[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 18]
[House]
[Page 25008]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     WHY ARE WE BEING SO GENEROUS?

  (Mr. KINGSTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot of discussion about 
our reconstruction efforts in Iraq, and why are we doing it, why are we 
not lending them the money at some exorbitant interest rate? Why are we 
being so generous? Well, there are five real reasons.
  Number one, Iraq is saddled with a $200 billion debt already. If we 
give them a loan, what is going to happen is similar to what happened 
between France and Germany after World War I with the reparations: It 
will not help Iraq become independent and free and strong.
  Number two, practicality. There is no ruling authority in Iraq at 
this point to make a loan to, and it will take a lot more time if we go 
that route.
  Number three, we need to lead by example. As the gentleman from South 
Carolina (Mr. Wilson) just said, because of the U.S. efforts, we 
already have other donor nations stepping forward.
  Number four, perception. There is already an anti-American, anti-
Western mood amongst Arab countries in the Middle East, and by doing 
this, we will become free of that suspicion.
  Number five, it is in our national interest to have a stable, secure, 
democratic country emerging in the Middle East.
  Mr. Speaker, this is why we are doing what we are doing. It is an 
important vote, and it is the right vote.

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