Just When Did We Loan Saddam $4.1 Billion?

The U.S. has kindly agreed to cancel the $4.1 billion dollars that Iraq owes to us.

But the news stories don't explain what this debt consists in. When did we lend Iraq money? Did we lend money to Saddam? That doesn't make sense.

Is this the amount that we believe Iraq owes us as a result of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait?

Is this all official debt, owed by the government of Iraq? Is the U.S. government the only creditor, or does this involve American private enterprise?

Aren't these the questions reporters should be asking?

Maybe we'll get more information over the weekend.

Updated on Saturday evening to make post title more comprehensible.