I have written several past commentaries, the latest dated April 8, 2008 (yes, way back then) titled The Iraq-Iran Alliance and pointed out no matter how and when the Iraq war ends, Iraq and Iran will be close allies and the fruits of the billions of dollars the U.S. spent to rebuild Iraq will be enjoyed by Iraq and Iran. Now comes a story out of the Associated Press dated 10/22/2010 that reports the following.
American influence has so dwindled in Iraq over the last several months that Iraqi lawmakers and political leaders say they no longer follow Washington's advice for forming a government. Instead, Iraqis are turning to neighboring nations, and especially Iran, for guidance, casting doubt on the future of the American role in this strategic country after a grinding war that killed more than 4,400 U.S. soldiers.
The March parliamentary elections in Iraq failed to produce a winner and Iraq has failed to heed the U.S. advise to form a government. Iraqi politicians say they will pick new leaders on their own timetable. Keep in mind the Sunni backed political coalition won the most votes in the March election and Al-Sadr, whose hardline Shiite followers are close to Iran has been talking to Iraq's al-MAliki to form a new government.
The Bush administration outsmarted itself when it started a war and occupation in Iraq over WMD that did not exits and tried to remake Iraq in the warped image Bush created. The American loss of lives, the wounded, the financial cost to the U.S. and its people are a tragedy that will occupy our thoughts for a very long time. The U.S. and its people deserve better.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
President Obama's First Fiscal Year Budget
Once again the republican cries about federal spending under the Obama administration confirm their present and past lies to the American people about who the big spenders really are. Any one who follows this writers site knows of the republican lies. See Note 1 below for past comments.
President Obama's first fiscal year budget that ended Sept. 30, 2010 came in with a federal deficit of $1.29 trillion, smaller than expected and less than President Bush's record federal deficit of his last fiscal year budget ending Sept. 30, 2009 that came in at a record $1.42 trillion. The republican party's record of being the greatest deficit spender in history is still intact.
Federal spending in Obama's first fiscal budget year fell 1.6% from Bush's last fiscal year budget. Federal spending under the Obama administration was $3.46 trillion. Under the Bush administration it was $3.51 trillion. In other words federal spending continues to be a republican party staple that identifies their party for what it really stands for. The decrease in Obama's first fiscal year budget is even more impressive when one understands the terrible economic conditions Bush left behind.
When you compare Bush's first fiscal year budget that ended Sept. 30, 2002 to President Clinton's last federal budget year that ended Sept. 30, 2001, federal spending was up 8%. Federal spending under Bush that fiscal year was $2.01 trillion to Clinton's $1.86 trillion. And Bush inherited the greatest economy and job creation, lowest unemployment rate in over 30 years, record surpluses and a reduction of the national debt.
One of the main reasons this economic slow down is taking time to recover is due to the fact that during Bush's eight years in office a massive amount of wealth was transferred from the middle class to the wealthy. Also eight straight years of record federal deficits and a increase of over $6 trillion in the national debt. That combination was a betrayal of the United States and its people.
Note 1: The U.S. Economy: Which Party Performs Best, Parts I, II,III dated 1/27/08, 2/17/08, 2/25/08 and Recap and Conclusion dated 3/2/08
The Fiscal Legacy of President George W. Bush dated 10/30/09
Federal Spending: Facts vs. Myth dated 10/31/09
National Debt: Betrayal and Devastation dated 12/6/09
President Obama's first fiscal year budget that ended Sept. 30, 2010 came in with a federal deficit of $1.29 trillion, smaller than expected and less than President Bush's record federal deficit of his last fiscal year budget ending Sept. 30, 2009 that came in at a record $1.42 trillion. The republican party's record of being the greatest deficit spender in history is still intact.
Federal spending in Obama's first fiscal budget year fell 1.6% from Bush's last fiscal year budget. Federal spending under the Obama administration was $3.46 trillion. Under the Bush administration it was $3.51 trillion. In other words federal spending continues to be a republican party staple that identifies their party for what it really stands for. The decrease in Obama's first fiscal year budget is even more impressive when one understands the terrible economic conditions Bush left behind.
When you compare Bush's first fiscal year budget that ended Sept. 30, 2002 to President Clinton's last federal budget year that ended Sept. 30, 2001, federal spending was up 8%. Federal spending under Bush that fiscal year was $2.01 trillion to Clinton's $1.86 trillion. And Bush inherited the greatest economy and job creation, lowest unemployment rate in over 30 years, record surpluses and a reduction of the national debt.
One of the main reasons this economic slow down is taking time to recover is due to the fact that during Bush's eight years in office a massive amount of wealth was transferred from the middle class to the wealthy. Also eight straight years of record federal deficits and a increase of over $6 trillion in the national debt. That combination was a betrayal of the United States and its people.
Note 1: The U.S. Economy: Which Party Performs Best, Parts I, II,III dated 1/27/08, 2/17/08, 2/25/08 and Recap and Conclusion dated 3/2/08
The Fiscal Legacy of President George W. Bush dated 10/30/09
Federal Spending: Facts vs. Myth dated 10/31/09
National Debt: Betrayal and Devastation dated 12/6/09
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