Bizarre, International, Military, Society

Iraq Demands $1 Billion And An Apology From U.S. For Damage To Baghdad

In an example of unparalleled hubris, Iraqi officials are demanding that the United States apologize and pay $1 billion for the damage done to the city. Officials are complaining that the blast walls installed by the U.S. to protect the public are ugly and that Humvees and vehicles have caused damage in patrolling the city and fighting insurgents.


The city released a statement saying “The U.S. forces changed this beautiful city to a camp in an ugly and destructive way, which reflected deliberate ignorance and carelessness about the simplest forms of public taste . . . Due to the huge damage, leading to a loss the Baghdad municipality cannot afford . . . we demand the American side apologize to Baghdad’s people and pay back these expenses.”

For those of us who opposed the war in Iraq, this is a particularly maddening moment. We continue to lose lives and billions in public funds as our states sell off parks, buildings, and cut critical programs. We have wasted billions of dollars in Iraq with little or no evidence of where money has gone.

In Afghanistan, we have a corrupt president who repeatedly states that he prefers the Taliban and views the United States as an enemy. Karzai also sought to tax U.S. contractors supporting his government and a bailout for his banks.

Yet, we continue to assume towering losses because our leaders are unwilling to take personal responsibility to pull us out of these countries. Rather than risk political backlash, President Obama and others allow our military personnel to die every day for countries that are increasingly openly hostile to us. This is becoming a truly Felliniesque farce.

Source: Reuters

Jonathan Turley

132 thoughts on “Iraq Demands $1 Billion And An Apology From U.S. For Damage To Baghdad”

  1. hell, i’d like to hear dick chenney choke out an “i’m sorry”. won’t hold my breath though.

  3. I don’t really understand this posting, but I do recall that pre-War Baghdad was a very beautiful city. If it has been damaged by the occupying forces I would expect them to pay for the restoration. The amount demanded seems very modest; presumably it concerns only a particular case of construction during the period of occupation when Iraq was run, in effect, from the Pentagon, and is not related to the much more extensive damage caused by the invading forces.

    If I have it wrong somehow could somebody please explain clearly?

  4. Woosty’s:

    “How much were we sending them prior to 2001 and what for?”

    Probably as much as we’ve sent them from 2001 to date and all for black gold.

  5. Checking several reliable or unreliable sources, I would allow that there may have been 100,000 or so civilian deaths as direct consequences of the American war mongering effort that began in 2003 or thereabouts.

    Allowing fair reparations of a paltry 1,000,000 dollars in gold bullion for each such tragically outrageous death, reparations for those 100,000 people, where will the People of the United States of America find that much gold bullion to spare?

    Oh, it might not be that much since wealth became its own commodities market.

  6. Anonymously Yours
    1, February 17, 2011 at 1:20 pm
    Blouise,

    I never suspected that you were cynical…

    ========================================================

    Moi? As you know full well I am the picture of hope and optimism.

    Did you find kitty?

  7. “How much longer must we endure Iraq and Afghanistan taking billions in our money with one hand, and openly giving us the finger with the other?”Stamford Liberal
    ——————————————
    How much were we sending them prior to 2001 and what for?

    http://www.thinkandask.com/news/eyes.html

  8. Woosty’s:

    “What spouse? We are there because we INVADED that Country…if you must draw a metaphor ‘rape’ would be more appropriate.”

    I agree with you wholeheartedly. But please take into account what prefaced the the battered wife syndrome:

    “How much longer must we endure Iraq and Afghanistan taking billions in our money with one hand, and openly giving us the finger with the other?”

    I hope this clears it up 🙂

  9. In an example of unparalleled hubris, Iraqi officials are demanding that the United States apologize and pay $1 billion for the damage done to the city.
    ===========================================================

    What hubris?

    ———————————————————–
    SL:

    “Is it me or does this reek of “battered spouse syndrome”?”
    ===========================================================

    What spouse? We are there because we INVADED that Country…if you must draw a metaphor ‘rape’ would be more appropriate.

    I agree with the poster above…follow the money trail….put Halliburton, Blackwater, etc. on the hot seat and let us ADVOCATE for Iraq who we have done damage to regardless of their religious philosophy and show them the respect we so clearly have historically withheld because in this Country it is confused with FEAR.

    And then lets get the hell out of there and get on with our own Country!

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  17. SL:

    “Is it me or does this reek of “battered spouse syndrome”?”

    If not that then this:

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  20. I bet if they looked hard enough, they could find the missing pallets containing $9B in greenbacks. A couple of places they could begin the search come to mind – Haliburton, L. Paul Bremer’s swiss bank account …

    How much longer must we endure Iraq and Afghanistan taking billions in our money with one hand, and openly giving us the finger with the other? Is it me or does this reek of “battered spouse syndrome”?

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