The Command Post - Iraq - 'Jump start' the economy

April 21, 2003

'Jump start' the economy

Business Week, Frederik Balfour in Kuwait City

Garner and his team are beginning with basics. One of the first priorities is getting the civil service back to work. The enticement will be one-time $20 payments -- equivalent to more than a month's salary for most government workers. That will be followed by regular salaries once ministries are reorganized, starting in several weeks. With as many as 2 million civil servants eligible for the payouts, some $40 million in initial payments could soon be pouring into the economy. The money will come from an estimated $1.7 billion in frozen Iraqi assets held in the U.S.

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Posted By Oskar van Rijswijk at April 21, 2003 04:19 AM | TrackBack

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As soon as the coalition start paying wages the "get out of Iraq now!" shrieking will die down. The Saudis will only hand over money for mosques and "learn how to live like they did in the 12th century" schools.

Posted by: Moho the Homo at April 21, 2003 05:18 AM

We just found, at a single site, almost a half-billion in US currency. And a half-million on a bus full of "volunteers" trying to get out of the country.

Claim it as Iraqi government seed money and use it.

Posted by: John Anderson at April 21, 2003 05:41 AM

How much "Frozen Assets" does U.S. have from various countries?

Posted by: Aslan at April 21, 2003 05:53 AM

I don't think we would have alot of the problems we have today if our beaurocratic government workers knew what they are actually worth.

>>>>>The enticement will be one-time $20 payments -- equivalent to more than a month's salary for most government workers.

Posted by: Jeff B at April 21, 2003 08:22 AM

oh shit is that it? 20 bucks?! hell all the money seized the other day by the marines in those metal boxs outa pay alota salaries plus bonus's.

if I were incharge I'd double thier pay.

you cant own em but you can rent um and prosperity will get you alot of support.

a hell of alot more support than fear

do we have the smarts to see the impact of getting some good pay out there?

Posted by: rumcrook at April 21, 2003 11:18 PM