The Democrats delivered something of a bombshell with their report "The Hidden Costs of the Iraq War". In it they claim that the total cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is expected to be $1.6 trillion, double the amount President George Bush says it will cost.
The report says:
"The full economic costs of the war to the American taxpayers and the overall US economy go well beyond even the immense federal budget costs already reported."
The Whitehouse responded by saying that the Democrats were playing politics. True enough, but that's what politicians (Republicans included) do.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
Hanging Delayed
The stay of execution for Chemical Ali, and two other ex members of Saddam Hussein's inner circle, remains in place; as the US continues to hold them and will not hand them over to the Iraqis, until a legal row is resolved.
US spokeswoman Mirembe Nantongo said:
"There continue to be differences in viewpoint within the government of Iraq regarding the necessary Iraqi legal and procedural requirements for carrying out death sentences issued by the Iraqi High Tribunal.
Coalition forces will continue to retain physical custody of the defendants until this issue is resolved."
The Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki, is less than pleased with the US policy wrt this matter. On Sunday he accused the US embassy of playing an "unfortunate role" in preventing the handover of the three. He added that his government was "determined" that the executions be carried out.
However, the irresistible force appears to have met the rock in the form of Nantongo who said:
"There is still discussion within the government of Iraq over the legal requirements in this case. We are waiting for the government to come to consensus as to what their law requires before preparing a physical transfer."
Two members of the presidential council, President Jalal Talabani and Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi have refused to sign the execution orders.
This stand off is not due to end anytime soon.
US spokeswoman Mirembe Nantongo said:
"There continue to be differences in viewpoint within the government of Iraq regarding the necessary Iraqi legal and procedural requirements for carrying out death sentences issued by the Iraqi High Tribunal.
Coalition forces will continue to retain physical custody of the defendants until this issue is resolved."
The Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki, is less than pleased with the US policy wrt this matter. On Sunday he accused the US embassy of playing an "unfortunate role" in preventing the handover of the three. He added that his government was "determined" that the executions be carried out.
However, the irresistible force appears to have met the rock in the form of Nantongo who said:
"There is still discussion within the government of Iraq over the legal requirements in this case. We are waiting for the government to come to consensus as to what their law requires before preparing a physical transfer."
Two members of the presidential council, President Jalal Talabani and Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi have refused to sign the execution orders.
This stand off is not due to end anytime soon.
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