They can be gracious and reply of course we forgive the debt, or they can be surly and say no way, we want our money. Either way they won't get a penny back on their bribes to Saddam Hussein for sweetheart deals on Iraqi oil

I for one couldn't care less. Old Europe is boring. Why don't they just shut up and deal with the wretched problems they've created for themselves since the last time we pulled their chestnuts out of the fire.

Count me out of savings their butts again.

Was there ever a question about why the odious three preferred endless inspections and ending sacntions?

Hypocrits. Let them be an example for future Govt. gun runners. The third world is awash in Kalishnikovs.

I say we pay the Iraqi's Russian debts with Tzarist bonds...

Cuban debt would also do.

W should praise frankenreich for sticking to their principles and then present frankenreich's bill from the Marshall Plan.

In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash.

Well, the timing on this could have been a little bit better. And maybe couched in language a little less stark. You don't have to do everything so bare-knuckled.

It's called horse trading and Americans are past masters at it.

According to an AP headline writer:
>"U.S. Signals Flexibility on Iraq Contracts Amid Row"

And yet the relevant quote is:
>"If countries want to join in our efforts in
>Iraq...then circumstances can change, and
>we'll make that very clear," McClellan told
>reporters.

Hmmm. Not quite what the headline implies...

But clearly the laugh-out-loud line goes to the President:
>Asked about comments by German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder that
>international law must apply to awarding of contracts, Bush said:
>"International law? I better call my lawyer."

Good stuff. But then I liked "Bring it on" too...

I believe this would be a "pay to play" situation for the French, Geroman and Russian leaders, which may now have their major corporations urging Chirac, Shroeder and Putin to agree to forgive the debt in exchange for the U.S. relaxing is postion on firms from those countries being eligible to bid on the contracts.

Putin doesn't have that much to worry about, given the fact that Russia just held its election and most of its companies are not big international players, but Schroeder and Chirac will have a hard time financing their next campaigns on Iraqi debt notes if the big companies like Schlumberger or Siemens start withholding their fnancial support pending a debt forgiveness initiative. Could be fun to watch...

Hey, they forgive the debt - or reschedule it or lower interest, sumpthing - and we let them bid on contracts.

Their quo for our (lots of) quid.

SMG

The wisdom of the contract issue can be debated, but the debt forgiveness is so morally compelling as to be a potential diplomatic slamdunk. But why, once again, is a grand rhetorical opportunity passed up? There is so much direct evidence of these debts having been used to arm Saddam and support his genocide that the case that it is dirty money is close to unanswerable, even in European leftist terms. If this announcement had been combined with a stirring call for an international commitment to human rights and democracy, it is hard to see how the President wouldn't have looked great both internationally and domestically.

Peter --

First, American presidents just don't give those speeches much.

Second, President Bush just gave his "Three Pillars" speech on the connection between human dignity, peace and democracy, and no one paid attention other than a few wing-nuts.

TWN

"Truth in lending."

Much has been said about the timing and wording of the two announcements. The timing was perfect and the wording was honest. To have spaced the announcements, as implied in the criticism, would have been considered duplicitous by our worldwide critics with some justification.

The European response reveals their support for the tyrant was really all about money ... and oil contracts.

Not to worry ... they will forgive the debts, in time, or their nations will wear the chains of shame hung around their necks by upstanding organizations that search for the truth, such as NPR, ABC, BBC, The NYT and the Guardian.

If not, that will be the work of the Bloggers.

Sorry SMG.

You may be too young to remember. It's unconditional surrender. No deals.

I was cynical about the EU lasting very long, but even I didn't think it would disintegrate this quickly.