President Bush is rejecting criticism of his decision to bar opponents of the war in Iraq from bidding on lucrative U.S.-funded reconstruction contracts

The president says these contracts should be reserved for countries that helped free Iraq. "In the expenditure of taxpayers' money, and that is what we are talking about now, the U.S. people, the taxpayers, understand why it makes sense for countries that risk lives to participate in the contracts in Iraq," he said. "It is very simple." Mr. Bush talked about the contract controversy with reporters at the end of a meeting with his Cabinet. He said he wants to see other countries get involved in Iraq, even those which opposed the war. The president seemed to be sending two messages: assuring the American people that their tax dollars will only go to war allies and sending a signal abroad that circumstances can change. Mr. Bush said debt restructuring would be a substantial contribution for which the United States would be grateful, though he went on to say there is a difference between those countries, which have sent troops to Iraq and those, which have not. His comments came as a special presidential envoy, former Secretary of State James Baker, prepared to go to Europe to discuss the debt issue.