(April 17, 2003) Saddam Hussein used much of the borrowed money to pay for his wars against Iran and Kuwait and his repressive forces…But the rules are there: tyrannies may fall, but their debts live on.

(April 17, 2003) Outstanding public-sector loans to Iraq are fast becoming another contentious issue between the US and the so-called coalition of the unwilling. Japan is also an interested player, holding a total of 673 billion yen in outstanding loans to Iraq.

(April 16, 2003) There is no entitlement for France, Germany, Russia and the U.N. They did all in their power to keep Saddam Hussein in power, which makes them accessories to tyranny and war crimes.

(April 15, 2003) If Mr. Snow’s remarks were muddling, those of Mr. Wolfowitz were mischievous. Iraq’s debt problem is a serious issue. It should not get mixed up in political point-scoring.

(April 14, 2003) "American taxpayers are nervous and whimsical, they don’t like their money to be wasted. It’s just a convenient moment to find a scapegoat, a potential sponsor." A Russian perception of Paul Wolfowitz’s proposal to write-off Iraq’s debts.

(April 14, 2003) Mr K—Ühler said it may be too soon to pursue debt forgiveness for Iraq, despite pressure from Washington. "Debt forgiveness for Iraq – for me, this is a bit premature to judge," he said.

(April 14, 2003) Germany’s World War I reparations totaled about twice its gross domestic product (GDP). The debts were never paid in full. They proved to be an impossible burden. Iraq’s debts amount to 15 times its annual GDP of perhaps $25 billion.