then the idiot in question seems to be you.

The countries are not being allowed to bid on contracts funded solely by the US, not from funds they themselves put up. The funds are approximately $18 billion from that huge $87 billion allocation passed by Congress recently. Do try to keep up.

President Bush today defended the Pentagon's decision to restrict to "friendly coalition folks" the distribution of $18.6 billion in reconstruction contracts for Iraq.

Responding to questions before a Cabinet meeting today, Bush strongly backed the Pentagon's decision to exclude France, Germany, Russia, Canada and other nations from the award of U.S. reconstruction contracts in Iraq because the excluded countries have neither participated in the U.S.-led occupation or helped finance it.

"The expenditure of U.S. dollars will reflect the fact that U.S. troops and other troops risk their life . . . ," Bush said. "It's very simple. Our people risk their lives. Coalition -- friendly coalition folks risk their lives. And therefore, the contracting is going to reflect that. And that's what the U.S. taxpayers expect."

As for the debts, there is international law and precedent that says the new Iraqi government may be able to negate them if they choose. The term is odious debt, further discussed here. Whether or not they do so is up to them. Some countries have not taken that option because they want to preserve their ability to borrow in the future. However, other countries have successfully used the Doctrine of Odious Debt to cancel their liability.

Frankly, it's amusing to see how the supposed "Idiot in the White House" keeps running rings around the self-proclaimed intellectuals of the Left. It makes a great spectator sport. Quite likely, Bush isn't nearly the idiot they presume, nor are they as smart as they believe.