Ode to Natsios
Ode to Natsios
Andrew Natsios, chief of the U.S. Agency for International Development, has resigned.
Let’s take a moment to reflect on one of Natsios’s most famous miscalculations:
TED KOPPEL: I mean, when you talk about 1.7, you’re not suggesting that the rebuilding of Iraq is gonna be done for $1.7 billion?
NATSIOS: Well, in terms of the American taxpayers contribution, I do, this is it for the US.
…
KOPPEL: You’re saying the, the top cost for the US taxpayer will be $1.7 billion. No more than that?NATSIOS: For the reconstruction. And then there’s 700 million in the supplemental budget for humanitarian relief, which we don’t competitively bid ’cause it’s charities that get that money.
KOPPEL: I understand. But as far as reconstruction goes, the American taxpayer will not be hit for more than $1.7 billion no matter how long the process takes?
NATSIOS: That is our plan and that is our intention. And these figures, outlandish figures I’ve seen, I have to say, there’s a little bit of hoopla involved in this. [ABC, Nightline, 4/23/03]
See video of the exchange here.
A few months after the war began, Congress apporpriated $18.4 billion for the reconstruction of Iraq. Approximately $10.5 billion has already been obligated. The United Nations and World Bank have estimated $55 billion would be needed in rebuilding costs through 2007. And the CBO has estimated the reconstruction of Iraq could range anywhere from $50 to $100 billion.
President Bush, give that man a medal.
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Money, money, money, money… money. This is all that America cares about. Life is worthless and so are human rights. BushCo = Liars
December 2nd, 2005 at 11:20 am“You’re doing a heckuva job, Natty!”
December 2nd, 2005 at 11:21 am“And the CBO has estimated the reconstruction of Iraq could range anywhere from $50 to $100 billion.”
Don’t worry about it. We can steal enough oil from Iraq to get it all back in about a hundred years. It’s all about the oil right Left Wing Losers? Dumbasses.
December 2nd, 2005 at 11:26 amYer doin’ a heckuva job Natsi!
December 2nd, 2005 at 11:30 amFaiz,
December 2nd, 2005 at 11:32 amThat link does not mention Natisos anywhere..am I missing ssomething
Hey look IRI drops in with a distration post,
December 2nd, 2005 at 11:32 amwhat a surprize.
I guess you are okay with incompetence?
Or is it lying you are okay with?
Both you say?
Must be a republican.
well I-R-I, Iraqi oil WAS supposed to pay for the reconstruction…
December 2nd, 2005 at 11:36 amuht oh…what happened?
Faiz, nevermind, I misread your last statement, I’m just going to get back to work now
December 2nd, 2005 at 11:37 amNo problem Chris. Thanks for reading.
December 2nd, 2005 at 11:40 amIRI doesn’t address the FACT that a senior administration official went on nat’l TV and said, repeatedly, that we would only be on the hook for $1.7B.
December 2nd, 2005 at 11:40 amNor does IRI address the second FACT that we are in FACT in the hole Hundreds of Billions of taxpayer dollars. The left deals in FACTS, the right just lets the BS spill out of their lying mouths.
In the Bushco world, that 50-100 billion will get you 10-20 billion worth of reconstruction, if you are lucky. Less bang for the buck.
December 2nd, 2005 at 11:43 amIRI,
So you admit the US needs to recoup the money?
December 2nd, 2005 at 11:52 amlet’s be a little fair here, the costs and aprox you sight, “A few months after the war began, Congress apporpriated $18.4 billion for the reconstruction of Iraq. Approximately $10.5 billion has already been obligated. The United Nations and World Bank have estimated $55 billion would be needed in rebuilding costs through 2007. And the CBO has estimated the reconstruction of Iraq could range anywhere from $50 to $100 billion.” do not all refer specifically to the cost to the American Taxpayers, as Natsios was careful to qualify.
December 2nd, 2005 at 11:57 am“the American taxpayer will not be hit for more than $1.7 billion no matter how long the process takes”
That is the best quote right there.
So, doing the math, we have spent 117 times the amount that the American people were sold on, and counting.
December 2nd, 2005 at 12:03 pmDon’t froget that the United States of America has borrowed shit loads of money from Communist China to fund the war to create an Islamic Theocracy.
December 2nd, 2005 at 12:06 pmI think we may be unfairly assessing Natsy’s comments:
TED KOPPEL: I mean, when you talk about 1.7, you’re not suggesting that the rebuilding of Iraq is gonna be done for $1.7 billion?
NATSIOS: Well, in terms of the American taxpayers contribution, I do [not suggest that], this is it for the US. [Only an imbecile would do that]
December 2nd, 2005 at 12:07 pmIn defense of Natsios, he was told that Iraq would be a ‘rose-petal’ invasion, mission accomplished in several weeks, and was not told by the people who should have known better that two-and-a-half years later we would still be dropping 5000-pound bombs on the people we ‘liberated,’ and that oil exports would be less than pre-war, thus driving up the rebuild cost to the US taxpayer.
December 2nd, 2005 at 12:24 pmWe can steal enough oil from Iraq to get it all back in about a hundred years.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — December 2, 2005 @ 11:26 am
I guess they don’t teach finance classes in the Klan, do they? I suppose you’ll stay at hom in your trailer, biting your pillow, while real mean join the military to get that oil for you, right?
December 2nd, 2005 at 12:24 pmThat’s five-HUNDRED pound bombs. Bad enough.
December 2nd, 2005 at 12:25 pmFor more on the pathetic legacy of Natsios, see:
“Doing Well by Doing Good: The American Opportunity in Global Tragedy.”
December 2nd, 2005 at 12:25 pmIn defense of Natsios, he was told that Iraq would be a ‘rose-petal’ invasion, mission accomplished in several weeks, and was not told by the people who should have known better that two-and-a-half years later we would still be dropping 5000-pound bombs on the people we ‘liberated,’ and that oil exports would be less than pre-war, thus driving up the rebuild cost to the US taxpayer.
Don
What bullshit. After Gulf I and a decade of sanctions (including perpetual bombing) the infrastructure of Iraq was already in tatters. Read this:
http://www.harpers.org/CoolWar.html
No wonder 80% of these folks want us gone.
December 2nd, 2005 at 12:29 pmSounds to me we need another round of tax cuts for the uber-rich.
December 2nd, 2005 at 12:32 pm#16
No we are not. We will not be apologists for these assholes.
Look, I am a PR person. I would never get in front of a camera without knowing exactly what is supposed to be said. Same thing goes for the executives at the company I work for. None of them would get in front of a camera blindly.
Andrew Natsios said exactly what he was supposed to say. After we found out that the Iraqis would not be throwing flowers at us and calling us liberators, the story changed and we are now $200 billion dollars into this thing.
Andrew Natsios said that the war would cost the tax payers $1.7 billion and Donald Rumsfeld said that the war would last six days, six weeks, but not six years.
That is the war the American people were sold.
$200 Billion and 2 3/4 years later, with no end in sight and you want us to judge these people less harshly.
You got the wrong people.
December 2nd, 2005 at 12:35 pmCost of war? Here’s the all the cheap talk money can buy:
http://www.house.gov/schakowsky/iraqquotes_web.htm
December 2nd, 2005 at 12:40 pmSpudge_Boy:
1) lighten up
December 2nd, 2005 at 12:41 pm2) take deep breath
3) exhale
4) reread #16
5) then this: http://www.theonion.com/content/files/images/Infographic-Canceled-Iraq-C.article.jpg
#25
“World’s biggest chair” CANCELLED?
Now I know we gotta take Bush out.
Sorry aidos. I just really hate these guys. They misled America and should be held accountable. I don’t even care if they get jail time or fines. I just want them out of Washington, so we can get to the business of fixing what they have screwed up.
December 2nd, 2005 at 12:51 pmI remember how loudly China complained about our actions in the Balkans. Not only are they not complaining about our invasion of Iraq, they are helping to finance it. Their #1 concern is American hegemony and growing American influence. What should that tell you?
December 2nd, 2005 at 12:58 pmFaiz, a new project for you. Research all of the estimates made by the last 5 administrations in terms of projected spending vs. actual outlay (you pick the category). This would provide some context for the claim that this administration is incompetent. I think what you’ll find is that bureacratic incompetence at the federal govt. level is not unique to this administration.
December 2nd, 2005 at 12:58 pm#27 — They like us! They really like us! (apologies to Sally Fields)
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:00 pmAl Franken just announced that Karl Rove has been indicted.
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:02 pm#30 — well it must be true if Franken announced it
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:03 pm(All I Want For Christmas) A S… Xmas Balls
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:13 pmWell Hippie…Those drugs must have done wonders for your brain cells…But for the millions that you probably killed, you may want to read and learn…
How the hell are we gonna pay it back “if” China wants their money back?
We have a record trade deficit, and it’s not like Bush is going to go to China and TELL them to balance the trade deficit or else? Give me a break…
I bet you think you can go to your ATM and tell it to give you an extra $1000 too, when you are already overdrawn!
I suggest you go back to class and learn that arithmetic (not ‘rithmetic like Gee Dubbya). Because the RATIONAL and EDUCATED know that you cannot negotiate from a position of weakness, and CHINA clearly has the bank book and they know the U.S. loan payment is almost due!
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:13 pmIRI= INSERTIUM
I-nse-R-t-I-um
I-R-I
Dumbasses, talking to BOTZ, HAVENT YOU LEARNED A Fecking THIng?
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:15 pmjavascript:playVideos(8611532);
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:15 pmhttp://music.yahoo.com/launchcast/
You’re right Iraqvet. The math is not good on this. Clinton should have charged them a lot more for selling them nuclear scerets.
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:16 pmcan’t…answer…critique…must…pull…tired…clinton…argument…out …of…my…behind…
Do we have a new Limbannity parrot in the house?
Does the cute wittle cynicon implant want a cracker?
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:21 pm#23 – RIGHT ON!!!
BushCo knew exactly what they were doing and what they wanted to say. They said it and then did it.
Which is why I feel strongly that there is a war crimes case to be made against them. This “madness of King George” reaches from the very depths of the Bush Administration to it’s very tippy top.
Impeach Bush NOW! And send them all to the Hague to stand trial.
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:23 pm#28
“This would provide some context for the claim that this administration is incompetent. I think what you’ll find is that bureacratic incompetence at the federal govt. level is not unique to this administration.”
You are correct, but the Bush administartion is the one in power at the minute.
What would it accomplish to prove Clinton, Bush I or Regean’s administartions were incompetent?
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:25 pmcynicon, i-wrong-i
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:28 pmI am very disappointed in the two of you. Here we are paying you government funds to infilterate the blogs and as I calculate it took you at a minimum of 6 minutes to post here. This is totally unsatisfactory. From now on you must be prepared to spew forth the talking points within 2 minutes or you will go the way of that Armstrong fella and the idiot chick at the Times.
#37 — no thanks, just finished lunch.
MLDB, references to Clinton era (and even earlier) are completely relevant on things like fighting terrorism and our relationship with the Chinese. These are long term issues that did not start when Bush took office.
I only bring Clinton up to point that out AND reinforce the fact that all administrations make mistakes.
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:28 pmAdios, #21,
Thank you for the link on the effects of the sanctions on Iraq. I was brain-washed by Ryan — he said everything was cool under Clinton!!
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:28 pmSeriously, I too deplore the human misery that was thrust on the Iraqis by our government. There was undoubtedly damage to the Iraqi infrastructure as a result of our sanctions and bombing. In perusing that long article (I didn’t read every word) it seems like it was principally the power plants.
I think my main point is still valid. We have done, and are doing, much more to destroy Iraq in the last couple of years (think Fallujah) than anyone was willing to forecast publically, as the result of our mindless crusade for empire and profit. And the destruction will intensify as we move from boots on the ground to bombs on buildings.
“You’re right Iraqvet. The math is not good on this. Clinton should have charged them a lot more for selling them nuclear scerets.”
Comment by cynicon implant — December 2, 2005 @ 1:16 pm
And all those weapons sold at bargain-basement prices to terorist-supporting Iran? Disgraceful, even for a republican.
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:28 pm“I only bring Clinton up to point that out AND reinforce the fact that all administrations make mistakes.”
Comment by cynicon implant — December 2, 2005 @ 1:28 pm
And your take on Reagan’s selling weapons to terrorists?
Correct me if I’m wrong, but Clinton never sold WEAPONS to terrorists did he?
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:31 pm#39 — and it is is perfectly fair to criticize the Bush administration. I just get the sense sometimes that the folks here think Bush invented incomptetence in government. Or was that Gore? No that was the internet.
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:31 pm#44 — you are making my point. All administrations screw up. That’s why limited government is best. Limit the scre ups.
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:33 pm#45
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:36 pmdude, you are just one winger talking point after another…bush didn’t invent it…he just perfected it.
Adios,more:
as Tom Engelhardt has written:
“. . .the loosing of air power on Iraq’s cities is the great missing story of the postwar war. Is there no reporter out there willing to cover it? Is the repeated bombing, strafing, and missiling of heavily populated civilian urban centers and the partial or total destruction of cities such a humdrum event, after the last century of destruction and threatened destruction, that no one thinks it worth the bother to attend to?”
http://www.tomdispatch.com/index.mhtml?pid=2047
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:37 pm“All administrations screw up. That’s why limited government is best. Limit the scre ups.”
That is why we have a problem with Bush. He is supposedly a conservative. Conservatives are for smaller government. Bush is responsible for the largest government in history. Therefore, Bush is not a consevative. He is a NeoCon.
He is not a born again Christian either. A born again Christian wouldn’t dream of flipping off the press.
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:38 pm“#44 — you are making my point. All administrations screw up. That’s why limited government is best. Limit the scre ups.”
Comment by cynicon implant — December 2, 2005 @ 1:33 pm
You’re delusional if you think I’ve made your point for you; read my previous post. It’s all about fixing republican screw-ups, not “everybody does it”.
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:39 pm#49 — I have a problem with Bush too. He is not fiscally conservative at all.
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:40 pm#47 — I wish I knew where to get ‘winger’ talking points. My posts would probably be better…
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:41 pm#51
That is why I don’t have that big of a problem with you. You are willing to admit that Bush screws up, just as I am willing to admit that Clinton wasn’t made of gold.
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:42 pm#49
“He is not a born again Christian either. A born again Christian wouldn’t dream of flipping off the press.”
Although I agree, that is far from biggest example of how unChristian his actions are.
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:42 pm#50 — but they all do it Dano. Don’t make go back over all the Dem screw ups.
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:42 pmYou want to compare screw-ups? My list has been growing for decades – but feel free to begin.
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:44 pm#46 – Yes, sir, I believe that you will get little if any argument that ALL administration screw up.
However, the magnitude and ramifications of the “screw up” are the issue. To the best of my knowledge, Gerald Ford never tripped and fell upon our troups killing 2,100+ and wounding 20,000+. Nor did Bill Clinton’s finger waggling lie increase both deficits (trade and budget) to record levels never even contemplated as being possible.
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:45 pmThis current batch of screw-ups can ALL be laid at the feet of St. Ronald.
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:48 pm#52
It must be by magic because you keep coming up with them…the latest is this diversionary tactic of using the “they all do it” argument. We’re talking about THIS screw up currently in the White House who has taken it to epic proportions.
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:48 pmSpudge,
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:51 pmDid you see his face during the Rosa Parks ceremony yesterday? I’d say he is back on the wagon (hiccup)
What I would offer up for discussion is this – Are we really talking about just a “screw up”? Case in point is that in bush’s recent speech, he claims that the newly released “Victory Plan” is the plan that they have been operating on all along and that things are going according to plan.
Think on that for a moment.
So, this whole mess, according to bush, was pretty much what they anticipated. That then changes the issues dramatically doesn’t it?
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:54 pmOld Nastios is just another NeoCon incompetent – good riddance you lying creep!
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:56 pmWelcome Ryan
December 2nd, 2005 at 1:57 pmhttp://www.thenation.com/doc/20050502/klein
December 2nd, 2005 at 2:00 pm#60
No I didn’t. Is there a link to a video anywhere?
#61
“So, this whole mess, according to bush, was pretty much what they anticipated. That then changes the issues dramatically doesn’t it?”
Yep, everything is going as planned. Sigh.
December 2nd, 2005 at 2:00 pmThis guy must have been a horse riding buddy of Mike Brown.
December 2nd, 2005 at 2:01 pmIraqVet, the worst part about selling all that debt to the PRC is that the PRC knows who they are going to fight the next “big war” against. The USA. This is just “prepositioning”. The West gleefully sends all of its basic manufacturing capacity to China, then in the next war they just stop shipping all the various and sundary parts we need to keep our military and economy running. Can you imagine DUHbuhya begging Hu Jin Tao for crappy little spare parts to keep the US military running. Nope, exactly how they plan to win the war. Just like we did with Japan in WW2. Blockaid and starve em out.
December 2nd, 2005 at 2:08 pm“This guy must have been a horse riding buddy of Mike Brown.”
Comment by David B — December 2, 2005 @ 2:01 pm
He should apply to Brown’s new company for a job – He’s got just the kind of experience Brown’s looking for.
December 2nd, 2005 at 2:08 pmI’m trying to find, all the pics from the day have no spots on his face, no rosy red cheeks, just a pirfectly doctored image of someone not failing in health caused by long aggressive bouts of drinking turpintine…
I cannot find the video I saw this morning, and the WH just has a doctored photo essay, but he was not looking all that healthy…I will continue to search
here is a picture from the same event
December 2nd, 2005 at 2:16 pmhttp://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/051201/ids_photos_ts/r2834088916.jpg
#3 So much for that commandment about “Thou shalt not steal”, right? I remember reading somewhere that conservatives want the Ten Commandments posted everywhere because they have such a hard time remembering them…
December 2nd, 2005 at 2:22 pmImpeach Bushie and Cheney for hiring morons to run this country.
December 2nd, 2005 at 2:22 pmI cannot find any of the footage I saw this morning on the news (how bush looked) as well as another story I heard about illegals working at a construction site on NM Millitary Base
December 2nd, 2005 at 2:28 pm#45 Al Gore never said he invented the Internet. That was a lie ginned up by the right-wing smear machine and the corporate media:
December 2nd, 2005 at 2:29 pmhttp://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.asp
http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh120302.shtml
Natsios is used car salesman and white house chief-of-staff Andy Card’s brother in law. My guess is that Card will depart the administration next. The rats are leaving the sinking ship.
December 2nd, 2005 at 2:55 pmThis guy must have been a horse riding buddy of Mike Brown.
David B
Want a good laugh? Check out the ‘World Aids Day’ video here:
http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_daily_show/index.jhtml
…and wait for the joke about 3 minutes in…hilarious.
December 2nd, 2005 at 3:16 pmOops…make that 4 minutes!
December 2nd, 2005 at 3:23 pmBut folks, please recall, that the original 10.5 billion that was sent to the coalition provisional authority just up and disappeared.
They still have no idea where it went, what it was spent on, and how many duffle bags of cash went to such people as Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, etc.
Now, and speaking from experience, I know how good the CIA is at making money “disappear”. They did it in Vietname and Central America. The CIA takes the first two duffle bags and the others steal what they can get their hands on.
December 2nd, 2005 at 5:52 pmSome perspective here:
1. USAID is about a lot more than Iraq. While USAID is knee deep in it there (which, in comparative terms, ain’t bad), it has actually been something of a relative bright light for this administration. (Key word, admittedly: RELATIVE)
2. Since its not my intention to be damning with faint praise, I do think its unfair to cast Natsios as a Brown-like hack. He came from a development background. He added to the debate over development in a serious way.
3. Look – he’d been there for five years. It is far from the norm to stay more than presidential term. Don’t read too much into his leaving.
December 2nd, 2005 at 9:54 pmNow, and speaking from experience, I know how good the CIA is at making money “disappearâ€. They did it in Vietname and Central America. The CIA takes the first two duffle bags and the others steal what they can get their hands on.
Comment by Pablo in Mexico
Mierda de Bull
December 3rd, 2005 at 12:34 pm#78. You’re right, Natsios came from a development background – the Massachussetts Turnpike Authority and head of the “Big Dig.” Anyone else see a correlation?
December 3rd, 2005 at 2:23 pmAttention Ladies & Gentlemen:
By way of Mr. Natsios’s interview with Ted Koppel, he is either (a) an incompetent fool or (b) a liar. Take your pick. Someone in his line of business had to have known it would cost more then that.
If you need a better explanation, watch this video I put together:
http://www.revver.com/video/5120/
December 3rd, 2005 at 8:32 pmwhat natsios meant to say was it was only going to cost 1.7 billion in bribes
December 5th, 2005 at 2:11 pm[...] Having left the administration, Natsios now blasts the Iraq contracting process that he helped oversee: “The contractors they chose weren’t the best people. I heard lots of stories. The staff would come in and say a group of retired officers has set up a business and they got this contract, and they didn’t have any qualifications for it.” And Natsios said nothing until now. 4:26 pm | Comment (0) [...]
March 23rd, 2006 at 4:26 pmI served in Army Civil Affairs with then-Lieutenant Colonel Natsios. You can take issue with his politics — and the areconservative and Republican, but you can’t take issue with his expertise in managing complex humanitarian emergencies. The man is a real expert.
I’m convinced that his $1.7 billion estimate was driven by 2 factors: First, the low-ball talking points of the administration and second, his own experience and beliefs. Natsios always told us that there was a community of reconstruction experts out there — the NGOs — and that smart government officials and smart Army Civil Affairs officers would simply get out of their way. That was the model the Army had followed in Northern Iraq, in Somalia (before the mission was changed), in sub-Saharan Africa, in the Balkans, etc. An expectation that that model would have been followed in Iraq was reasonable, particularly given the early BushCo statements that the U.S. would not “do” nation-building — who would, then? The NGOs who do it best.
Natsios takes humanitarian relief and reconstruction very seriously. He was no crony hire — he’s one of the most experienced folks out there in that field (see his book on the North Korean famine). Most importantly, he takes seriously the belief that you don’t use humanitarian aid and reconstruction funding as a “carrot” in carrot-and-stick diplomacy — you just do them.
I despise the Bushies just as a matter of principle. But I’ll make an exception for Natsios because he’s not a Bushie and he is a pro — I learned an awful lot from him and am proud to be able to say I was led by him.
March 24th, 2006 at 1:41 pmI was reading an old article from the Washington Post and found this:
quote:
Before joining the Bush administration, Natsios was chairman and chief executive officer of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, where he managed the Central Artery/Tunnel Project, or “Big Dig.” He also served 12 years in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Unquote:
Need I say any more!
September 19th, 2006 at 10:50 pm[...] It gets better: As director of U.S. Agency for Intenational Development Natsios promised that the U.S. contribution to reconstruction of Iraq would be no more that $1.6 billion. Congress has already appropriated nearly $20 billion for reconstruction in Iraq. The CBO estimates the total cost of reconstruction will be between $50 and $100 billion. [...]
September 20th, 2006 at 11:36 am[...] Role In Going To War: Shortly after the invasion of Iraq, Andrew Natsios, then the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, went on Nightline and claimed that the U.S. contribution to the rebuilding of Iraq would be just $1.7 billion. When it became quickly apparent that Natsios’ prediction would fall woefully short of reality, the government came under fire for scrubbing his comments from the USAID Web site. [Washington Post, 12/18/03; ABC News, 4/23/03] [...]
November 6th, 2006 at 6:19 am[...] then… the shine somehow came off. That $1 billion suddenly became $1 trillion. There were no WMDs. There was no connection between al-Qaeda and [...]
February 21st, 2007 at 12:09 pm[...] Role In Going To War: Shortly after the invasion of Iraq, Andrew Natsios, then the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, went on Nightline and claimed that the U.S. contribution to the rebuilding of Iraq would be just $1.7 billion. When it became quickly apparent that Natsios’ prediction would fall woefully short of reality, the government came under fire for scrubbing his comments from the USAID Web site. [Washington Post, 12/18/03; ABC News, 4/23/03] [...]
March 22nd, 2007 at 12:33 am