Iraqi Kurds also angry about continued reparations to Kuwait

I don't blame them. "Kuwait has a GDP (PPP) of US$167.9 billion and a per capita income of US$81,800, making it the 5th richest country in the world."

'Iraqi Kurdistan will have to pay US$197 million annually from its oil revenues toward Iraq’s debt to Kuwait beginning from next year, according to a new bill currently before the Iraqi parliament.

Iraq still owes $22 billion of the approximately $53 billion which the United Nations (UN) ordered Iraq to pay Kuwait as compensation for war damages incurred during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990.

...Sami Abdulla Atrushi, a member of the former Iraqi government’s Financial Committee, said the country’s debt requirements to Kuwait were an unfair burden on average Iraqis.

“It’s an injustice against Iraqis in general and Kurdish people in particular,” said Atrushi. “Neither the Iraqi people nor their current government…agree with the policies employed by the former [Ba’athist] regime [of Saddam Hussein], especially those against Kuwait.”

Atrushi said the Kurdish people were the “first victim” of Hussein’s policies, referring to the Ba’athist regime’s genocidal persecution of the Kurds, and that therefore the compensation requirements were especially inappropriate for Iraqi Kurds. '

Kuwait fears violence could spread

Probably Kuwait wants the US to stay in Iraq as long as possible.

'Kuwait fears a rise in militant attacks and sectarian tensions in Iraq could cause a new security threat for the Gulf Arab oil producer, a minister said in remarks published on Sunday.

The sectarian bloodshed unleashed by the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq has largely abated but U.S. and Shi'ite-dominated Iraqi authorities expect attacks by Sunni militants to increase ahead of key parliamentary elections in March.

Large-scale bombings killed dozens this month across Iraq, which Baghdad blamed on al Qaeda militants and elements of former leader Saddam Hussein's outlawed Baath party.

"I'm worried about the collapse of the security system in Iraq, which could drive many Iraqis to seek refuge in Kuwait," Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad al-Salem al-Sabah told al-Qabas daily.

"I am worried about ... a sectarian conflict that would spread to Kuwait ... I'm worried that conflicts, terrorism and al Qaeda groups could spread to Kuwait," he said.

Kuwait, which is almost one-third Shi'ite, waged a largely successful campaign to stamp out violence by Islamist militants after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on U.S. cities and Iraq war.

Last year, Kuwait said it had foiled an al Qaeda-linked plan to bomb a U.S. army camp and an oil refinery in the OPEC oil exporting state.

Relations between Iraq and Kuwait became tense last year because of a dispute over billion of dollars Baghdad owes to Kuwait in reparations for 1990-91 occupation of the small state in the era of Saddam Hussein.'

Thanks madtom.

Money is the "last thing" on Kuwaiti minds

'Kuwait is not asking its former occupier Iraq to repay a multi-billion-dollar debt but only for assurances on security and good neighbourly ties, the Kuwaiti foreign minister has said.

"What we need from Iraq is security and assurances. We don't want money which is the last thing on our mind," Sheikh Mohammad al-Sabah told Al-Qabas newspaper in an interview due to appear on Sunday.

"Let me be very clear. We have not asked Iraq to repay the debt," said Sheikh Mohammad, according to an advance copy of the interview received by AFP.

Kuwait loaned Iraq an estimated 16 billion dollars during the 1980-1988 Iraq-Iran war.

Iraq's new leaders have repeatedly urged oil-rich Arab countries to cancel Baghdad's debt, mostly comprised of Gulf support during the war with Iran.

Sheikh Mohammad called on Iraq to help create the atmosphere conducive that could allow the Kuwaiti parliament to write off the debt.

"We want Iraq to be a good and safe neighbour," said the Kuwaiti minister who complained that some Iraqi MPs still praise former leader Saddam Hussein for invading the oil-rich emirate.'

Most families agree to Blackwater settlement offer

"Hassan Salman, who was wounded in the 2007 shootings, told CNN that 16 of the 17 families of the dead agreed to $100,000 lawsuit settlements from Xe, as Blackwater now calls itself. Those wounded were offered between $20,000 and $50,000 apiece, Salman said."

$100,000 seems to me a low figure for a family who lost a loved one because some guards got spooked. Keep in mind that Blackwater's revenue from its contracts in Iraq has exceeded $1 billion, and it turns out they have secret contracts with the CIA that are no doubt high-profit as well.

A 2009 US government audit found that Blackwater had violated terms of the contract and that "Pursuant to the contract, which has cost the government over $1 billion, such violations should have resulted in nearly $55 million in penalties to Blackwater."

Iraq wants Saddam-era debts dropped

'Iraq's president said Tuesday he will press his government's case before the United Nations this week to have the country's remaining multibillion dollar Saddam Hussein-era debts dropped.

President Jalal Talabani said he will make the appeal at the General Assembly meeting in New York, which starts Wednesday. With its economy hit hard by falling oil prices, Iraq has been seeking the cancellation of some $25 billion in U.N.-mandated reparations for Saddam's 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

The government has also asked other Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, to cancel other remaining debts.

"We will demand an end to the unjust compensation imposed on Iraq," Talabani told reporters before leaving for New York.

In July, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki urged the Security Council's most powerful members to cancel all sanctions and more than 70 resolutions adopted after the Kuwait invasion. At the time, al-Maliki said Iraq is now a democracy that poses no threat to international peace and security.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon responded by suggesting that Kuwait and Iraq discuss alternatives, including the possibility of converting outstanding war reparations into investments to help Iraq's reconstruction. Kuwait has so far resisted the idea.'

Saddam invaded Kuwait in August, 1990. The Iraqi Army was expelled from Kuwait by the end of February 1991. Although it was Saddam who had decided to invade Kuwait, the royal jarab in Riyadh wanted to keep Saddam in power in Baghdad and urged Bush Sr. to not allow the Iraqi Shia to overthrow Saddam's regime. Bush Sr. complied and Saddam remained the Butcher of Baghdad.

Kuwait recovered quickly, while Iraqis suffered through another 12 years of cruel sanctions, and while Saddam built 81 palaces and murdered many more Iraqis. Saddam's dictatorship was belatedly overthrown in 2003.

Kuwait's projected 2009 GDP: $137 billion ($39,849 per capita)

Saudi Arabia's 2008 GDP: $593 billion ($23,834 per capita)

Iraq's projected 2009 GDP: $83.553 billion ($4,000 per capita)

Both Kuwait and KSA have exported suicide bombers to Iraq since 2003. What would Iraqis do without their Arab "brothers"????

Iraq not responsible for Saddam's crimes

I think this supports the argument that Iraq's Saddam-era debts, including reparations to Kuwait and KSA, should be forgiven.

Court: Iraq can't be held responsible for Saddam
By JESSE J. HOLLAND

WASHINGTON (AP) — Iraq's current government cannot be sued for the actions of Saddam Hussein's regime, the Supreme Court said Monday as it threw out lawsuits filed by Americans who were held by the government of the now-deceased dictator.

Foreign nations usually are immune from lawsuits in U.S. courts, but federal law strips that protection from countries that support terrorism. Under Saddam, Iraq was considered a state sponsor of terrorism.

But the Iraqi government says the U.S.-led invasion that deposed Saddam and a federal law enacted in 2003 restored Iraq's immunity to lawsuits in American courts. The Supreme Court agreed.

continued

Iraqis continue to pay for Saddam's crimes

I find it strange that Iraqis are forced to pay compensation to Kuwait, a country that Saddam invaded 18 years ago. Also I find it strange that our ultra wealthy Arab "brothers", the ones who supported Saddam during the 80s while he massacred Iraqis, the ones who allowed their "mujahideen" to enter Iraq after 2003 to punish Iraqi "traitors and apostates" for being overjoyed at the overthrow of Saddam's regime, are forcing Iraq to pay them hundreds of millions of dollars for something that most Iraqis had nothing to do with.


Iraq agrees to pay Kuwait Airways $300 million
2 hours ago

BAGHDAD (AP) — The Iraqi government says it will pay $300 million in compensation to Kuwait Airways Corp. for claims related to Saddam Hussein's 1990 invasion of the neighboring emirate.

Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh says the Iraqi Cabinet "approved a final and comprehensive settlement" on Sunday.
He says Iraq's Justice Ministry will handle the payments.

But a spokesman for the state-owned Kuwaiti airline says the payment is by no means a "final" settlement. Adel Bourisli said Monday that the airline's total claim is $1.3 billion including interest.

The claim is part of Kuwait's efforts to force Iraq to pay reparations for the 1990 invasion that led to the 1991 Gulf War. Kuwait Airways has demanded compensation for aircraft and equipment stolen during the Iraqi invasion.

Iraq's debt to Kuwait should be forgiven

Iraq's remainder of the UN-imposed $53 billion in compensation claims to Kuwait should be forgiven. Saddam Hussein made the decision to invade Kuwait. Most Iraqis did not want to go to war with Kuwait. I think it is ridiculous to force Iraq, a cash-poor war-torn country whose citizens suffered through 12 years of sanctions while Saddam got richer and stronger, to pay billions of dollars to Kuwait, an oil-rich country. Kuwait's population is just 3 million, and it was the 11th largest oil producer in the world in 2006. Kuwait was able to rebuild quickly after the 1991 war and produce 2 million barrels of oil a day by 1994 - in that article I found this interesting:

"The rebuilding phase is over," said Nader Sultan, the deputy chairman and managing director of the state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corporation. "The new phase for the next five to 10 years is looking for growth markets."

Yet Kuwait's growth strategy has been influenced by the Gulf war. Twenty years after nationalizing its oil business and defiantly vowing to make its own way, Kuwait is once again looking to work closely with the West's big oil corporations. Pragmatism prevails in Kuwait these days, and that means viewing the oil companies as useful sources of capital, technology and skills. After the war, Kuwait also recognizes that there might be security benefits from partnerships with Western oil companies.

Architects and engineers are at work now on blue prints for a petrochemical plant costing nearly $2 billion that will be built and operated jointly with Union Carbide, and the Government has contracted with British Petroleum and Chevron for help with exploration, drilling and training of Kuwaiti technicians.

It made me wonder how many US troops have been in Kuwait since 1991. Certainly US troops were in Kuwait in large numbers prior to the invasion of Iraq. Yet we haven't heard of suicide bombings or market bombings in Kuwait City. No attacks on Kuwaiti security forces. Maybe this is the worst part: many insurgents who fight in Iraq grew up in Kuwait. It's like the Jordanian who lived all his life within 15 miles of the Palestinian border, and to fight the infidel invader (ostensibly) he travels hundreds of miles and ends up mass murdering Iraqis.

Furthermore, Iraq has suffered through cruel sanctions and another war since the war of 1991. The damage inflicted on Iraq since 1991 has been much greater than the damage inflicted on Kuwait during the six months it was occupied by Iraq. Iraq has already paid reparations totaling $19 billion by 2005. Iraq still owes about $28 billion. The UN should make the move (because Kuwait apparently won't) to forgive Iraq's debt to Kuwait. It is only fair, in my opinion, given that Saddam and his henchmen killed any Iraqi who refused to serve in their army. It seems wrong to impose this debt on Iraq.

PS: I just deleted this part of the post: "Kuwait's government won't even recognize Iraq's new government, yet they demand reparation payments from Iraq." Iraq and Kuwait restored diplomatic relations in 2004! Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, is still considering restoring diplomatic ties with Iraq.

Our Arab Brothers

Iraq calls for Saddam era debts to be scrapped

Iraq's prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki, has again called on neighbouring countries to cancel debt and compensation payments that date from Saddam Hussein's regime.

He told a conference in Stockholm to mark the first anniversary of the International Compact with Iraq, a five-year economic and political reform package, that the payments were holding back the rebuilding programme.

Iraq owes at least US$67bn (£33.8bn) in foreign debts, mostly to its Arab neighbours such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

Update - this is not surprising: Arab Nations Fail to Forgive Iraq’s Debts

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: May 30, 2008

UPPLANDS VASBY, Sweden (AP) — A United Nations conference on Iraq ended Thursday with a declaration encouraging debt forgiveness, but without commitments from Iraq’s biggest creditors.

Iraq has at least $67 billion in foreign debt — most of it from loans by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar during Saddam Hussein’s rule. The United Nations Compensation Commission says that separately, $28 billion remains to be paid for Iraq’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Iraq sets aside 5 percent of its oil revenue to meet the compensation claims.

Stealing From the Poor and Giving to the Rich

Let us not forget about the complicity of the United Nations in starving the Iraqi people. I have asserted before that fundamentalism spreads as a result of poverty.

Stealing From the Poor and Giving to the Rich

'As von Sponeck spoke, I reflected on my lengthy interview with Iraq’s former ambassador to the United Nations, Dr. Mohammed Al-Duri. Al Duri, being interviewed for the first time by English speaking media since claiming his post at the UN, revealed to me in early 2001, in equally shocking details, what sanctions had done to his country and people. He claimed that the UN was part of the problem. Led by two countries, the US and Britain, the UN Oil for Food Program and the “humanitarian” mission it established in Iraq was, he said, robbing the country blind and mismanaging funds, with needy Iraqi families receiving next to nothing. He spoke of the manipulation of Iraq’s wealth for political purposes and alleged that the UN was a tool in the hands of the United States government aimed at encouraging widespread popular disatisfaction with Saddam’s government before the country was dragged off to war.

In hindsight, Al-Duri’s assessment was very accurate. Promoting his new book: “A Different Kind of War,” von Sponeck reiterated in essence and substance Al-Duri’s claims; the only difference is that von Sponeck was an insider; his numbers and stories were impeccable and could hardly be contested. It’s no wonder that one and a half years after assuming his post in Baghdad in 1998, he resigned. Even at such uncongenial bureaucracy like the UN, some people still possess a living conscience; von Sponeck was and remains a man of great qualities.

By March 2003, when Iraq was invaded by American forces, the UN was generating $64 billion in sales of Iraqi oil, according to von Sponeck. But, scandalously, only $28 billion reached the Iraqi people. Around 70 percent of the Iraqi people benefited from the program. If distributed evenly, each Iraqi received half a US dollar per day. According to UN figures, an individual living under one dollar per day is classified as living in “abject poverty”. Even during the most destructive phases of war with Iran, Iraq has managed to provide relatively high living standards. Its hospitals were neither dilapidated, nor did its oil industry lie in ruins. Only after the UN sanctions in 1991 did the Iraqis suffer at such an appalling magnitude. Alas, the tyranny of Saddam expanded to become the tyranny of the international community as well.

“Neither the welfare of the Iraqi people nor the sovereignty of the Iraqis was respected,” by the UN and its two main benefactors, asserted von Sponeck. The UN Security Council’s “elected 10 or veto-wielding five” had nothing for Iraq but “empty words,” but there were “deliberate efforts to make life uncomfortable (for the Iraqis) through the Oil for Food program.” All efforts to modernize Iraq’s oil industry were blocked, said von Sponeck, all at the behest of “two governments that blocked all sorts of items,” which could’ve made that possible: Again, the United States and Britain, coincidently the same two countries that invaded and currently occupy Iraq. The logic in all of this is clear; the “preemptive” war on Iraq was factored into the sanctions from its early days.

The assessments of Al-Duri and von Sponeck converge, revealing the disagreeable intents of the US government and its followers many years before the horror of 9/11 polarized public opinion and allowed Washington’s political elites, the neoconservatives and contractors to make their case for war.

But where did the money go, during the sanctions and now, four years after the invasion?

Von Sponeck reported that a large chunk of the money generated from Iraq’s oil, 55 percent, went to fund the UN’s own inadequate “humanitarian” programs. Much of the rest was taken by the UN compensation commission, entrusted in handling claims of damages made by those allegedly harmed by the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. According to von Sponeck, the Iraqi oil pie was so large, there was plenty for everyone: Kuwait, Jordan, Turkey, and all the rest. But most ironically, the commission awarded a large sum of money to two Israeli kibbutzim in the Occupied Syrian Golan Heights, for allegedly losing some of their income due to the fact that the war damaged the tourism industry in Israel.'