As U.S. Rebuilds, Iraq Won’t Act on Finished Work

Source: NYTimes

Iraq’s national government is refusing to take possession of thousands of American-financed reconstruction projects, forcing the United States either to hand them over to local Iraqis, who often lack the proper training and resources to keep the projects running, or commit new money to an effort that has already consumed billions of taxpayer dollars.

The conclusions, detailed in a report released Friday by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, a federal oversight agency, include the finding that of 2,797 completed projects costing $5.8 billion, Iraq’s national government had, by the spring of this year, accepted only 435 projects valued at $501 million. Few transfers to Iraqi national government control have taken place since the current Iraqi government, which is frequently criticized for inaction on matters relating to the American intervention, took office in 2006.

The United States often promotes the number of rebuilding projects, such as power plants and hospitals, that have been completed in Iraq, citing them as signs of progress in a nation otherwise fraught with violence and political stalemate. But closer examination by the inspector general’s office, headed by Stuart W. Bowen Jr., has found that a number of individual projects are crumbling, abandoned or otherwise inoperative only months after the United States declares that they have been successfully completed. The United States always intended to hand over projects to the Iraqi government when they were completed.

Although Mr. Bowen’s latest report is primarily a financial overview, he said in an interview that it raised serious questions on whether the problems his inspectors had found were much more widespread in the reconstruction program.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/28/world/middleeast/28reconstruct.html?hp

Sure, Halliburton builds a power plant and hands it over to the Iraqi government. An empty building which is no where near any power grid. Halliburton got billions for building this poorly constructed shell of a building, calls it a power station and walks away. Of course Iraqis wouldn't accept it.

There is story after story in Al Jazzera about the slimy stuff Halliburton etal were pulling.

back and we get the hell out of there. If bushco gets any more incompetent there will be nothing left of Iraq. Having Iran swarm over Iraq if we leave will be a major problem, but no doubt the Sunnis to the East (?) Saudies, etc. will probably even things out quickly. After that, who knows.

The Sinai is the little one that hooks Africa onto Eurasia. But with modern weapons, what diff does it make anyhow nowadays. . .

the US would be forced to rebuild all of it and on its' own dime.

Jay

A Gangster Cheney Production, brought to you by Halliburton, Bechtel and Custer-Battles