CANAL LOOKOUTU.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Dustin Thompson, left, sits in an irrigation canal with Cpl. Tim Barney, a forward observer, during a patrol, near Checkpoint North in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Sept. 23, 2009. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aaron Rooks
Can Iraq Pay For Its Own Security? Not Yet, U.S. Says -- Miami Herald/McClatchy News
BAGHDAD -- Iraq might be running a budget surplus but that doesn't mean it should spend it, U.S. officials said Tuesday, arguing that the Iraqi government's finances are too fragile for it to pay a greater share of its security costs.
The Obama administration's comments came in response to a new U.S. government study that found that Iraq had a surplus of $52.1 billion at the end of 2009, including $11.8 billion available to be spent.
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More News On Iraq Paying For It's Own Defense
US watchdogs say Iraq has own money for security -- AP
Iraq has budget surplus, can pay for more of its own defense, GAO report says -- L.A. Times
Iraq not spending on defense, report finds -- UPI
Iraq Posting Massive Surplus Thanks To U.S. Taxpayers -- Huffington Post
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More News On Iraq Paying For It's Own Defense
US watchdogs say Iraq has own money for security -- AP
Iraq has budget surplus, can pay for more of its own defense, GAO report says -- L.A. Times
Iraq not spending on defense, report finds -- UPI
Iraq Posting Massive Surplus Thanks To U.S. Taxpayers -- Huffington Post
U.S. officials defend Iraq against attack — from the GAO -- McClatchy News
GAO: Iraq should spend more of its own money on defense -- Washington Post
WNU Editor: The GAO report can be found here.