Baby, I Got Your Money

A bit of historical caution when it comes to lending money.

We’d given aid and money to the folks
In Yemen, ere Saddam had given heed
To his invading impulse, and to bleeding
Dry Kuwaiti wells, and for to coax
The brash Iraqi leader from his path,
The Yemenis suggested he abide
With fewer US wishes, taking side
With neither Bush, nor Baghdad.  And the wrath
Of all the Saudi kingdom fell upon
The Yemenis, as each was bidden home,
And all the freedom they had had to roam
In these United States was up and gone.
They’ve had a harder time of it, of late.
No matter what conclusions the debate
Produces, it is wise to hesitate,
And worse to let the money flow abate.