Thursday, May 27, 2004

About that "crushing debt Saddam created in Iraq". Originally posted Dec. 19, 2003.

Thomas Friedman (New York Times, Dec. 18) wonders why France now seems willing to provide some measure of "debt forgiveness" to Iraq. Others have extolled James Baker's statesmanship in getting other European countries to follow suit. I think Mr. Baker has a slam dunk here: whatever government eventually comes to be in Iraq will certainly, after as much temporizing as it can, repudiate the debt incurred by Saddam Hussein. So, why not look generous and forgive a debt you will never collect on anyway. Get some bonus points for appearing nice.
And how can the United States make a fuss over this? Ever since Saddam's regime stopped following America's orders, we have branded him an illegitimate government. How can a legitimate Iraqi government be held responsible for Saddam's debts?
So, I think we can all expect to see that advertisement in a "paper of general circulation" very soon: "Not responsible for any debts other than my own." Signed: Iraq.
[This seems to me to be more likely now than it did last December.]

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