Iraq's Zebari Says $6 Bln Aid Paid (International Donors); Calls for More

May 20 (Bloomberg) -- Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said international donors have paid out only $6 billion of $33 billion pledged in aid, and called on world leaders to honor their promises in order to help Iraq's political process.

Iraq is planning an international conference next month to get the support it needs in the form of aid, equipment and training of troops so that the Middle Eastern nation can speed up the exit of foreign troops, Zebari said in an interview at the World Economic Forum by the Dead Sea in Jordan.

``There's a huge gap, so that's why we want to follow up on these pledges,'' Zebari, 51, said. ``We need those countries who are engaged to help us build our own forces,'' he said, adding that Iraqi troops are now carrying out offensive operations and are gaining the ``respect'' of the Iraqi population.

story: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=azam7M0bj6Rs&refer=top_world_news

So much for the vast coalition that Bush claimed to have in Iraq while he was running for reelection. This mess comes from men who don't care a wit about throwing our money down military sinkholes overseas. Bush never had to worry about a dime spent all his life. Not suprising that we're in the hole for the bulk of the cost of the war. His father knew the burden that his own contrived war would be foisted on the taxpayers (lower and middle income payers taking the bulk of the hit) and he made certain that he had enough foreign donors. Junior bankrupts everything he touches.

Let's find the missing $9.1 billion from the U.S.

and all of the billions in 'emergency' appropriations.