Bush plea for cash to rebuild Iraq raises $600

[Waya]

An extraordinary appeal to Americans from the Bush administration for money to help pay for the reconstruction of Iraq has raised only $600 (£337), The Observer has learnt. Yet since the appeal was launched earlier this month, donations to rebuild New Orleans have attracted hundreds of millions of dollars.
The public's reluctance to contribute much more than the cost of two iPods to the administration's attempt to offer citizens 'a further stake in building a free and prosperous Iraq' has been seized on by critics as evidence of growing ambivalence over that country.

This coincides with concern over the increasing cost of the war. More than $30 billion has been appropriated for the reconstruction. Initially, America's overseas aid agency, USaid, expected it to cost taxpayers no more than $1.7bn, but it is now asking the public if they want to contribute even more.

It is understood to be the first time that a US government has made an appeal to taxpayers for foreign aid money. Contributors have no way of knowing who will receive their donations or even where they may go, after officials said details had be kept secret for security reasons.


http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1577750,00.html

[WritingIsMyReligion]

1. $600? Wow. That's SO much. Absolutely pathetic. n/t

[rockymountaindem]

2. I never even heard of that.

C'mon freepers, put your money where your mouth is.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

3. The freepers are way

too stingy to do it. :D :D

[rockymountaindem]

7. Needless to say

;)

[w13rd0]

4. Why aren't they using...

...their DirectMail lists they aquired from fundamentalist churches to appeal for donations for their Iraqi Adventure?

[MindPilot]

5. Clearly the freepers couldn't donate because they are all serving in Iraq

:sarcasm:

[Maiden England]

6. Please make all checks payable to 'Halliburton'

:silly: