Armored cars for MPs raise ire
Iraq's legislature approved the largest budget in the country's history last week, at $100 billion, but it is a single item in an addendum that has Iraqis fuming: a provision to purchase armored vehicles for members of parliament. Most Iraqis have little faith in their politicians and routinely accuse them of being corrupt and fueling […]Sam Dagher reports for the Wall Street Journal:
Iraq's legislature approved the largest budget in the country's history last week, at $100 billion, but it is a single item in an addendum that has Iraqis fuming: a provision to purchase armored vehicles for members of parliament.
Most Iraqis have little faith in their politicians and routinely accuse them of being corrupt and fueling the sectarian and ethnic polarization that plagues the country. For many, the idea of lawmakers earmarking millions of dollars for their own protection, at a time when ordinary citizens bear the brunt of the violence, is going too far.
