I'm not sure why everyone seems to be all excited about the Senate voting for $10 billion of the $20 billion in money for Iraq to be in the form of a loan instead of a grant. Sure, people are basically right that it's a bad idea, but it's also one of those things that can and will be changed sometime in the middle of the night when no one is paying attention. Some Republicans needed some political cover, and some Democrats wanted to put a finger in Bush's eye anyway they could, and they agreed on this. It might actually succeed in pushing the Bush administration to put some diplomatic pressure on other countries to forgive some of their debts. Or not. But, the probability that Iraq will have to pay back a cent of that money is about zero.
Still, I am rather shocked at all the conserva-tarians who are falling all over themselves to hand out more aid money. Where were all these calls for generosity after Afghanistan? And, how much is too much? Will the price tag of this adventure ever get too high? We've already allocated more money (in real terms) than the entire Marshall plan.
