ADVISORY/Experts Available To Discuss House, Senate Approval for $80 Billion War Budget.

Business Editors

Topical News: War On Terrorism 

ADVISORY...

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 4, 2003

TOPIC: The House of Representatives and the Senate separately agreed to give President Bush nearly $80 billion to continue the war with Iraq, according to an article by The Associated Press. Foreign aid, Iraqi reconstruction, homeland security and financial assistance for struggling U.S. airlines are also included in the budget. The money will come from an increased federal deficit, which may reach $400 billion this year and in 2004. In a voice vote, the House banned U.S. financial support for French, German, Russian or Syrian companies for Iraqi reconstruction projects due to their opposition against the U.S. campaign to receive U.N. approval for military action in Iraq, the article says. However, the administration is advising Congress not to pass the amendment as thousands of U.S.-based subsidiaries of foreign companies may face the risk of job loss.

EXPERTS: ExpertSource can offer several highly qualified experts to comment on this story:

William Koops is the president of Millennium Relief & Development Services, which is one of the most qualified organizations to provide information on Northern Iraq. Bill Koops, president of Millennium, worked in the refugee camps in Northern Iraq in the early 1990s and is providing humanitarian assistance and planning for reconstruction in Iraq. A Houston-based nonprofit, Millennium is one of a very few US NGOs registered in the north. Millennium-Northern Iraq is directed by a physician experienced in public health emergencies who has been coordinating medical and shelter needs with local officials. Their role is preventing and treating disease near camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs). Primary initiatives in Northern Iraq are a vocational and literacy program for women who are widowed or abandoned and a nutrition program for young children. Millennium operates long-term relief and development programs in countries that include Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Turkey, Tajikistan and Indonesia. In addition to expert commentary, MRDS offers corporations, churches and organizations an opportunity to present to their boards of directors, vendors, employees, customers or business associates an educational overview of Islam. For companies doing business in Muslim countries, Millennium can address cultural issues that impact their affairs. PR: Mitchell Jeffrey, 713-956-0948, [e-mail]

Professor Steven Weber, of the University of California, Berkeley, is an expert regarding international relations, American foreign policy, cooperation, international institutions, modern international political economy, political economy of European Union, applications of cognitive psychology to research in foreign policy decision-making, path-dependent economics and applications to international relations. 510-204-9530, 510-642-6000 (University PR Phone)

Professor Dan Reiter, of Emory University, Department of Political Science, has expertise in the study of foreign policy decision-making and international conflict. He has extensive experience in conducting scientific research on various issues regarding how foreign policy gets made, international alliances, national security, war, and so on. He also has experience in current foreign policy issues, especially those matters relating to national security policy and international diplomacy. 404-727-0111, 404-727-6123 (University PR Phone)

ExpertSource cannot guarantee the immediate availability of these experts or their familiarity with this specific issue.

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