Iraq has a 79 BILLION DOLLAR SURPLUS. ( How much are you paying for gas ? )

But Iraq has spent only a minute fraction of that on reconstruction costs, which are now largely borne by the United States.

Soaring oil prices will leave the Iraqi government with a cumulative budget surplus of as much as $79 billion by year’s end, according to an American federal oversight agency. But Iraq has spent only a minute fraction of that on reconstruction costs, which are now largely borne by the United States.

The unspent windfall, which covers surpluses from oil sales since 2005, appears likely to reinforce growing debate about the approximately $48 billion in American taxpayer money devoted to rebuilding Iraq since the American-led invasion.

nytimes