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Ferre
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 Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 2:42 am Post subject: Rumsfeld, Rice grilled over cost of Iraq war |
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Rumsfeld, Rice grilled over cost of Iraq war
Reporter: Stephen McDonell
MAXINE McKEW: The huge cost of maintaining a military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan is becoming apparent, with the Bush Administration asking Congress to approve an extra $65 billion in emergency funding. Facing a Senate Appropriations Committee, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice faced tough questions about the already massive spending in Iraq, about the possibility of civil war and when they can expect a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops. This comes as the state-owned Arab company Dubai Ports World has transferred ownership of major US ports to an American company. The move ends a revolt by Republican congressmen who threatened to block the extra war funding if the deal went ahead. But, as Stephen McDonell reports, it's a setback for President Bush, who'd strongly backed the Arab company to run the ports.
STEPHEN McDONELL: President Bush's most senior cabinet members, along with two generals, went to Congress asking for a lot of money to fight a war that's going badly. And the senators from the Appropriations Committee had a lot of questions they wanted answered.
ROBERT BYRD, US DEMOCRAT SENATOR: Assuming this supplemental request is approved, total funding for the war in Iraq alone will reach an astounding $320 billion. Secretary Rumsfeld, what is the plan if Iraq descends into civil war? Would our troops hunker down and wait out the violence? If not, whose side would our troops be ordered to take in a civil war?
DONALD RUMSFELD, US SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Fortunately, the Iraqi government leaders and leaders in the country of a non-governmental nature have almost, to a person, stepped forward and urged calm, and argued against retaliation thus far. And that has been a calming effect.
STEPHEN McDONELL: Hostility also came from the public gallery.
PROTESTER: How many of you have children in this illegal and immoral war? How many of you have children in this illegal and immoral war? The blood is on your hands and you cannot wash it away! The blood is on your hands and you cannot wash it away!
STEPHEN McDONELL: In Iraq, a surge of violence continues to sweep through most provinces, especially the capital. In the last 24 hours, gunmen attacked a police convoy, injuring four police and setting one of their cars on fire. As the injured were taken for treatment, a bomb went off outside the hospital, killing two civilians and wounding nine. Another blast struck an Iraqi army patrol. Nine people - all civilians walking past - were killed. Meanwhile, the Bush Administration is facing political pressure on another front. Two weeks ago, President Bush strongly defended an Arab company, Dubai Ports World, taking over six major US ports.
GEORGE W. BUSH, US PRESIDENT: I think it sends a terrible signal to friends around the world that it's okay for a company from one country to manage the port, but not a country that plays by the rules and has got a good track record from another part of the world, can't manage the port.
STEPHEN McDONELL: Democrat and Republican congressmen claimed this posed a security threat and said they'd block extra military funding if an Arab company was allowed into US ports. The pressure worked - Dubai Ports World has now pulled out.
GENERAL JOHN ABIZAID, HEAD OF US CENTRAL COMMAND: I'm very dismayed by the emotional responses that some people have put on the table here in the United States. That really comes down to Arab and Muslim bashing that was totally unnecessary.
STEPHEN McDONELL: It's seen a loss for a president whose popularity is already on the slide. Stephen McDonell, Lateline.
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2006/s1589195.htm
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