# whos going to pay for the reconstruction of Iraq? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 3, 2003, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-going-to-pay-for-the-reconstruction-of-iraq/166170 "2003-04-03T11:45:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-going-to-pay-for-the-reconstruction-of-iraq/166170/1 "2003-04-03T11:45:25Z")
There is going to be one hell of a clean up job after this settles down. Now USA seems to have earmarked lots of cash for the reconstruction, but like the last war, is it going to charge Iraq for the cost of the war? Iraq is still paying off the billions of dollars it got fined for the last war as I remember. The UN says it will restart the oil for food programme - e.g. you can have some aid but you are paying for it. My suspicion is that Iraq will be charged billions (hundreds of billions) for its reconstruction, humanitarian aid, and the cost of all those cruise missiles we lobbed. Can anyone enlighten me? ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-going-to-pay-for-the-reconstruction-of-iraq/166170/2 "2003-04-03T12:04:02Z")
Here’s an[article](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1602512.stm) from the BBC about this. Not too factual re: actual amounts and such, but it concludes: > [@](#): > > Likely as not, the bulk of it will be paid by the British and American taxpayers. ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-going-to-pay-for-the-reconstruction-of-iraq/166170/3 "2003-04-03T12:21:11Z")
Actually, that’s cites from a while ago, about the Afghan war. Doh! Please ignore me. ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-going-to-pay-for-the-reconstruction-of-iraq/166170/4 "2003-04-03T12:26:38Z")
Sorry for single-handedly wrecking your thread with multiple and pointless posts. Hope this one is a little better… Here is a more receent [article](http://www.observer.co.uk/iraq/story/0,12239,919904,00.html) about the potential costs. No real conclusions though. ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-going-to-pay-for-the-reconstruction-of-iraq/166170/5 "2003-04-03T14:22:51Z")
thanks Aro - good link. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-going-to-pay-for-the-reconstruction-of-iraq/166170/6 "2003-04-03T14:34:33Z")
[U.S., Allies Clash Over Plan to Use Iraqi Oil Profits for Rebuilding](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15368-2003Apr2.html) > [@](#): > > If the war succeeds, the United States may claim a legal right as an occupying power to sell the oil for the benefit of Iraq, people close to the situation said. > U.N. and British officials said the United States lacks the legal authority to begin exporting oil even on an interim basis without a new Security Council mandate…