together, we have cement walls blocking two race of people and we call that an improvement, didn't this happen in East Germany ,a wall separting people because of race and religion, that worked out real well.

Suckers ??? – That's an UNDERSTATEMENT. Try another word. The ENTIRE government of Iraq once lived in exile right across the border in Iran and you EXPECT them to turn away from the hand that FED them ?? You are just doing the Iranians a favor.

Anybody knows why the soviets left Afganistan ?? They got BANKRUPT and could not fund the war ANYMORE.

Guess where we are HEADED

Suckers is a nice word.

This should be at the top of the ticker.

I just have one question, why haven't we, the United States impeached Mr. Bush yet?

Are you kidding? Of course the Iraqis are playing us for suckers!
And at the expense of our crumbling infrastructure and poor economy.
How do we get out of this nightmare created by Bush and the NeoCons?

Another Blunder for the Bush party> Not little Blunders! They are
all huge blunders that have robbed the American people of many
of American possessions.

That is more than sad. It is unforgivable. It is of utmost importance
that another Bush and Cabinet get that opportunity again. It should
have never happened in the first place. Miserable Republicans have
robbed our land and our good people.

think: "you broke it...you bought it..."

Wolf, you want the Iraqi's to rebuild the country that the US tore down? I get it, engage in a war against Iraq to benefit US contractors and multinationals, bomb it with 'shock and awe', kill a million people, displace another million, and then expect the Iraqis to foot the bill.
Yeah, i guess your right, I never looked at it that way.

Iraqis are saving their money for future conflict against the US remember most of Iraqis are Iranian allies. There goes our tax dollar thanks to bush and cheney

We need to get out of Iraq ASAP because the cost is just wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy tooooooooooooooo muchhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. We're talking about TRILLIONS of dollars...Are you kidding me? Mr. McCain knows nothing about the economy and that's why he is unfit to be the next President! How are we going to pay the cost of the IRAQ occupation if we stay there for a 100 hundred years??? Vote Democrate...Vote Obama..Bring this war/occupation to an end.

Of course we are being played for suckers...Bush and his regime are easy marks, even though they think they are the smart ones...Roll on November!

HRC has the solution for the oil problem. She told everyone on the moring show. If the lost minded youth O.B. voters keep supporting a lost cause ,this country wont see no real changes.HRC is the only canidate to bring us the changes we need. O.B. hasn't said anything different in his speeches from day one.His smooth speeches is all what they are.He is just a talker ,no action or know how.I feel sorry for this country if O.B. gets elected from the youth votes and African American voters.They havn't got enough common scence to know a canidate for their life accomplishments ,track record and what they have really done for our country.O.B. has done nothing ,just turn his back after he gets votes ,from his own race.HRC has time after time been there for us. You young voters keep voting for an empty suit, and the biggest con man I have seen in yrs. Its up to you young people to think about our country and do the right thing ,not just because he fits in to your youth world.I dont want my life in the hands of a greenhorn that knows nothing about real changes,just a good speech. GO HRC.

Absolutely, at $10 billion a month.

WOW. GOD BLESS THE DIVIDED STATES OF AMERICA. WELL GOD ALREADY HAS BUT ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS ACKNOWLDGE THE PERSON HE SENT TO SAVE US ALL. A DIFFERENT FORCE, THE MAN HIMSELF SEN. BARACK O'MA MAN!

wow...it took such a long time for this to actually be addressed!!

Do we really need to continue financing this reconstruction? I understand the argument that "we made this mess, we need to clean it up," but there comes a point when enough is enough. This war and reconstruction is going to cost us an estimated $3 trillion! That's certainly money that could be used back here...especially with the social security crisis looming.

No Wolf, but I'd imagine Congressional Dems see taxpayers as suckers. "Ha ha! Work harder! Millions on welfare are depending on you!"

Very interesting indeed. While looking at the numbers though, I couldn't help but have a though. Forgive me if i'm mistaken, but if Iraq exports $56.4 billion a year in oil, isn't that much, much more than the yearly cost of the war to the US?

Perhaps we are being played. Wouldn't be the first time.

The Iraqis are playing the taxpayers? Tell me again who exactly damaged their roads and infrastructure? I forget, was it the Iraqis who told us to invade their country?

Where do you people come up with this stuff? Why shouldn't we be responsible for cleaning up our own mess?

If you break it, you bought it applies in a grocery store, it should apply to foreign policy.

Well.

Are you nuts? Do you really need to be told the old saying- you broke it, you bought it?

When are we going to take some responsibility for our actions? We destroyed Iraq's infrastructure. Bombed their country into the stone age and now you're complaining that we're paying to fix it?

That is the LEAST we can do to fix the damage. Don't forget that the case for war in Iraq was wholly manufactured by the Bush administration. We blew it up and now it's our job to put it back together at our expense. And as for corruption in Iraq's new government? Well. That is the government we help install. So that's on us too.

Why don't you admit that, in spite of our economic woes at home and in spite of the fact that we never should have invaded Iraq in the first place, that now it is our sacred responsibility to repair the damage at our expense. As much as I would like to see us withdrawal troops tomorrow, I think that would do more damage than we've already done.

Time to stop complaining and start talking about the hard choices we have to make, the bullets we have to bite and the difficult realities we have to endure because of our actions.

another reason to leave Iraq.

It is NOT ONLY the Iraqis who are playing us for SUCKERS, it's the KING GEORGE administration as well... but they have been doing that for almost 8 years now, and no one seems to have noticed...

That's America for you!

What a sin! I work for a non-profit that serves adults with developmental disabilities and Florida has a waiting list for money to provide services for these individuals that is 4 to 5 years long. This is due to lack of funds! Has the US ever heard of taking care of your own before you reach out to others?

Although it's nice to see it in print, since the war so tepidly criticized when it REALLY counted, at the beginning, this is hardly news to anyone paying attention.

I agree that the U.S. taxpayers are being used as suckers. Only one thing makes me madder: I don't see a way to get some of that free money.

They didn't ask us to invade them either. We broke it, we have to foot the bill...

We can't even imagine how horrific we have made their lives, this is the least we can do

If this so the Bush administration and congress should stop funding now and pay off some of the war dedt

Don't forget Bush and Cheney playing there own citizens for suckers as well. After reading this report I now feel that this administration is the worst in our history. Bush and Cheney are like Idi Amin, Castro, Stalin, Ho Chi Minh. They are the true enemy within. Out grand tree of liberty and freedom needs to be replinished with the blood of tyrants i.e. Bush.Cheney/Rumsfeld, etc etc with patriots i.e. the american people brave enough to chart that course as the founders once did

No, Iraq has no obligation to pay Halliburton to rebuild what we have destroyed in this illigal war. Halliburton has been paid billions of dollars in a no bid contract rebuilding what this war has destroyed in Iraq. Reports have suggested that Halliburtion has failed in their rebuilding attempts. Our tax money is being invested in Halliburton and Cheeny is profiting from this fraudulent contract. Halliburton should be fired and the Iraq people should be given the help needed to rebuild their own Country.

We are fighting criminals there and need to be fighting the criminals here at home.

Thank you, Wolf. Enough is enough. Many states can't build new roads because of the lack of Federal contributions- but yet we keep wiring billions to Iraq and for what? Does it really take $12 Billion a month to kill a handful of "bad guys" every month. No, it takes $12 Billion a month to pay off the Shiites and Sunnis so they won't cut each others throats.

YOUR ARTICLE IS THE REAL STORY OF THE DAY. WHILE GENERAL PATRAEUS SITS AND TRIES TO SELL THE WAR IN FRNT OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE, WE'RE PAYING FOR ALMOST EVERYTHING IN IRAQ PLUS GETTING OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN KILLED...ALL FOR WHAT? WE ARE DEFINATELY THE ONES BEING HELD HOSTAGE....AND I PERSONALLY DON'T THINK WE CAN GET OUR TROOPS OUT OF THERE FAST ENOUGH. LET THEM KILL THEMSELVES OFF FOR A CHANGE AND GET IT OUT OF THEIR SYSTEMS! ALTHOUGH WE STEPPED INTO THEIR LIVES WHEN WE SHOULDN'T HAVE...WE CAN'T GO ON LOSING THIS WAY..THERE AND AT HOME. THIS WAR IS WREAKING THE AMERICA I'VE KNOWN ALL MY LIFE AND I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT!

THANKS, WOLF! LOVE YOUR BRAIN AND UNFLAPPABLE NATURE..YOU'RE ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS!

Of course, they are playing us for suckers and the biggest sucker of all is Bush. Next comes the 30%ers who refuse to look at truth. While Iraq makes billions, Bush has nearly doubled our national debt. It has been 1,800 days since "Mission Accomplished". We have tens of thousands more troops in Iraq now, but are only making "fragile" progress while our troops die. Bush has sent over 1,000 more Americans to die in a nation that had nothing to do with 9/11 than died in 9/11. Our "childrens do learn" president is a miserable failure.

That is so sad. Hope it isn't true but probably is. How pathetic.

Iraq is using the Bush/McCain credit card. Why would they change?

The Iraqis are playing the U.S. taxpayers for suckers. They need to sell us some of that oil. They're sitting on all that money and oil and we are paying. That's not fair.

Iraq doesn't need to bomb us. They will ruin this country by taking our money and soldiers.......

another bush blunder that will add to his legacy,of being the worst president in this nation's history.

hey cheyney wheres the money going

What a shock! Will someone please send this report to the McCain camp.

We have to get out of this war. I don't want to be there for 100 years of reconstruction and peace-keeping!

BUSH is Letting them ....so....this is old news.

A REAL US President would have told Iraq that they were going to have to PAY us to help them NOT charge our Army FULL RETAIL PRICE for the Gas we use to drive around protecting them.

Bush has done NOTHING with the powers we gave him to help US.

What a disgrace to the American people we are fools and should not stand up for this any longer, you republicans should be shame of your self’s to want to keep this going. This is costing each U.S. family on average $100 per day Wow....

I AM SO MAD, I CAN SCREAM!!!!

DO YOU HEAR THIS AMERICANS HELLOOOOOO?

AND THE IRAQ’S ARE KEEPING THERE MONEY AND WE ARE PAYING GAS PRICES OUT OF THIS ROOF. IN CALIFORNIA GAS IS AT $4.00 DOLLARS GALLON...

DAM...

THE CHICKEN ARE NOT COMING HOME TO ROOST THEY ARE ROASTING.

This article is for all you democrats who they are going to vote for McCain if their nominee does not win. Wake up and get over yourselves. We need a democrat in the WhiteHouse.

Gee, you think that maybe some people are finally starting to wise up after 6 years?

pOST MY cOMMENT!...

They are playing us for fools. I think you underestimated there profits and surplus. EXON made that amount in a 1/4. They're justifying the money saying that it used at home to build weapon's, clothes, etc. but in actuality they got caught out sourcing the work.

Come on People ..WAKE up!

Stop being sheep. Do research and stop listening to right wing or left wing extremist.

These are the things we're not supposed to know about. If most people did, or at least remembered from when we were promised them, there would be rioting in the streets. The issue of impeachment would be secondary to a lynch mob for The Shrub and VP Halliburton.

Oh Wolf, you crazy Israeli Lobbyist... You wanted this war and now you're getting the American people reved up against the Iraqis and thier horrible situation

But Levin notes that the Iraqis by and large are still not using their money to build new roads, bridges, schools and hospitals. Why should they? Uncle Sam is still doing that for them.

Yes...Why should they ?

Uncle Sam destroyed their bridges, schools and hospitals so he pays to fix em..

They learned if from the best, Bush, Cheney, and Halliburton.

This is proof also that the U.S. is on the wrong track. We need to focus on education; technolgy and science. War is not innovative and responsive to our future and the future of our children. Americans need to wake up and 5 or 10 years later is too late. We must have a president who has a vision for our future globally, there is no future in war.

Well put!!! The questions is Wolf, are you going to take responsibility for supporting the need for this war? Probaly not! You and your comrades and colleauges mis informed the American public when they counted on you for balanaced reporting instead of the parroting you did before the invasion and occupation.

Of course we are being played. People either don't know or remember that the Bush-Bin Laden oil relationship goes way back. They are oil families and will use the citizens of the US as pawns to the oil they want. Two plus two equal four...DUH-BYA!

Iraq will need that money for contracts with The Carlyle Group

I agree that Iraqis need to step up to the plate and begin to pay with their oil reserves. The last thing we need is for a democrat to have another reason to raise our taxes, like NOBAMA desperately dreams of doing to the hard working amongst us.

NOBAMA '08

I'm sure this is the point where the Obamabots will say that barack was against the war the whole time although all he ever did about was give a speech... Obama is all about winning the war in Afganistan which explains why he hasn't held ONE hearing since chairing the subcommitee formed to deal with NATO's involvement in that war.... Give me a Break Barack!

I say give us (Taxpayers) our money back!

If there was an agreement with Iraq about oil funding the war and reconstruction, it is high time to start helping with the bills!

Just another example of dumb Dubya and the Repubican fail policies.