Article

2003-12-19 Europe

In Reversal, Russia Agrees to Discuss Debt Relief for Iraq

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Posted by Steve 2003-12-19 10:33:48 AM|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 The negotiations were inevitable. If Iraq had no plans to join the WTO and use the world bank, they could have just refused to honor the debt altogether. As long as the US was willing to buy oil and products from Iraq, sanctions or embargoes would have been ineffective.

Posted by Super Hose 2003-12-19 11:51:04 AM|| 2003-12-19 11:51:04 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Love it. The nits at Kevin Drum's left-liberal Calpundit site had been whining about how the denying of contracts to the Weasels was a terrible, stupid move that, being announced in advance of Baker's visit, would cause the visit to fail horribly. Heh-heh, Baker is 3 for 3 with no visible, public concession by us. Bush ends up with the best possible outcome -- the Weasels agree that debt relief has to be done, and he enforces the idea that if you oppose us, you don't share the contracts afterwards.

Posted by Steve White 2003-12-19 12:20:50 PM|| 2003-12-19 12:20:50 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 "wonder just what was in Bakerâs briefcase."

Hope it wasnt a promise of a weasel veto on political developments in Iraq.

Posted by liberalhawk 2003-12-19 1:15:22 PM|| 2003-12-19 1:15:22 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 "Three for three, wonder just what was in Bakerâs briefcase."

I think it's more likely a function of what was in Saddam's briefcase.

Posted by Tibor 2003-12-19 3:47:40 PM|| 2003-12-19 3:47:40 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 I think the we all know what Otter had in the brief case.

Couldn't find the link I wanted. Stumbbled onto this link for movie buffs: Nitpickers.

Posted by Super Hose 2003-12-19 6:01:06 PM|| 2003-12-19 6:01:06 PM|| Front Page Top

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