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Bush Praises International Pledges for Iraq's Reconstruction
Michael Bowman
Washington
25 Oct 2003, 14:35 UTC


President Bush says the international community is rallying behind efforts to rebuild Iraq, noting that international donors pledged $33 billion in aid and loans at a Madrid conference this week.

In his weekly radio address, President Bush highlighted the billions of dollars pledged for Iraq.

"Representatives of more than 70 nations and international bodies gathered to discuss the future needs of Iraq and the ways in which other countries can help," he said. "And these nations and international organizations pledged billions of dollars to aid the reconstruction of Iraq."

President Bush said progress is already being made in Iraq, with the rebuilding of schools and power plants. He says the Iraqi people are moving toward a free and democratic society.

Democrats - and even some within President Bush's Republican Party - have said the United States is shouldering too much of the financial and military burden in Iraq, following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.
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U.S. wins $13 billion in Iraq aid


By William Neikirk
Chicago Tribune

MADRID, Spain -- Donor nations and international organizations pledged a greater-than-expected $13 billion in new cash and loans Friday to help pay for Iraq's reconstruction, but the figure was still short of what the World Bank says is needed over the next four years.
The money comes on top of the $20 billion already pledged by the United States, and little of it is in cash.
**********************************************************************************Nations Pledge Billions For Iraq
Reconstruction Aid Falls Far Short Of Projected Need

By Keith B. Richburg and Glenn Kessler
Washington Post Foreign Service
Saturday, October 25, 2003; Page A01

MADRID, Oct. 24 -- International donors Friday promised at least $9 billion in future loans and as much as $4 billion in grants to help with Iraq's postwar reconstruction over the next five years, following a two-day conference marked by continuing differences over the war and how money would be spent.


With the Bush administration pledging $20 billion, the total from the meeting came to about $33 billion -- well short of the $56 billion that the World Bank and the United Nations have said Iraq would need over the next five years Tweet