Abdal Mahdi interview on [Iraqi] debt

[eosirl2]

I don't remember reading this here on the forum, so if I am double posting, please excuse.


http://www.jubileeiraq.org/blog/2005_05.html#000822


May 17, 2005
Abdal Mahdi interview on debt

Iraqi newspaper Al-Hayat today gives an interview with Vice-President, and former Finance Minister, Adil Abdal Mahdi, talking mainly about the debt which he says "were the result of the wrong policies the former regime followed for several decades and which rendered its resources uselessly shackled." .....

[BlueLake]

also make sure you see this too, makes a lot of sense.

"G. Saddam and his creditors are responsible
Odious debt is debt that is neither spent for the benefit of the people nor borrowed with their consent. “The Ba’ath Party did not ask the people of Iraq, and certainly not the women of Iraq, about borrowing the money or how it should be spent. It is not our responsibility, rather it is the responsibility of those countries that financed Saddam – they created the problem.” (Layla Mohammed, Women’s Freedom Organisation) This sentiment was repeated by Waleed Al-Hilli of Al Da’wa: “The Iraqi people had no say, even regarding the civilian debts. All the creditors knew that Saddam was an oppressive dictator – everyone knew that, everyone.”

Mohammed Kamil of the Iraqi Prospect Organisation put it this way: “Saddam’s regime was judged to be unacceptable by the international community in 1991. How can the Iraqi people be required to pay for the support countries gave in building up that regime? When Saddam executed people, he used to charge their families for the bullets used – this is precisely what the creditor countries who financed Saddam are asking of Iraqis today.” Representatives of the Kurds feel particularly strongly that not only were they not responsible for the loans, but that the creditors were responsible in part for their suffering: "The creditors cooperation enabled Saddam to rule for 35 years – presiding over atrocities such as Halabja and mass graves. Saddam never spent money for the benefit of the Iraqi people, but just for himself and his followers. The creditors should cancel the debt to cancel some of their sins.” (Perweez Mohammed, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan)"

And there's more
http://www.jubileeiraq.org/iraqiviews.htm#g

I have to agree.