First we must estimate the cost of maintaining this war for the next
two years as Mr. Bush is inclined to do if left to his own devices.
At 7:08:33pm on November 19th, the cost- to that moment- for the
Bush/Cheney Iraq War was $343,656.456,380.00 from Congressional
appropriations over the 44 months from March 19, 2003. This results
in approximately $7,954,545,000 per month, or $194,886,360,000 for
the about 25 months left in Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney's term of office.
Since the current administration believes that those funds can be
afforded for prosecuting war in Iraq, I propose we use those same
monies to promote peace and attempt to repair the damage we've
wrought. The money would be appropriated by Congress and placed in an
escrow account in obvious guarantee of its availability.
The US would announce that the funds would be for rebuilding Iraq
after an orderly US military withdrawal, and made available only to
Iraqi firms- and international firms who employ Iraqis at a fair
wage. There would be neutral international administrators in place to
monitor contracts and authorize payments based on verified progress.
All areas of the country would receive funds on an equal per-capita
basis, with at minimum, restoration, or installation of all public
services.
The funds would only be dispersed after US withdrawal, and phased-in
as violence subsides. A hierarchy of need, as established by the
Iraqi people through polling, and ratified by the Iraqi government,
would guide the rebuilding process.
During the withdrawal of troops, this plan provides incentive for the
people of Iraq to advocate from within for the cessation of violence,
and gives the central government a benevolent role advocating for the
needs of the nation.
The scope of the project, the jobs, insures (as long as no factions
are excluded) that stability is in everyone's interest.
