Peter Kemp peter_n_kempathotmaildotcom wrote in message . ..
On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 13:04:57 -0400, "Leslie Swartz"
wrote:

Yes, in the most obvious and extreme of cases, the UN can be dragged kicking
and screaming into doing the right thing, but only if the US pays for it.

IIRC the Japanese and the various Arab nations paid for the bulk of
DESERT STORM.

Not sure about that. There was a significant amount of "barter" type
payment (for example, the Japanese sent beaucoup light pickups, vans,
forklifts, and small busses that were used by various coalition
units), and IIRC the Saudis picked up the tab for a lot of the fuel
costs, temporary billeting, and a part of the rations (but I
understand that a lot of this was at marked up prices, like the air
raid siren one unit I knew of procured for use in Khobar Towers, and
the Saudi middlemen took a hefty cut...). When all is said and done, I
would be surprised if the bulk of each nation's costs were not borne
by that respective nation, with the exceptions of Syria and Egypt,
which IIRC did have their tabs picked up by the Saudis. Trying to
determine exactly how much of the total tab was in the end picked up
by "others" would likely be an accounting nightmare worthy of
Enron-class "adjustments".

Brooks


Peter Kemp