http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030906/pl_nm/iraq_oil_bush_dc&cid=615&ncid=1473WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Despite prewar assurances by the White House, President Bush acknowledged on Friday that the United States cannot count on Iraqi oil revenues in the short-term to cover the country's reconstruction needs.
Bush, in an interview with CNBC, said he would "look at" one congressional proposal under which Washington would be paid back with future Iraqi oil revenues.
"But first of all, the oil revenues in Iraq really aren't as steady as they will be in the future. I mean I don't think we can count on much in the short term," Bush said.
The Bush administration is putting together a massive spending package for postwar Iraq expected to total about $65 billion, though sources said the final number was still in flux. One source said it could be expanded to $80 billion.
The White House asserted in the run-up to the war that Iraqi oil reserves would pay for reconstruction, but critics said Bush's budget office was overly optimistic.
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