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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Graystone who wrote (108641)	7/29/2003 2:27:53 AM
From: Maurice Winn	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

Iraqis owe nothing to anybody [through their now extinct government]. Private debts would still be valid, but Saddam's regime doesn't exist and other people, namely, Mr and Mrs Iraq, don't owe Russia, France, Kuwait or anyone else anything. If anything, they are owed for dereliction of duty by the UN for half a century while they were cruelly treated. Also, Kuwait should be taken over by the UN too [since they only exist thanks to the UN] and their oil bundled into the Greater Iraq and UN development plan. It's time to write off the debts. If France and Russia wanted to supply arms or whatever to Saddam's regime on the promise of oil income, that's their problem. Mr & Mrs Iraq didn't invade Kuwait and don't owe Kuwaitis anything. Meanwhile, abc.net.au <The United States has imposed tough new sanctions on Burma's crippled economy to put more pressure on the military government to release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. President George W Bush says in a statement that the international community must make it clear that the people of Burma deserve to live in dignity and freedom under leaders of their own choosing. Mr Bush says the move is a clear signal to Burma's generals that they must release Aung San Suu Kyi, who was arrested in May. The sanctions include a ban on all imports from Burma and are aimed especially at the crucial textiles trade in an economy teetering on the brink of collapse.> Those tough guys must be starting to get a bit nervous. Maybe USS Raygun could do a drive by to visit them and encourage them to play nicely and let the lady out. Mqurice

To: Graystone who wrote (108641)	7/29/2003 2:44:12 AM
From: Maurice Winn	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

<I am guessing they were trying to save some money. I am not sure the United States will want to supply the best tech to Iraq. > In the free world, they decide the bestest and cheapest at auction. Bids are considered and the low bidder for a specified quality of service is awarded the contract. It's not the USA which is supplying the mobile phone system, it's Iraq buying it from whichever company is selected. It's just King George II ordering them, through the Pentagon, to take the bad deal from Worldcom [which you can imagine might not be the most reputable supplier if their accounting standards and respect for shareholders is anything to go by]. Why not the best? It's cheapest as well, and has an excellent upgrade path. Fast cyberspace now would be available. That's good for redevelopment communications needs. Imagine trying to communicate around Baghdad at present. Mqurice