February 8, 2006

JUST REPUDIATE THE REST:

Afghanistan Welcomes US Decision to Cancel Debts (Benjamin Sand, 08 February 2006, VOA News)

Afghanistan has welcomed the decision by leading Western creditors to cancel the country's debts. The United States says it will cancel its entire $108 million debt and called on all of Afghanistan's lenders to follow suit.

Afghan government spokesman, Khaleeq Ahmed, on Wednesday applauded the U.S. move, which eliminates a major financial constraint on Afghanistan's new democracy.


No state need, nor should, honor odious debt.

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 8, 2006 12:18 PM
Comments

$108 million? $108 million? Was there even a debate about it? Turing and Church, two Congresss critters can't meet in the hall without spending more than that.

And I worry about the Afghani government if such a piddly sum really makes a difference in their budget.

Posted by: Annoying Old Guy at February 8, 2006 12:57 PM

AOG - Considering the physical condition of Afgahnistan after twenty +/- years of war, what do you think their tax base is? Of course that sum was a lot to them.

Posted by: Mikey at February 8, 2006 1:53 PM

I wonder which Afghan government incurred this debt. Somehow I don't see either the Taliban or the Russian-controlled government being able to take out loans from the US.

Posted by: anon at February 9, 2006 3:38 AM
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