Iraq funding: Enough for reconstruction?

The United States Senate has approved President Bush's $87.5bn funding package for Iraq and Afghanistan.

The vote came after one of the bloodiest weeks for U.S. forces in Iraq.

Three-quarters of the money will pay for military operations in Iraq.

A much smaller sum will be used for US troops in Afghanistan.

Is there now enough money to rebuild Iraq?

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This debate is now closed. Read your comments below.

Your reaction:

The following comments reflect the balance of views we have received:

The USA and UK should foot all the bills for rebuilding Iraq, they are the cause of all the current misery. At least when Saddam was around bad and all as he was, women could walk the streets without the fear of being raped or having their children kidnapped which we mostly do not get to hear about because of US propoganda. If the UK and US want to do something useful go to the Congo where many millions of innocent people have been killed over recent years and it never even gets a mention on the news of course that will be because there is no oil there.
Rob, Ireland

I am sure we will be able to rebuild a prosperous, free, peaceful Iraq Louay AL-Tahan,Baghdad, Iraq

I am sick and tired of people living in free democracies who won't stop blaming the US and UK for interfering in Iraq. But then again they never experienced getting shot at for laughing at a joke or having a close friend executed for going to a church (a mosque in our case). Or have the whole family put in a mass grave just for the fact that a member of the family had expressed his/her thoughts and ideas.
Sure we had losses during this liberation campaign but I am sure when we finish counting our casualties from Saddam's era I am sure the ratio will be negligible. With the economic help of friends like the US, UK and the other coalition members and the Iraqi oil sales revenues I am sure we will be able to rebuild a prosperous, free, peaceful Iraq. And I truly wish that the all other countries who invested previously in destroying Iraq by loaning the regime to go into destructive wars will have the decency to at least stop putting hurdles in the reconstruction path.

As stated at the top of the page, three quarters of the money is to pay the US military, the remaining quarter will end up in US companies that will over-charge for their work. The Iraqi people should sue and seek compensation from the US for the vast death toll of innocent Iraqi soldiers and civilians as well as infrastructure destruction. I am sure this is what US citizens would do if the tables were turned.
Maged Mokhtar, Cairo, Egypt

We cannot change what happened Terry, USA

When are people going to realise that this is not about politics or who was right or wrong? This is about people suffering now. When are we going to get off our high horses and start helping these people instead of laying blame on this and that? We cannot change what happened but we can change what is going to happen.
Terry, USA

To Terry US: it is true that we cannot change what happened but we can make sure that we don't repeat the same mistakes. I believe that it has been proven beyond doubt that any country acting on its own, hastily, with limited intelligence and without a thought out plan is bound to fail. The Bush admin. must admit its error and make commitments it will not repeat them elsewhere (Syria, Iran, Korea) then the rest of the world can put the past behind and contribute to an independent Iraq.
Dina Peradoni,Greece

The first consideration has to be to recruit, train, and deploy internal, Iraqi, security forces that can be relied upon to establish and maintain the peace. Any reconstruction effort, without that institution securely in place, will fail. The balance of reconstruction would hopefully be compensated by means of improved productivity, including oil, helping to build a model infra-structure to better the lot of the Iraqi people and to win their allegiance to freedom and human rights. When they realize they were poorly cared for and that there are better times ahead, for them and their families, they will invariably convert to the new politics, provided they can live safe from terrorist attacks.
Robert Morpheal, Canada

Iraq is rich and can pay for itself. By the way it should thank the U.S. and British soldiers for their new freedom. The time of Saddam and Muslim aliens is over whatever they cry. Now its time for reconstruction of buildings and minds.
Said, Germany

Rebuilding Iraq does not need billions. It only needs the will to re-build it James, UK

Rebuilding Iraq does not need billions. It only needs the will to re-build it. Iraqis are intelligent people (human beings like any other) they can re-build themselves but they are being prevented by the US army because there are alternative plans that are damaging to the world community. We need to look deeper and bring those people to account.
James, UK

Everyone seems to be getting away from the basic facts - America, Britain, Australia and the rest of the coalition have caused all the problems and damage and should pay for reparations. If the rest of the world is persuaded to contribute it will only encourage America to do the same again and rely on us mugs to clear up after them again. It may be tough but we have to draw the line somewhere, otherwise it will be never ending.
J FM, UK

The funding goes through Iraq straight into the pockets of the Western companies granted the reconstruction contracts. This entire war could be a lavish plan to line the pockets of congress' weapon and construction friends. Let one also not forget that the US is tapping the oil to pay for all this and it is therefore not to be seen as goodwill or generosity.
Sean, Belgium

I am sick and tired of hearing comments like the US and UK should pay for their illegal war. What was illegal about it? Don't make our two great nations out to be bad guys; we don't torture our own people or support terrorists who blow up innocent women and children. All we have tried to do is help a country that needed help and defend our own countries against terrorism. If the rest of the world with the exception of a few other countries don't think enough money has been donated then maybe they should dip their hands in their pockets and donate some themselves.
Peter, UK

Whether this money makes any difference will depend on whether the hypocritical countries, which opposed the war supposedly in the interests of the Iraqi people, will cancel the debts Iraq has with them, which amount to over $150 billion. Those concerned about the welfare of the Iraqi people should put their money where their mouth is.
Graeme Phillips, Germany, normally UK

The American money may rebuild Iraqis buildings, but they will never be able to rebuild the human damage caused by their actions, very much like little Ali the boy who lost his arms and was given Plastic artificial arms
Ahmad Hmoud, Jordan, Amman

No doubt that the funding is a sign of good will. But what about the people of Iraq: how do they fit into the process? I think Iraqis should decide for themselves on where and how the money is to be spent. The coalition should act as a controller and an administrative assistant thus granting the contributing nation's tax payers that correct and transparent spending procedures are put in place. Funding directly western contractors is a dangerous short cut which could kill any attempt to set up a friendly local administration.
PL, Italy

Is it really a great gesture? I was under the impression the rebuilding fund was coming from the sale of Iraqi oil anyway? Three quarters of the funding feeds the US economy through industry and military expenditure. Not much ispumped into the Iraqi economy. And we think we've got a 'spin' probelm!
Martin, UK

It should not just be down to the coalition to donate money Bradley Thomas, UK

Although the money which is being spent on reconstruction is important, it is also disgraceful that in such a connected world other countries are not donating money too. It should not just be down to the coalition to donate money, others in the international community should be doing so too.
Bradley Thomas, UK

May I suggest to all of those who do not feel enough money is going to Iraq that they make their own personal donation? If you don't trust the US or the UN fund, maybe someone everyone trusts, like the BBC, could set up a donation line? Or would you rather just carp on the Internet instead of doing something useful?
Dave Mate, US

The funding to rebuild of Iraq will never be enough. It is just the beginning.
Francis, US

Three quarters of the money on military and the remainder being handed straight back to US contractors? There's no charity here. Perhaps if reparations to the overly rich Kuwait and Saudi Arabia were halted Iraq would be able to pay its own way better and choose from global firms. As it stands the promotion of this as something charitable is manipulative of the hard working American population.
Matt, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (ex UK)

As Britain's tax payers are going to contribute £400 million to the rebuilding of Iraq and the Scottish Parliament costs the same does that mean Britain's contribution is a new parliament for Iraq?
David, UK

Is the US burning enough money you mean? I find it ironic that people have the gall to suggest that Iraq should finance reconstruction. As they say in America, "You broke it, you bought it". So the US should quite rightly have to foot the bill for reconstruction. Perhaps this is something they should have thought of before waging their illegal war.
Zak,UK

No one makes the distinction between the current Bush administration and the American people Jane, USA

I am saddened by the contempt for the "US." No one makes the distinction between the current Bush administration and the American people. Sadly, US citizens do not make foreign policy, nor can they really influence Congress to vote a certain way. I wish that the Bush administration would turn over Iraq reconstruction to the UN, because I think then there would be ample amounts of money and the job done would be much better. Do I really think it will happen? Not really.
Jane, USA

Unbelievable! The US gives $20 billion to reconstruct Iraq and all the world can talk about is how much we're allocating to military operations. Is it any wonder we don't listen to much of the world?
Jeff, USA

It is time that the left stopped whingeing about American policies and they started proposing positive actions of their own. If the left is unhappy with the size of the American grants (grants note, not loans) then they should be able to match the amount through charitable donation. If all the millions which polls claim to be against the War donated a mere £100 the funds would soon be doubled...I look forward to the day that the whingers dip into their pockets.
Mat Toy, UK

Perhaps it's time someone told the Americans that you don't buy goodwill by granting money, you buy goodwill by granting self-respect. Coming from a country that is as ancient as Iraq, I can tell you that we Asians are a proud race, a noble family that has fallen upon hard times. They will starve but they will not thank the oppressors.
Rashida, Bangalore, India

It is interesting to note that the sum available for military operations in Afghanistan is much less than for military operations in Iraq. Bush is claiming that the US will not 'run away' and leave the Iraqi people. Why not? He obviously didn't have a problem leaving the people of Afghanistan to fend for themselves.
Steve, UK

$87.5bn is both not enough and too much. Not enough because the job can't be done without the support of the Iraqi people and that can never be. Not enough because spilled milk can't be put back into the glass. It's not enough because it's not being spent on reconstruction. It's too much because even the American's can't afford this kind of expense on top of their already outlandish military expenditures. It's too much because it will all come to naught, it's too much because Bush, not having been elected by a majority, never had the authority nor international approval to destroy Iraq in the first place.
E. Baragar, Canada

Money will have very little to do with reconstructing Iraq. Iraq has the natural resources to fund its own infrastructure. It may need some help in getting the oil field and pipelines up. To rebuild Iraq, it will be up to the Iraqi's to build an effective government. Money will have very little to do with that.
Mike Daly, USA

With three quarters of the money allocated for military expenditure, the US military-industrial complex will be well reconstructed. The remaining quarter will finance overpriced contracts for Bush's administration cronies. US big business is intended to be the chief beneficiary of this money and is likely to be the only winners in this sorry mess. Unfortunately, the Bush administration is still in denial about the nature of the resistance - the so-called dead-enders and die-hards are in fact Iraqi patriots from a multiplicity of backgrounds with an axe to grind against America.
Hamish Mackenzie, Scotland

The vast majority of this money will not reach the Iraqi people B, Kosovo

As someone from Kosovo, I can honestly tell you that the vast majority of this money will not reach the Iraqi people at all. Most of the funding is for high salaries of foreign contractors, renting palaces for foreign workers, and generally funding for a good life for foreigners who work there. If 5% of that money reaches Iraqis, it will be a success, but I doubt it. If you disagree with me, I invite you to ask ordinary Iraqis in two years time, how their lives have changed.
B, Kosovo

No one can deny the American position and importance to maintain order in the world. However, although money is welcome in any situation, what is happening in Iraq right now cannot be solved so easily. Indeed it reflects the will of the Iraqi people to govern themselves. Therefore, money isn't perhaps the most suitable solution to the Iraqi chaotic situation. There are internal uprisings that can only be tackled by its own people.
Raimundo L. Santos, Brazil

How is spending three-quarters of the money on military operations going to help the Iraqi people? It is, however, sending out a clear message - that the coalition is there purely for military and strategic reasons. If there are any benefits for the Iraqi people, they will just be happy coincidence.
Adele,UK

All monies allocated by the USA, UK and other nations should be provided on a loan basis only Mark, UK

All monies allocated by the USA, UK and other nations should be provided on a loan basis only. Iraq has huge oil reserves and these should ultimately pay for the reconstruction and modernisation of the country not our hard earned tax.
Mark,UK

Three times more money will be spent for guns and soldiers than for reconstruction - even Saddam's budgets weren't this bad! If America were truly concerned about helping the Iraqi people rather than beefing up the occupation to secure Iraqi oil, the percentages would be reversed.
Rich,USA

The US should pay reparations to Iraq for the damage it has caused. It should end the occupation and stop selling off Iraqi assets to the carpetbaggers pouring in. America may not yet be in a Vietnam situation but it is in the same position as Russia was in Afghanistan. Nationalist resistance is growing - the occupation authorities are only kidding themselves with talk of Saddamists and Islamists. In my view, the resistance is ordinary Iraqis fed up with the occupation - colonial rule has no place in 2003
Neil Rogall, UK

There will never be enough. This is, partly, due to the fact that destruction is ongoing. The US should foot the total bill for reconstruction. The Iraqis should have to pay nothing. After all, it was not the Iraqis who chose to destroy their infrastructure, was it?
Paulo, London UK

What makes me sad is that repairing the marshlands is not seen as a priority. Once again the environment is not a US concern.
Mike, Hong Kong