The sanctions on Iraq largely created by the US kept them impoverished. The people, that is. DIDN'T HURT SADDAM, and the US knew it at the time.

At the same time, 60% of the country was under the "no-fly zone", which was an excuse to bomb them whenever someone wanted to..

There was corruption, which was known at the time, and winked at. And, the infrastructure went to hell because of the sanctions.

And now, along comes GWB & Co. and offers to filter some of their own money back into Iraq, clearly through the hands of Halliburton, Bechtel, etc., who will scoop off a bunch from the top.

How is that different than bribes, or the UN scandal? Except that as the result of an illegal invasion it's "legal".

Only a conservative would regard it as charitable to spend a little bit of their own money on Iraqis, and not steal it all. I'm sure conservatives regard that as generous, really, because a way could be found to keep it. But, then, Halliburton et al couldn't at get it, and then tithe to GWB's campaign.

So, it does make a bit of sense, doesn't it.

Arf